OK, I went and picked up a 220V Mig welder and need some pointers. Yeah, I could take a class but I'm going to attempt the trial and error approach. I thought it was time to do some of my own work. Anyway, occasionaly I will weld a decent bead, but most of the time the weld just balls up and looks like crap. Is this a heat issue? How do you get that nice puddle? I'm using flux core wire without gas, maybe that's the problem. I know there is no one answer, but any pointers would be great.

Get some gas and just experiment with speeds and juice.

What's the gas going to do other than eliminate some of the slag?

More heat and less wire speed. Slow the wire speed down and play with the gun more. I also recomend running shielding gas with solid wire. Try weaving the gun from side to side....and maybe a circular motion.

skip the class and read the manual that surely came with your welded and maybe buy a book. you will learn, young jedi. ps flux core plays the meat whistle

Unfortunately the manual I have is almost worthless, but I did buy a book. I did do some research before I jumped into it, but like everything else you need that hands on. I took a look at my welder this morning because I was going to buy an argon bottle, anyway I have the damn polarity set up backwards. Using flux core and set up for gas :shaking: I'll try this again tonight after work. Damn amateurs!

Are you using the right polarity? For flux core, it's electrode negative (EN)and solid wire is electrode positive (EP).


Andy

It was set up backwards. This welder was actually given to me and had a spool of flux core already on it. I just assumed it was wired up right. I've been welding all week like this. :shaking:

So post up some pics of the welds.

ps flux core plays the meat whistle

I guess thousands of construction/fabrication/pipefitters/welders are wrong...

I weld steel studs (office buildings, hospitals, schools, you name it) that's all we use is flux core, I'm certified to weld that way and I've never had a problem with anything on my rig doing it this way. And that's welding everything from 20ga. to 1/2 plate, and various combinations in between. We use stick welders and wire feeds, we've experimented with solid, but we like flux best.

I DO get more splatter, but I have a wire brush to make up for that.

I like solid core with an Argon mix, but it doesn't make my world go round.

I'll take some pictures tonight. Should be a good bashing.

Here's with the polarity backwards

Here's with the polarity hooked up right. I know it sucks. It looks alot better in person. The picture dosen't give it justice. :D

Im not sure what everyone is talking about flux core being crap where i used to work we welded bridges (no not ones that cars drive on) for overhead cranes and they were rated to 200+ tons with flux core and this was 3" plate. Also they made stator frames and that is what they used and they were pressure tested under a crazy ammount of pressure. So if you say fluxcore is junk then you might want to take a look into some industrial apps. that is all they use but dont get me wrong mig does have its place but it just doesnt have the penetration on thick metals that flux core does

I'm not a huge fan of flux core either (slag sucks), but trying to weld outside on a breezy day is next to impossible with solid. A place for everything, I suppose.

Here's with the polarity hooked up right. I know it sucks. It looks alot better in person. The picture dosen't give it justice. :D
Don't forget, when you mig you've got to reverse the polarity again. In my opinion, a mig machine smaller than 200 amps is too small for anything thicker than 1/8". You're better off using the flux core. Mig process pulses the heat. Meaning it turns off and on. On my Lincoln SP I turn the heat all the way up to mig 1/8" and almost half that to use flux core. Just get a good chipping hammer and wire brushes and wheels.
Looks like you're on the right track....

Get a Stick welder!

Are you guys talking about "dual shield" flux core (like LA T-91) or self shielding like T-11? I work in a big fab shop and we use dual shield there and in our portable suitcase rigs. Dual shield still needs gas. This is the industry standard up here (Canada) in most fab shops. We mostly use T91 / 1/16" dual shield and run it in all positions. For my own use I like mickey wire better...doesn't make such a mess. Also...not ALL flux core runs on straight polarity...I have a roll of .035 that runs on reverse polarity...check the tag that should be on the roll.

[QUOTE=1MrWillys] In my opinion, a mig machine smaller than 200 amps is too small for anything thicker than 1/8". QUOTE]

Huh? My little 220V Miller 175 is rated at way less than 200A and I have single-passed 3/8's with very good penetration in the heat affected area. Even my old Lincoln 110 would do a "fair" job on 1/4 if you keep the wire speed down and work the puddle well.

SeanP

[QUOTE=1MrWillys] In my opinion, a mig machine smaller than 200 amps is too small for anything thicker than 1/8". QUOTE]

Huh? My little 220V Miller 175 is rated at way less than 200A and I have single-passed 3/8's with very good penetration in the heat affected area. Even my old Lincoln 110 would do a "fair" job on 1/4 if you keep the wire speed down and work the puddle well.

SeanP

Sean, don't mind him. Do a search on his name and you'll see that he is retarded ;)

Don't forget, In my opinion, I have no idea what the fuck I'm talking about. Search my other posts and you will see that I am a complete asshat. Oh, by the way, I have a corvette".


Fixed that for you. Now since you are once again talking out of your ass you are either
A: Ignorant

B: A bad welder

C: All of the above

I can single pass 1/8th running .30 wire and co2/argon mix all day long on my lincoln 135.

Are you guys talking about "dual shield" flux core (like LA T-91) or self shielding like T-11? I work in a big fab shop and we use dual shield there and in our portable suitcase rigs. Dual shield still needs gas. This is the industry standard up here (Canada) in most fab shops. We mostly use T91 / 1/16" dual shield and run it in all positions. For my own use I like mickey wire better...doesn't make such a mess. Also...not ALL flux core runs on straight polarity...I have a roll of .035 that runs on reverse polarity...check the tag that should be on the roll.

I hope you mean portable as in a truck for a machine that runs 1/16th!

:smokin:

dual shield is the shiat... I use esab 7100 ultra for low amp