WIRE SPEED - is half an inch/second o.k?

[Fixer]

That how slow mine will run minimum, on 25a and trim pot on minimum. I'm finding it a tiny bit too quick sometimes when trying to do flat welds on thin stuff. i get that stabbing thing and it pushes the torch away from the weld.
If i up the power, i blow through here and there. How do you slow it down further? do i need to chan ge the trim pot? help appreciated as always.

 

[weldequip]

What's the machine?
weldequip

 

[Wozzaaah]

Half inch per second? That's barely moving!
If it's a 25A machine I'm guessing at a SIP?
At that slow a speed with the correct size wire you certainly shouldn't get the wire 'stabbing' at the workpiece.
What size wire are you using, 0.6mm or 0.8mm? For very thin stuff you should be using 0.6mm.

 

[Archie]

If it's a 25A machine I'm guessing at a SIP?

Come on, mate. get out more!

You're right though, half an inch per sec is about the pace at which the dead move. I can't believe that at 25 amps you should get any wire pushing at the metal with a wire speed so slow.

 

[weldequip]

Come on, mate. get out more!

Warren was simply trying to appear educated about welding machines!
weldequip

 

[Archie]

Warren was trying to appear educated about welding machines!
weldequip

Oh well, I know all about that!

 

[weldequip]

weldequip

 

[Archie]

Oh dear. I've ruined another thread. Poor Fixer only wanted a simple answer!

 

[Wozzaaah]

Warren was simply trying to appear educated about welding machines!
weldequip

Hehe, I was right though, it is a SIP!
Migmate 150 I believe?

 

[weldequip]

25amps minimum...with wire feed trouble...has to be an SIP!
The trimmer should be set so the wire feed rollers just turn when the dial is set to zero, if it's still too fast you might be adjusting the trimmer the wrong way (forget if it's clockwise or anti-clockwise...you'll have to experiment).
On thin sheet 0.6mm wire can make a huge difference with burn-through, if you're using 0.8mm stick it on 0.6mm (making sure you reverse the wire feed roller to the suitable groove)
Gas choice is also important for optimum results...ArCo2 mixture, not CO2.
weldequip

 

[zzr1200]

Couldn't possibly be 0.6 running in 0.8 rollers, could it?....

 

[Fixer]

I just find that at 1"/sec on 25a, the welds are a bit high. I just want the welds to be flatter without using more heat. I tried with more heat but I'm not fast enough yet...just warped the whole wheel arch
I have the argoshield whooshing out the torch so its not lack of gas either - too much maybe?

I do weld slowly though, got to admit that. I will take several minutes to do 4" long weld
I don't like building up a huge weld that needs you to dress it with the grinder as a lot of these welds are bloody hard to get at with your hand letalone a grinder. Thanks

btw - my wire is 0.8. The wire feeds perfectly smoothly and never slips or varies noticably (I have the steel liner, 24v drivetranformer and tie mods)
Its just the flesh/bone component that goes on the torch thats causing the problem i think

 

[Wozzaaah]

You need to get some 0.6mm wire .

 

[Fixer]

You need to get some 0.6mm wire .

that totaly makes sense to me - I'm using 0.8 cos that what someone (not a million posts away) recomended i get months ago and tbh it would be fine if i was a bit better at it
...even that smiley is welding faster than me

 

[Wozzaaah]

It doesn't sound like there's much difference between 0.6mm and 0.8mm wire, after all, it's only 0.2mm? But.......the cross sectional area of 0.8mm is almost double that of 0.6mm (0.50mm vs 0.28mm) so if running two welds with the different diameters but keeping all other parameters the same you could theoretically deposit almost twice the amount of wire over the same length weld.
A simple rule of thumb is that to run a machine properly on it's lowest setting you should use the smallest diameter wire possible and to run it properly on it's maximum setting, the largest diameter wire.
Regarding the suggestion to use 0.8mm it was probably what suited the work you intended to do at the time but you've since found the need to run your machine on it's lowest setting .

 

[Fixer]

blimey, i wish i'd got 0.6...i'd i'd done so much better job as it is i have a lot to make up for when it comes to filling the body before paint. warpage mainly where i tried running more power to get the weld to flatten out/spread...dang.....
Cheers guys

edit - you know what, when i finished practising welding on my treasured classic car I'll be able to make a luvley trolley for my welder and cylinder

 

[future_jack]

Half inch per second? That's barely moving!
If it's a 25A machine I'm guessing at a SIP?
At that slow a speed with the correct size wire you certainly shouldn't get the wire 'stabbing' at the workpiece.
What size wire are you using, 0.6mm or 0.8mm? For very thin stuff you should be using 0.6mm.

Is 0.8mm the stuff you would use then for most mild steel jobs?

 

[Wozzaaah]

It depends on the thickness you need to weld, for say 1.5mm to around 5mm then yes, 0.8mm would be ideal, for car bodywork 0.6mm and for heavy stuff 1.0 or even 1.2mm.
What range of thicknesses do you normally work with and what machine do you have?