I wonder if someone would help me, I am trying to determine if I have a problem with my mig or if it’s my inability to weld properly.
Currently I am re-learning the art of Mig welding after a lapse of ten years and at the same time getting to know my new welder.
I have a Migatronic 271 which has a range of 20a to 250a with 9 settings.
As the welder will be used mainly for car body work I am using .6 wire and argoshield light.
I am practising on a piece of plate which is about 1mm thick.
On power setting 3 and a wire speed of about 4.5 I am putting down some very good beads with excellent penetration. The same applies for setting 4 but there is a lot more heat distortion. The problem is with settings 1 and 2.
On setting 1 it is extremely difficult to strike an arc let alone maintain it, setting 2 is slightly easier but the bead is very narrow and tall with no penetration. I have tried reducing the wire speed which helps with striking the arc but not with penetration.
From memory when I was using my previous welder to do panel work that was also set to power setting 3, I cant remember using settings 1 or 2 even on the thinnest metal.
On the basis that settings 1 and 2 must be there for a purpose, is it my lack of experience, a problem with the mig or is the first two settings intended for different wire?
I bought the mig because it had a starting range of 20a which I though would be ideal for car work so I can’t understand why the lower settings are so difficult to use.
Not sure if this is relevant but I noticed a couple of times when the wire was hot a spark would occur when the wire touched the metal even though I don’t think I was pressing the trigger. It would only happen once, if I tried to reproduce the spark straight away it would not spark.
I look forward to receiving the replies and as a matter of interest if you own a Portamig and it is being used for car repairs what settings are you using?
Thanks.
Currently I am re-learning the art of Mig welding after a lapse of ten years and at the same time getting to know my new welder.
I have a Migatronic 271 which has a range of 20a to 250a with 9 settings.
As the welder will be used mainly for car body work I am using .6 wire and argoshield light.
I am practising on a piece of plate which is about 1mm thick.
On power setting 3 and a wire speed of about 4.5 I am putting down some very good beads with excellent penetration. The same applies for setting 4 but there is a lot more heat distortion. The problem is with settings 1 and 2.
On setting 1 it is extremely difficult to strike an arc let alone maintain it, setting 2 is slightly easier but the bead is very narrow and tall with no penetration. I have tried reducing the wire speed which helps with striking the arc but not with penetration.
From memory when I was using my previous welder to do panel work that was also set to power setting 3, I cant remember using settings 1 or 2 even on the thinnest metal.
On the basis that settings 1 and 2 must be there for a purpose, is it my lack of experience, a problem with the mig or is the first two settings intended for different wire?
I bought the mig because it had a starting range of 20a which I though would be ideal for car work so I can’t understand why the lower settings are so difficult to use.
Not sure if this is relevant but I noticed a couple of times when the wire was hot a spark would occur when the wire touched the metal even though I don’t think I was pressing the trigger. It would only happen once, if I tried to reproduce the spark straight away it would not spark.
I look forward to receiving the replies and as a matter of interest if you own a Portamig and it is being used for car repairs what settings are you using?
Thanks.
