SIP migmate 130 turbo-gasleak?

[sacvwgolf]

hi, i have a problem with my welder and i was wondering if you could help me. My problem is all of my welds are pitted very badly and somtimes hollow. I've checked the gas flow and there is plently of gas coming though the nozzle, there is no wind (welding inside). I've checked for leaks around the bottle and it seams ok. What do i do now-could it be somthing internally or could it be the hoses to the touch are damaged? Please help as i just can't do any decent welding.

Thanks

Scott

 

[English Steve]

Hi Scott, and welcome to the forum.

Can you post a photo of the welds - it usually helps someone to identify the problem.

Steve

 

[shenion]

WHat gas are you using?

 

[sacvwgolf]

gas is a mixture of argon and co2, but it doesn't really make a difference if the gas is on or not.

Pics:

Pics of the bottle:

sorry for the poor quality of the pic but there taken with my phone.

 

[shenion]

You say there is plenty of gas. Turn the wire feed all the way down and press the trigger. Make sure the gas keeps flowing, I had a reg that only flowed for about 5 seconds then cut out.

 

[sacvwgolf]

right ok i just tried that, turned the wire speed right down and theres plently of gas.

 

[shenion]

Looks like your tank got filled with something other than Ar/CO2.

 

[sacvwgolf]

that could be but it happens with bottles before and the small white ones as well

 

[sacvwgolf]

anyone else got any ideas?

 

[bric-a-brac]

hi looks like somthing i welded years ago . are you trying to weld some sort off cast iron

 

[sacvwgolf]

no it's clean mild steel

 

[bric-a-brac]

un clean

that metal looks very rusty .you can.t weld rust .try grinding a small patch and try again see if that works .steve

 

[sacvwgolf]

Yeah it was clean when it was welded ages ago. The welds are like that no-matter how clean the metal is.

 

[Wozzaaah]

It definitely looks like lack of shielding gas so if there's plenty coming out of the torch, it's the correct gas and the steel is clean then I'm not really sure where your problem lies unless there's a fault with the machine itself. The fact that you can hear the gas coming out doesn't mean there's enough of it coming out. You say it doesn't make any difference if the gas is on or off which points to the fact that you simply don't have your flow rate set high enough.
Get some clean offcuts and run some practice welds using different gas flow rates and let us know how you get on.

 

[sacvwgolf]

Ok will do, but could it be somthing like maybe a damaged gas hose which could be acting like a carburattor(sp?) and sucking in air contaimnating the gas?

Also what flow rate would you recomend for sheet metal? I normally have it at about 8-12.

Thanks

 

[dstealth]

Ok will do, but could it be somthing like maybe a damaged gas hose which could be acting like a carburattor(sp?) and sucking in air contaimnating the gas?

Also what flow rate would you recomend for sheet metal? I normally have it at about 8-12.

Thanks

Yes, it could well possibly be a damaged gas hose. so you need to open the machine up and trace the gas hose the full length and see if it has been nicked or kinked anywhere. Your flowrate range is about right. 12 maybe a bit too high for indoors. Stick at about 10lpm

Chris

 

[Wozzaaah]

Ok will do, but could it be somthing like maybe a damaged gas hose which could be acting like a carburattor(sp?) and sucking in air contaimnating the gas?

Hmmm, looking at your pics again it appears that you have the plastic pipe pushed inside the hose and taped up, I'd start there and work your way forward .

 

[sacvwgolf]

yeah ok thanks, i going to try this and see if it makes a different:

http://www.thewelderswarehouse.com/Welding/Large_Cylinder_Adaptor.html

 

[dstealth]

yeah ok thanks, i going to try this and see if it makes a different:

http://www.thewelderswarehouse.com/Welding/Large_Cylinder_Adaptor.html

You can get better quality ones than that. The one in your link just looks like a bit of hose pipe with some jubilee clips holding the fittings on. BOC sell a decent quality minimig adapter hose made out of thick black rubber hose with proper crimped style fittings on for about a tenner which I bought. I think weldequip does the proper ones as well.

Chris.

 

[sacvwgolf]

How do i know if weldquip has any?