Nomad
Member
- Messages
- 1,390
- Location
- North Devon (for how long?)
Background :
I've been using c02 pub bottles & fire extinguishers for many years with this machine, wire feed & tips regularly serviced, I normally get strong welds (sometimes pretty, other times not !)
Last week I ran out of co2 so this week I've been welding gasless.
A couple of days ago I went to weld 4 corner joints on a lightweight garden trellis. The first 2 corners welded as I 'd expect (strong but lots of splatter due to no gas), the last 2 I can pull off with my fingers and I've had to resort to using jubile clips to held the frame together ! The good news is the lady of the house has seen the finished result and likes it a lot which is the main thing
The big changes are very low power / no penetration, and the wire feed is running very slow and stuttering (I normally set wire feed at 5-6 out of 10, now I'm using 10/10 and it's not enough !)
It feels like I get 1 small "spot" of weld on top of the parent metal, then a pause, then another "spot". No sizzling bacon within earshot
So far:
I've tried plugging the welder into different circuits (garage, kitchen, etc), also removing the extension cable I was using and plugging it direct into the wall socket.
I cut the 3-pin mains plug off and fitted a heavier commercial one (just in case).
A couple of times I thought I could smell something unusual but my sense of small is poor and I couldn't trace it.
I've had the covers off the machine and can't see anything that is obviously burnt/scorched.
Help would be appreciated, I'm a decent mechanic with tools and a multimeter etc but I'm not familar with welders so don't know what I should be checking - or what is normal when I check something.
Comments about the state of the garden, my poor prep or lack of paint afterwards are not needed - I know how to fix these problems
I've been using c02 pub bottles & fire extinguishers for many years with this machine, wire feed & tips regularly serviced, I normally get strong welds (sometimes pretty, other times not !)
Last week I ran out of co2 so this week I've been welding gasless.
A couple of days ago I went to weld 4 corner joints on a lightweight garden trellis. The first 2 corners welded as I 'd expect (strong but lots of splatter due to no gas), the last 2 I can pull off with my fingers and I've had to resort to using jubile clips to held the frame together ! The good news is the lady of the house has seen the finished result and likes it a lot which is the main thing
The big changes are very low power / no penetration, and the wire feed is running very slow and stuttering (I normally set wire feed at 5-6 out of 10, now I'm using 10/10 and it's not enough !)
It feels like I get 1 small "spot" of weld on top of the parent metal, then a pause, then another "spot". No sizzling bacon within earshot
So far:
I've tried plugging the welder into different circuits (garage, kitchen, etc), also removing the extension cable I was using and plugging it direct into the wall socket.
I cut the 3-pin mains plug off and fitted a heavier commercial one (just in case).
A couple of times I thought I could smell something unusual but my sense of small is poor and I couldn't trace it.
I've had the covers off the machine and can't see anything that is obviously burnt/scorched.
Help would be appreciated, I'm a decent mechanic with tools and a multimeter etc but I'm not familar with welders so don't know what I should be checking - or what is normal when I check something.
Comments about the state of the garden, my poor prep or lack of paint afterwards are not needed - I know how to fix these problems