"Wire speed should be the primary variable" (Edit GW: aka setting).Choose wirespeed, and then fine tune voltage.
Remember that wirespeed is pretty much the same in every machine. e.g. if you set 10 metres/min with the same size wire and same gas and same stickout, you should get similar amps from every machine. Hence, wirespeed should be the primary variable.
Voltage differs from machine to machine... some machine drop voltage as you arc up, remember we are only interested in arc volts, not unloaded volts. Some machines hold a rock steady voltage. Sometimes the voltage steps in a transformer are too big so you'd have to fine tune with wirespeed as well... after you're in the ballpark.
Start low with the voltage and work up, as it goes up you'll find the sweet spot where it gives a nice weld, go up a little further and you'll reduce spatter, go even higher and the spatter will come back.
It's easier on an inverter with infinite voltage adjustment, but that's saying nothing really as a good transformer will give just as nice a weld, sometimes better.
That's going to run around 2/3 the amperage of 1.0mm at the same speed due to the cross sectional area.0.8mm
I totally understand why you'd start with voltage steps on a transformer, and tune the wirespeed to this. Nothing wrong with it, unless you don't know what voltage steps you're looking for on a new machine... you could potentially end up with a low wirespeed and a cold weld, if you weren't sure of what you were doing"Wire speed should be the primary variable" (Edit GW: aka setting).
This is a great tip. I confess I've been doing it the other way around (setting voltage then tweaking wire speed).
I'll give that a whirl
Yup that's me - not (yet) sure what I'm doing.I totally understand why you'd start with voltage steps on a transformer, and tune the wirespeed to this. Nothing wrong with it, unless you don't know what voltage steps you're looking for on a new machine... you could potentially end up with a low wirespeed and a cold weld, if you weren't sure of what you were doing
It's confusing, too. Take the Kemppis at work... one knob that goes 0-18 m/min in less than one full turn. And then 3 separate voltage tap knobs. One could be forgiven for thinking the voltage was more important.
Sorry to sound like a broken record mate, but Voltage does not equal powerMy go too is the first tipex mark on the wire speed then about 3/1 on the power (290-300 ish A)
On the little welder it’s the 6th line on the masking tape and full chat on the power
One day I will have a fancy welder
You know what I mean.Sorry to sound like a broken record mate, but Voltage does not equal power