21 replies to this topic

[lukel536]

For xmas I got a mig welder, its gasless and uses 0.8m flux.

The main problem I am having is when i weld, no matter what settings I have it on it spits and spats weld all over the place, what can I do to stop this, also i keep buring holes straight threw when trying to weld pieces together.

Please can some one help me

[Mini Mad Drakeley]

the spattering is caused because you arent using gas with it, the gas prevents this and makes a cleaner and stronger weld, go out and get a bottle of carbon dioxide and argon mix gas, this is the most commonly used as pure argon is more used for TIG welding but for more info go to
www.mig-welding.co.uk
i think thats the right website but its brilliant and will basically tell you everthing you need to know

[George929]

mig for ya i got tig so cant help but im sure its a commom problem

[Boycie]

Nope he is fine without gas because the wire is cored with flux.

Are the practice metal pieces clean and grease-free?

[lukel536]

Nope he is fine without gas because the wire is cored with flux.

Are the practice metal pieces clean and grease-free?

I grided down the metal till all the paint was off, I am using old mini panels I have cut off, is there something else I should be doing to them?

[Boycie]

They should be fine.

It's probably just a case of practice. Mig is not easy to do straight away, it's an art that is only mastered after lots of practice. Some people never manage it !!

Make sure you're holding the torch at the correct angle, and distance from the piece, moving it slowly and steadily.

[jamie@thefatgarage]

Find a good thick piece of clean shiny steel (5-10mm thick +) and just start by trying to weld a nice bead down it (highish power setting and lowish wire speed). You will need to play with both settings to find one that works even if you are an experienced welder. Once you figure that out, start on thinner and older stuff, then on two pieces to weld together. After lots of practice try the stuff minis are made of. It takes a lot of time and effort to get any good at it and minis with the cheap, thin old metal they are made of is not the best first lesson.

[Mini Mad Drakeley]

Nope he is fine without gas because the wire is cored with flux.

Are the practice metal pieces clean and grease-free?

i didnt notice he had said flux covered but i didnt realise you could get flux covered wire, i thought flux was only used in stick welding lol but yeh do what boycie has said here but if its flux covered it shouldnt be splattering but if the wire is covered in the sorta flux the sticks are in stick welding it would probably be low hydrogen flux which is the most commonly used, it should only splatter a little bit so im now at a loss if nothing works thats been mentioned before, but try the website i put in an earlier post, its brilliant for learning how to set it up, service the MIG welder and also welding, it helped me get a high mark in my welding assignment in tech

[lukel536]

thanks for all the quick replies, i will try that website thanks

[Paul Wiginton]

Fluxed core wire does produce a horrible looking weld. After welding, wire brush it and see how it looks.
As said before it takes practice and playing around. Its easier to start on thicker metal. The Mini panels you're using are thin to start with and if you have ground the paint off theyre even thinner now.
Keep the torch cable as straight as possible

Paul

[Kam]

it spits and spats weld all over the place

Sounds like its 'machine gunning' try turning the speed down on the wire speed, but not silly low otherwise you gotta move your tip a bit quicker

That link above is an awesome help

[lapider]

although my welding skills arent all that good when i have tried welding without gas it has resulted in a very dirty weld that looks very sotty as a result of the heat and it leaves a sort of sooty deposit around the area of weld if this sounds common to the problems that you are experiancing then it is a lack of Gas.

[charie t]

if you have ground the paint off theyre even thinner now.

Is that saying a mini panel makes its strength from the paint

[blue blood]

i was always told to stay away from electric welders as they can have arcing difficulties! Also doesn't the weld have reside or something over it once its been welded? Regards Blue

[joakwin]

if you have ground the paint off theyre even thinner now.

Is that saying a mini panel makes its strength from the paint

he's saying is the guy probably got into the metal as he was grinding off the paint

also he needs to pulse the weld for sheet metal, like weld for a sec, then stop for a sec, then weld for a sec....ect ect....
also the angle of the tip when welding will help it not have as much of a mess