Welder too powerful/wire choice

[keithski122]

Fired up my mig welder today, but it seems almost too powerfull on the lowest setting.I've not used it for a few years due to not having any gas.
I'm not a beginer welder as I do a fair bit of car panel work at work but I'm all self taught.
The welder is an awelco 150 which has a min 0f 30amps, could poss do with the wire speeding up a little, but when filling small holes it just seemed to blow them bigger, these holes I could easily weld up with works welder.I realise this welder may have too many amps for thin work.
Now to the point would using 0.8mm wire instead of 0.6mm makes things better or worse.

 

[madkayaker]

0.8mm would be worse as it would pass more current before melting

 

[cumbriasteve]

How was it stored over the years it was not in use?...do you think it may be 'stuck' on a higher power, my first MIG occasionaly took a few clicks of the power selector to change..something must have been worn or sticking.

 

[mike 109444]

If you have access to a meter you could back off the wire feed rollers and meter between the earth clamp and the welding tip, then try the power selector switch through it's range to see (check) that power is changing as you go through the range when the trigger is pressed (hence the backing off of the wire feed!)

 

[darrenh]

2p behind the hole, perfect weld

 

[chunkolini]

2p?
Make sure iot is one of the older non magnetic ones or it will stick.

 

[keithski122]

Don't think its the switch, the welder is about 6 years old but has had very little use.Checking it with a meter like that would the voltage change?
I suppose I could check it using the resistance side of the meter.I really think its the welder too beefy though.
I have a piece of brass plate I normally use for thin stuff/hole filling, thing is a lot of what I want to do I can't get to the back of and if patch welding then I really need to get the weld less fierce and not rely on holding something on the back.
I'm going to get some new wire and tips and have a play about with the wire settings.

 

[Country Joe]

Checking it with a meter like that would the voltage change?
I suppose I could check it using the resistance side of the meter.

Yes, the voltage should go up in steps as you go up through the settings.
Might just zap your meter on the ohm range?
CJ

 

[keithski122]

I was going to check it with the power off!
Will probably check voltage though, specs are 21-32v no load and I'm guessing by the wiring diagram that its dc volts not ac.
Min ampage is 35 alot of others seem to go from 30amp so it really should do thin metal.
I had a play the other day and could get a good weld in perfect conditions, ie on bench,good light, no gap.Thing is how often can you weld cars in perfect welding conditions!