Weld problems is it the argon or what is it.

[thyristor44]

Hello to all on the forum.
I am having problems mig welding at the moment.
I am trying to weld 3-4mm mild steel with argon as I have nothing else at the present. I am getting a poor arc and seem to be getting brown burning or dust beside the weld. I am not an expert welder at all, in fact a self taught novice
My welder is pretty old, is or was 160 amp and had relay problems till I replaced two of them.
I could do with some advice: Is argon any use, what voltage should I be using, the only controls I have are voltage and wire speed.
Thanks
thyristor44

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Are you making sure your steel is clean? Give it a quick work over with a flap disc/ wire brush. What lpm are you using on gas flow? Should be between 8-10 for mild steel.
What type of tungsten are you using?

 

[Brad93]

It's the fact you're using oure argon. You're welding with am inert gas so there is no active gas creating a hotter aec like you would normally get with a c25 mix.

Sounds like there is a bad issue causing your contamination though.

Pictures speak a thousand words.

 

[Robotstar5]

Are you sure it's pure Argon?, you should be using Argon/CO2 mix for mild steel welding

...and welcome to the forum.

 

[thyristor44]

Yes it is argon as I did some tig welding ages ago and still have some left from that. It also says argon. I also have some co2, pup cylinder.

 

[thyristor44]

Not sure what you mean by what tungsten am I using. Tom Orrow L

 

[thyristor44]

. What lpm are you using on gas flow? Should be between 8-10 for mild steel.
What type of tungsten are you using?

 

[eSCHEn]

If you're MIGing with pure Ar then no, it's not suitable. You'll get poor penetration, lots of soot and a very proud bead.

Sucks but you need the active part in the MAG (if we're being correct) mix to do the job properly on mild.

 

[thyristor44]

If you're MIGing with pure Ar then no, it's not suitable. You'll get poor penetration, lots of soot and a very proud bead.

Sucks but you need the active part in the MAG (if we're being correct) mix to do the job properly on mild.

That does pretty well sum it up so I will splash out and get some propper gas. Any reccomendations.

 

[eSCHEn]

I would think that a 5% CO2 mix would be fine for 3 - 4mm steel but what do you "normally" intend welding? You'd up the CO2 percentage as the thickness increases.

 

[Robotstar5]

That does pretty well sum it up so I will splash out and get some propper gas. Any reccomendations.

Have look through the sheilding gas & regulators section, will give you some idea what's available to rent or buy

 

[eSCHEn]

You say you have a pub cylinder of co2, use that for now - it's not as 'nice' as mix but it'll be better than pure argon.

Missed the CO2 bottle bit. As pdg says, pure CO2 will give you more spatter but will produce a much sounder bead than pure Ar. There's nowt wrong with sticking with that if you have a refill source. Use it up then decide

 

[Richard.]

Pure argon is only suitable if your mig welding aluminium.
For steel/stainless we don't "mig" weld it we mag weld it. @eSCHEn has it spot on you need the co2 or O2 in the Argon mix. Without it you'll get lack of penetration, lack of side wall fusion, poor toe transition, under cut , increased cap height and poor wetting. The active % helps things to flow. I'm likely gonna get a couple clowns Pop on and argue they have built huge steel structures with pure argon and that is fine but in reality you can't have 1 bottle for gmaw and GTAW

 

[thyristor44]

Thanks alot mates, that has cleared that up. I will first try the co2 and if that isnt good enough I will get some mix gas.
Thanks again for the help. Nice forum.
thyristor44

 

[the snooper]

Thanks alot mates, that has cleared that up. I will first try the co2 and if that isnt good enough I will get some mix gas.
Thanks again for the help.
thyristor44

join the 2 together and mix the co2 with the argon

 

[HMB]

join the 2 together and mix the co2 with the argon

probably not a good idea

 

[the snooper]

probably not a good idea

after the regulator of course or you wouldn't be able to mix it

 

[Robotstar5]

join the 2 together and mix the co2 with the argon

I suspect the cost of a suitable mixing panel would far exceed that of a cylinder of ready mixed gas?

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Completely mis read this as TIG welding. Ignore my earlier response thyristor.