Suspect mig or maybe operator?????

[meweldyoutalk]

Ok, just learning to mig weld, but having a few problems, not sure if its my technique, setup or crap mig welder machine. Im trying to weld 1mm mild steel sheet, just trying to run straights line welds on the sheet but i seem to be getting no penetration thru to the other side, even on the highest setting, i have my flowmeter attached to my regulator and i have it showing 10litres per minute. im wondering if its because im using staright co2(pub gas). I am trying various wire speeds but just not getting the pebetration. My mig welder is a taskmaster 15/120. It has four power settings, even when i have it on 4 it will not penetrate to the other side. Im wondering if i have to go get myself a more expensive mig, i once read on here about cheap migs being no good. Or is it possbly because im using co2 which because it gives such a cold weld its stopping me getting good penetration, help????? If it is the mig are there any recommended that will weld 1mm steel sheet at say less than £200 or am i dreaming.

 

[shenion]

What size wire are you using? It should have enough power with 0.8mm.

 

[meweldyoutalk]

i know the wire is 0.6, i did notice allthough i dont know if this is relevant or not the tip itself has 0.8 stamped on the side of it.

 

[londonsean69]

i know the wire is 0.6, i did notice allthough i dont know if this is relevant or not the tip itself has 0.8 stamped on the side of it.

as you are getting an arc, then there is contact between the tip and wire - this is good

A lot of people use the next size up tip when learning, there is more room for the wire to expand before it jams in the tip

Sean

 

[malcolm]

Sounds like there's something wrong with it. You would expect setting 1 for 1mm sheet, and setting 4 should be good for 3mm.

It's an older machine so there could be corrosion in a connection somewhere - worth checking the torch and earth clamp leads all the way back to the transformers.

Could be worth posting photos of the welds - might be something else we'll spot.

 

[meweldyoutalk]

ok will check earth and torch leads and connections and will post some pictures see if we can work it out. thanks

 

[meweldyoutalk]

heres some pictures of my welds as you can see not very good, but just can't ssem to get the weld to penetrate.

 

[meweldyoutalk]

and more

 

[meweldyoutalk]

most of these weld were with the machine on full and the gas at 10 litres/min with the wire speed the best i could get it. I know im only starting out but im wondering that the mig isnt working properly surely should be getting better penetration from my mig than this on the high power setting, its only 1mm mild steel sheet.

 

[shenion]

MIG starts cold, you will not get those little blobs to penetrate especially with 0.6mm wire. The long weld seemed to penetrate fine.

Try some 0.8mm wire, you should have better luck with CO2.

 

[Sparkey]

And the wirespeed a bit lower me thinks....just to make the welds more fluid!

Just listen when you're welding, it should make a nice crackling sound...we like to call it frying bacon sound!
When you're mig welding you are using all your senses: you look at how the weldpool behaves, you listen to the sound it makes, and if something isn't right you'll feel it with your hand holding the torch! (and we smell it if our trousers are on fire! lol)
Keep practiscing and you'll soon know what to look for, what to hear and what to feel when you're welding!

 

[meweldyoutalk]

took my welder down to local welding tradesman, he had a shot of it and said he can't weld with it, so im thinking i need to either get it fixed or buy new one. Can you get a decent mig for less than £200, need something capable if there is a poor condition of the weld it wont be the fault of the machine. The machine would mainly be used for car body panel welding. Thanks for the replies so far.

 

[meweldyoutalk]

welder fixed turned out it was the wire feed mechanism which was tight and getting jammed. welder working great now, well chuffed, seems to weld thin car panels very well with co2 pub gas and 0.6mm wire.