I have been practicing lap welding 18 gauge(.047") sheet steel and find that I can get some half decent penetration only with my machine at the highest power setting, a #4. It is a Campbell Hausfeld WG2064 and from what I understand it is a 30-70 amp machine. I wonder who the manufacturer is.
http://www.chpower.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/chPrd3_10051_10001_100001_-1_10681_10765_
This is using solid Lincoln Electric L-56 .030 wire. I have checked the "calculator" on this forum and feel that perhaps this might be the real limit for my machine. I used a power setting for .047 X1/2 since I am lap welding. And yes I have experimented with the wire speed.The chart on the machine claims to be able to do 1/8" with .030 wire and 3/16" with .035" both MIG settings.
Will I get better penetration if I switch to .035" wire? I have read the "90 amp 4mm challenge" article in which .030 wire was used with 2mm thickness being the effective limit. Could better penetration have been obtained with .035 wire? Or is there some problem with my machine?
Thanks.
Nash
http://www.chpower.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/chPrd3_10051_10001_100001_-1_10681_10765_
This is using solid Lincoln Electric L-56 .030 wire. I have checked the "calculator" on this forum and feel that perhaps this might be the real limit for my machine. I used a power setting for .047 X1/2 since I am lap welding. And yes I have experimented with the wire speed.The chart on the machine claims to be able to do 1/8" with .030 wire and 3/16" with .035" both MIG settings.
Will I get better penetration if I switch to .035" wire? I have read the "90 amp 4mm challenge" article in which .030 wire was used with 2mm thickness being the effective limit. Could better penetration have been obtained with .035 wire? Or is there some problem with my machine?
Thanks.
Nash