Welding advice needed please

[impanator93]

Hi. I just bought a clarke 130en mig welder. It came with gasless wire so I did some practise with it and found it to be all right, blew quite a few holes though Ive run out of gasless wire now and am wondering if I should set up the welder for use with gas? The welder is going to be used to restore a classic car OUTSIDE and I was told that i should be using 0.6mm wire for the majority of it-I don't know if you can get gasless wire that small?

Could someone please tell me If there is any point in converting the welder for use with gas, im not wanting to waste money converting it and then find that the wind ruins the weld! And if it is possible to get 0.6mm gasless wire?

Thanx
Dan

 

[rtbcomp]

The 130en is a dual purpose machine so converting it simply swapping the wires over on the front panel and providing a gas regulator and bottle (Get a proper bottle, don't use disposables).

To use it gasless again simply turn the valve off at the bottle and swap the wires back.

You will find using gas is a lot cheaper and gives better welds than using fluxed wire, so use gas indoors and gasless outside if it's windy.

I think you can only get fluxed wire in 0.9mm but I'm open to correction.

 

[fingers99]

Just as he says. You'll find you get much better welds (except, maybe, in a gale) with gas, and less (with practice, no) burn through.

 

[impanator93]

Thank you for your help, much appreciated

 

[MarkMG]

I've done plenty of welding using a shielding gas outside, and as long as it not a really windy day it will be fine.

 

[^neo^]

Get a decent pair of gauntlets and use your left hand to shield the gas from the wind