Need help improving my welding

I'm sure that it has been mentioned several times, but have a dedicated circuit in your garage just for high-amp devices such as compressors, welders, and such. (have the compressor off while welding) Try at all costs to eliminate the extension cord, these actually do rob you of power. If a cord must be used, then run the biggest gauge,( like a #12 or #10 ga) and the shortest length possible. I have welds improve immensely by just doing this. Also, a good quality spool of wire will also do the trick. Combined with technique, you will soon have good, quality welds.

 

When you guys switched from flux core to gas, how big of a difference in your welds did you notice right of the bat?

Also, has anyone gone from a cheapo welder to a medium-range welder? What was the effect on the quality of your welds?

 

For me the difference from flux core to gas was immediate and very very noticeable. The welds are cleaner and look much more uniform in there stitching.

 

Welded with 110 miller, 175 miller, 215 lincoln, and 251 miller. Can tell a big diff, between the 110 and 175 on stuff say 1/8" and bigger. From the 175 up to the 215/251 cant really tell a diff till welding up around 1/4" and bigger.

 

http://www.millerwelds.com/education/tech_tips/MIG_tips/

Thanks for the tip Tommy B! That is a great page. Printing out now to tape to the wall in the garage.

 

All the advise so far is right on. If I'm welding on new metal that i can get really clean I use C25 gas. If I have to weld something that may be really hard to get clean, like welding up a cracked engine mount or something that you just can't get a wire wheel or grinder on, I use flux core. Sometimes you just can't get it clean enough for mig welding.

 

Flux core wire will allow you to weld thicker metal with your machine than solid wire with gas shield. It is more forgiving in windy conditions, or if the metal is not too clean. It also spatters a lot. The wire must be dragged, similar to stick welding. The puddle is sometimes difficult to read.
Solid wire with gas shield, usually 75/25% argon/ co2 mix, will produce a much cleaner weld, provided the metal is very clean. If the metal is not very clean, porosity can become a problem. The mig gun should be tipped back about 30 degrees, and the puddle is pushed. This forces the gas ahead of the intended weld area, pushing contaminents in the atmosphere out of the way.
Many people, who are not experienced welders, have trouble with these machines because they are not set correctly. It is easier to learn to weld on thicker metal than on thinner, sheet metal. With your machine, using solid wire with gas, I would recommend getting a piece of 1/8 in. thick steel. Grind it clean, even remove the mill scale. Set the voltage control on max setting, or close to it. Set the wire feed speed about 1/2 way to max. Start to weld and adjust the wire feed to get the welding action as smooth as possible. A side to side weave works pretty good.
Welding , good welding, is more involved than people think. It takes hours of practice. Some people can produce a weld that may look OK, but in reality, may not be so strong. This can be dangerous! What would speed up the learning process, is to hook up with someone that is an experienced welder to help you. Hope this helps. Good luck!

 

Here's another helpful manual.

http://www.millerwelds.com/pdf/mig_handbook.pdf

tommy b

 

Gasless (innershielded )wire is a differant thing than Flux cored wire. I know that every brand and welding store calls things slightly differant. Solid wire or Hard wire is usually bronze red color in appearance and is usually best with a mixed gas( Argon, Co2 ) and is a solid wire without a core to it. This wire also does not make a solid slag covering os the weld. Flux core, Sometimes called Duel-Shield, wire is a hollow wire with a flux center which in conjuntion with a shielding gas (usually straight Co2) gives you a weld with a solid slag cover like most stick welding leaves. The best thing to do is ask alot of questions and never go with what only one person tells you. Remember that the salesman at the welding store may have been asking "Do You Want Fries With That" last week. Lastly When welding on your Jeep just remember that my kids or your kids might be in the backseat next weekend. I have been welding since I was big enough to pick up the stinger with my dad, and welded pipe for Fire sprinklers for the past 15 years and I'm just beginning to learn. Practice really does make the differance.

 

Watch the puddle of molten metal, not the arc! Watch the puddle and make it flow back and forth between the pieces you are welding.

 

Hi I use a Lincoln SP 125. Just remember when switching from gasless to gass you have to reverse the lead polarity.

 

Just did my first steel welding with gas today. All the previous posts are correct, gas is the way to go! Very clean, not hard to adjust to, and (almost) instantly better looking welds. Worth every penny!