What am I doing wrong

[Parm]

I've recently got a clarke 100 e mk2, with co2 pub gas and brand new roll of 0.8 wire.

Settings are for 3mm and wire feed is at 5 on the dial

I had my first play today and just can't get any decent penetration, welds look ok then just fall apart, also don't go down very neatly. I've been trying to weld 2mm metal.

Any one local fancy giving me a few pointers in exchange for some beer and home cooked curry????

 

[cumbriasteve]

Best idea is to put some photo's up, it allows others to get a better idea of what may be wrong.

 

[BrokenBiker]

3mm with 100 amps? bit ambitious I think. my sealey 100amp mig would only just manage 2mm on most things, maybe 2.5 if uphill.

what polarity are you set on? if it has option to run gasless that might be an issue. also check connections for power lead in torch, and also in machine. good earth is vital, so also check cable crimps and connections for that.

how much gas have you got flowing? also what brand of wire?

 

[Parm]

I will do tommorow, I'm knackered now and being kept company by Mr cold colc Kroneborg

 

[Wallace]

Any one local fancy giving me a few pointers in exchange for some beer and home cooked curry????

My Missus is away, fetch the beer, curry and welder round here and I'll supply the metal. (Staines, Middlesex. It's local, honestly.)

 

[Parm]

My Missus is away, fetch the beer, curry and welder round here and I'll supply the metal. (Staines, Middlesex. It's local, honestly.)

Ali G country !

I was born and raised in Hounslow

 

[Wallace]

Ali G country !

I was born and raised in Hounslow

Aye, West Staines Massive blud! Genuinely edumacated at da Matthew Arnold Skool too mon. A mate of mine imported the yellow Impala low rider used in the second film too and the wheels fell off that one. Hounslow, my missus grew up over there too. Have you been back lately?

Is the machine set to A, 3 & MAX? What are you setting the gas to? If the answer is yes and 8-12lpm and you have a flip down mask, sit next to the machine, set the wire feed at 9 and alter the wire feed control while you are welding until you start getting a better bead. Use the book as a guide not gospel.

 

[Parm]

Right, embarrassingly I may have worked out the problem, practice welds were ok but not professional looking, for I novice I was happy as there appeared to be some decent penetration on 2mm metal. Yesterday when I was trying to make a frame welds were just like large snots and didn't look any where near as nice as the practice welds.

When packing up for the weekend I went to turn the gas bottle off, guess what, it wasn't even on. That may explain the rubbish that was happening yesterday.

During the week I will set it up again as you suggest and have another go, will post pictures too

What a dipstick!!