Tip to get a good flowing weld

[stfezzy]

Hi guys i own a mighty mig 150 and im havin trouble getting a nice flowing weld ! I can strike an ark but cant get technique right to get a nice weld can some people give me sum tips plz

[phunky monkey]

are you using gas?

[Frisco]

What are you welding? panels or something heavier

[stfezzy]

Yea using co 2 gas and bit of a mix of metal thickness but most of it only 1mm thick !

[phunky monkey]

How to MIG Weld - Tutorial thats the best advice i can give you without actually showing you in person

[wetshed]

dont use c02 for a start. you want a mix of co2, oxygen and argon. or pure argon for stainless and alli. then to start off put wire speed to just past the middle and try on medium thickness first 2-3mm. and dont rush the weld will only be as good as the prep of what you want to weld so clean everything well.

[rc]

Clean metal is defo the key,

you can get good flowing welds fine from using co2 if your good but it is easier using argon/argoshield.

[stfezzy]

Thx mate will have to try different gas then!

[8valve-craig]

dont try a continuous weld on 1mm steel, probably just burn through, use a sort of pulse, welding about 10mm then stopping for around a second as the heat disperses then continuing. Forms a nice weld

[wetshed]

Clean metal is defo the key,

you can get good flowing welds fine from using co2 if your good but it is easier using argon/argoshield.

no co2 is just the cheap option. better flow from the weld pool and alot less splatter with argon mix. wouldnt bother with c02 i use pure argon in my mig and with my tig plant for stainless and ally. plus you cant use c02 on stainless and ally.

[hay_lewis_68]

dont use c02 for a start. you want a mix of co2, oxygen and argon. or pure argon for stainless and alli. then to start off put wire speed to just past the middle and try on medium thickness first 2-3mm. and dont rush the weld will only be as good as the prep of what you want to weld so clean everything well.

isnt the whole point of the gas shield to exclude all oxygen from the weld to prevent combustion?

[stfezzy]

great help guys!! ive now got a mix of c02 and argon and i works loads betta totaly different sound to the ark!!!!!

[Frisco]

isnt the whole point of the gas shield to exclude all oxygen from the weld to prevent combustion?

It is designed to exclude normal air from the weld because it causes porosity. Some oxygen in it helps to reduce spatter to keep the heat localised.
Argoshield is a mix of argon, carbon dioxide and oxygen. The mix depends on which type of argoshield you have and that depends on what you are using it on.

Pure argon is very good but unless you are welding stainless its not really necessary and its stupidly expensive.

Pub gas is just carbon dioxide and isn't anywhere near as good as argoshield. Most of it has a lot of water vapour in it too which is less than ideal.

[bigworm]

one good tip to help with mig welding is to make sure your angle of the torch is correct and that you are pushing the torch rather than dragging it
also make sure your amps are correct if you think your not getting penetration ie weld pooling up in a ball up the amps and reverse if your getting to much blow through reduce the amps and always/always make sure the weld is clean a good grind with a paddle
and you are using the correct gas right now (argoshield) for mig, pub gas(co2) if your really cheap
pure argon for tig only as its bloody expensive and an not needed with mig
but saying that if you want to start welding ally you got to try hellium with argon, man that makes my welds look pretty good