i have a wire feed mig welder. i am learing to weld with it. i have been messing with the settings and temps and stuff but i cant seem to get a good pool started.

all i get is pops and splaters and no real welds, only 'little *****' of stuff and no real welds.

some pointers would help, thanks guys

 

what machine, what are you welding, etc...
you need to get it to where it is constantly "hissing" when youre welding, that is the arc, and if you go slow wire speed and higher heat, you can make a good controllable pool...depending on what youre welding.

 

im just welding steel right now, the wire just 'pops' alot when i arc it and i can get a pool going.

so i need higher heat and slower wire feed?

also i am not using shielding gas, do i need to?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by built562 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
also i am not using shielding gas, do i need to?</TD></TR></TABLE>

MIG - Metal Inert Gas

Does that answer your question?

 

Something I tried once, but I'm sure it's not good practice, was making a pool, then taking the torch off of that for just a second, then putting it back on right at the base of that pool. It actually turned out very nice, and penetration was good also. This was practicing on steel exhaust piping from either Jegs or JCWhitney.

I'm sure that's not good practice or a good habit to be in (making a pool then stopping for a second, then doing that again), but it worked for me. I'll have to try the more heat/slower wire thing. I have a 90 amp MIG welder from Harbor freight. (Chicago Electric Welding Systems MIG-100).

 

are you using flux core? also make sure you have a good ground, and try every heat wire speed with one heat setting, then you can get an idea of what your settings should be. example heat setting 2, then wire speed 1,2,3 etc. when you find what works good there then move up from there. example heat 2 works good with speed 3 and 4 try to go to heat 3 then try speed 3,4,5, 6 etc.
also when you go to run a bead dont try to weave back and forth etc. just try to get a nice steady flow give the arc time to melt and puddle then practice pulling the puddle by slowly moving from left to right. dont move too fast. then after that try to get use to pushing your weld puddle, instead of draging it behing your gun point your gun in the direction you want to weld and move slowly that way.

 

make sure you arent holding your gun tip too far away from the weld that was one mistake i was making, i am just learning also. o and hold the gun at a 45 degree angle, that works for me, please correct me if im wrong someone

 

Why are people still trying to figure out whats wrong, he is not using gas, thats his problem.

 

Well some of us already have flux core (gasless) welders, so thats what we just use. Excuse me for not being rich enough to have one that uses gas.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TurboGoKart &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well some of us already have flux core (gasless) welders, so thats what we just use. Excuse me for not being rich enough to have one that uses gas. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Never said you had to be rich, but this guy said he was mig welding with out gas, and that will cause the popping sound

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 90blackcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Never said you had to be rich, but this guy said he was mig welding with out gas, and that will cause the popping sound</TD></TR></TABLE>

Gotcha. That's good to know.

 

hey&lt; i got the same welder on sale @ harborfreight just to learn/mess around with and I havent had any real luck making a bead I get the same problem small balled up pieces of garbage welds, I welded two things together, Cant even hold their own weight Im about to go back and practice some more and mess with settings,

 

Post some pics up, if the wire hits the metal and breaks off, you need more heat and maybe less wire speed. If the wire burns up to quick, you need to turn down the heat.

Hard to tell with no pics