i just bought and italy made MIG (SmartMig M20), CEA Brand, for Php40,000 = $800



here's my first try on my new toy















insights please

 

Is that fluxcore or hardwire? I can't tell from the pics. It looks like you brushed the welds.

 

try not to be so concern about the appearance of the weld, concentrate on getting the right heat and penetration first.

 

LIke GeeGee said...worry about penetration before you worry about pretty welds.

Those welds look like you are doing lots of spurts instead of a solid bead. I would clean up the metal and try a full bead.

 

yeah, with mig, dont do spots, do one weld.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flashmn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah, with mig, dont do spots, do one weld.</TD></TR></TABLE>

And clean up the metal a little before laying the bead.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Boostwerks.com &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is that fluxcore or hardwire? I can't tell from the pics. It looks like you brushed the welds. </TD></TR></TABLE>

You noob, look at the gas hook up.... jk. I know I know it could still have flux wire.

 

thank you so much for the tips

i concentrate on the cleaning department first


thanks

 

no way thats flux not enough spatter...

 

Those welds dont look right for MIG

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by makoy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">thank you so much for the tips

i concentrate on the cleaning department first


thanks</TD></TR></TABLE>

dont worry about cleaning anything now. you can MIG through some nasty stuff, thats part of why it's so versatile...but anyway

your first thing to practice is making continuous beads and working on setting the machine correctly. best tip I got when I started was to make it sound like bacon sizzling. have fun too, if you have time

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flashmn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah, with mig, dont do spots, do one weld.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

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

You noob, look at the gas hook up.... jk. I know I know it could still have flux wire.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

We still use gas with fluxcore at where I work Without the gas, there always seems to be some porosity.

 

good beads...looks like you need to hold the feeder at a different angle to get better flow from the weld into the metal...instead of cold lapping it

 

Most of us on here do a lot of tig, so most noobies who got thier hands on a mig have the tendency to make it look like tig welding and that's kinda wrong.

 

thank you for the tips

 

flux core wire with 75/25 mix lays some off the cleanest prettiest beads.....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by baseballinmyass &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">flux core wire with 75/25 mix lays some off the cleanest prettiest beads.....</TD></TR></TABLE>

better than pulsed spray transfer with C10? Thats the best I have ever been able to use, in more than just cosmetics too.

 

imo yes i just like the smoothness and color that is produced ill post some pics later

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by baseballinmyass &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">imo yes i just like the smoothness and color that is produced ill post some pics later</TD></TR></TABLE>

Are you pulling or pushing? I can get a get a great colorful looking bead by pushing the bead, but I've been told your not supposed to push with fluxcore because the flux doesn't really cover the weld(?). however, pulling the bead I just get a standard silver.

I'm gonna have to agree with bail hatch. I've been able to get the best looking beads with pulsed spray transfer. It's also amazing how much penetration you can get with hardwire pulsed compared to standard mig.

 

depends on if i want more penetration or more fill

 

[IMG][/IMG]
3 pass filet on dirty steel

[IMG][/IMG]

single pass filet to shiny to get good focus


Modified by baseballinmyass at 4:04 PM 5/15/2007

 

hate to be blunt but the best advice is practice, practice, practice

it's pretty good for a first timer, but you need to mess around with power, wire feed, position, etc. Telling you to just change one thing might get good welds for only that type of joint, metal, thickness, etc. Playing around with all the variables is really the best way to progress.

give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, he's fed for a lifetime

spend a dozen hours messing around and you'll begin to understand what works and what doesn't

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by baseballinmyass &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">[IMG][/IMG]
3 pass filet on dirty steel

[IMG][/IMG]

single pass filet to shiny to get good focus

those look nice, I think the surface is more uniform with pulse spray but not as shiny. I'm not much for prepping mild steel anyway though, so it might have something to do with it. are you doing any post weld clean up on those?


Modified by baseballinmyass at 4:04 PM 5/15/2007</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

no post weld clean up other than chipping the flux off. yes typically the surface with spray arc is smooth espcially with 90/10 or 90/8/2. i preffer the flux core over solid wire because most of the welds i do at work are multi pass and you get better wash out with flux core. like i said it's just a matter of preference, and application