surprised at settings

[hunter27]

Hi
I have had my mig welder for several years now but have only used it on thickish metal. I log in to this site several times a week and have picked up a lot of tips so I was surprised today when I tried to weld a small patch on my sill. My welder is a Taskmaster (Cebora) Boxer 175

I am using co2 and 0.6 wire and expected to have to set everything up at it's lowest setting but after a bit of playing about on a piece of scrap 1.1mm I found that setting 4 for power (max is 7) and 6 to 7 for wire speed (max 10) worked best. The welding went better than I expected without blowing two many holes the patch was 1.1mm thick and over lapped the hole by around 15mm. The welder seems fine on the thicker stuff so has anybody any ideas why it had to be on such high settings for thin metal ?.
Thanks Pete

 

[shenion]

0.6mm wire really lowers the current and heat. I find it needs to run a considerably higher voltage than on 0.8mm.

It will work lower, but you are going so slow it is difficult. I found it easier to up the power and move faster. Produced a better, more consistent weld (lower profile).

As you go below 1mm, you would have to use the lower settings

 

[chooowie]

2-3 mm overlap is more then enough, 15 is waaaaay too much. When talking about corrosion, best way would be to avoid overlap completly, more overlap - more chance for moisture to sneak in and give you a headache. Try smaller overlap and melt edges together, so you practically get 1 thicker peace instead of 2 thinner overlapping.

 

[weldequip]

so has anybody any ideas why it had to be on such high settings for thin metal ?

Because you are running CO2 gas. Try it on Argon/CO2 mix gas & you will find it transforms the performance on the lower settings, with a much more stable, controllable arc & flatter/neater weld profile
weldequip

 

[hunter27]

Thanks for the replies I understand about the over lap but was scared about it being thin near the edge and burning through, as I said I have not tried to mig thin metal before. I get my co2 from a friend who works at a fire extinguisher refilling station so have no access to argon/co2 but was given a large bottle of argo shield heavy with the welder would that be better ?.
Thanks again Pete

 

[weldequip]

but was given a large bottle of argo shield heavy with the welder would that be better ?

Not good for thin stuff no...generally around 10mm+...but you should still find a good overall improvement in performance compared to straight CO2
weldequip

 

[shenion]

Argoshield heavy will be fine. It is what all of us in the US use for everything (75/25 Ar/CO2). Has about the same profile as argoshield light.

Will definitely be better than CO2 with a narrower penetration so less blow through.

 

[weldequip]

Aha...now comes the US/UK argument on shielding gases!
And on that note...I'm off to bed!
weldequip

 

[shenion]

Aha...now comes the US/UK argument on shielding gases!
weldequip

Ours if far better if only because there is no rental

Funny, they call it Argoshield C25 here.

 

[weldequip]

Ours if far better if only because there is no rental

I think everybody is in agreement there.
weldequip