Hi Tom and others,
I found that the "mig welding spray" lubricant helps a lot-- gives a nice
smooth wire speed. Other advice is excellent: start-stop to keep the heat
down and to stay within the machine's duty cycle, smaller wire, do small
runs and not continuous welds.
I used to have a Millermatic 250 which was brilliant (spray transfer made
good welds so easy even for an amateur like me.) I now have a small Miller
and my welds (on thin metal) are not nearly as good or as easy to do. Mt old
welder Daniel was a real TIG wizard but he died of AIDS two months ago
(sadly his replacement will probably follow in a few months...)
cheers, derek
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Witt" <wittsend@jps.net>
To: <tigers@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, December 28, 2001 10:03 PM
Subject: Welding Advice Needed
> 25+ years ago I was competent (though no expert) in arc and gas welding in
> High School. When I got my Tiger I purchased a Lincoln MIG PAK 100 (88 amp
> rating) to replace rusted panels. At times I can get a really good bead
> going for a few inches then !@#$%^&*. I most often am blowing holes in the
> 22-24 guage metal used in the Tiger's wheel wells (and elsewhere). I have
> had no problems with the thicker metal such as the inner rocker panels.
All
> my welds have been lap welds and I have tried to keep the puddle closest
to
> where the metals lap (thus double thickness).
> Here are the perticulars: I am using the lowest "A" setting, Argon
75%-Co2
> 25% gas (more on the gas pressure later) and have adjusted the wire feed
> both above and below the recommended setting. I try to keep the weld going
> at an appropriate rate, but it seems like the slightest bobble, or change
in
> the metal and ZAP!..., a hole in the metal. Then attempts to "fill" it in
> create blobs, unsightly welds and often just extends and enlages the hole.
> Thus, I attempt to grind most of the weld down and go over it again. This
> only perpetuates the problem as the surface is more irregular than before
> and it goes on and on (I'm stubborn). In the end I have a weld I have gone
> over 5-6 times, is a 1/2" wide, and even with extensive grinding still
looks
> rather crappy. Today I welded about a foot and a half (yea,that's 18
inches)
> and it took about 8 hr's (weld/grind etc.) to get it looking as bad as it
> does. It really kills me because at times I'll get say 3 inches (in a
single
> pass) that look great. I clean all the metal, the wire is not jamming and
> the gas is on. Any tips??? I have tried copper behind the weld (in the few
> cases where I can actually reach to get it there).
> This brings me to the gas. I have used Argon/Co2 feeling I can use all the
> help I can get. A professional welder friend (he welds Aircraft
Maintenence
> for Fed-Ex) says 4-6 pounds is all I need. The guy at the gas store says
> 15-20 pounds (but then he's selling the gas). I have been going with about
> 10 pounds, but am really eating the gas. What with all the weld/grinding
> etc. I'm getting maybe 3 linear feet of crappy finished product out of a
20
> pound bottle. Since I have had this welder I have used 5 pounds of wire
and
> 60 pounds of gas. Here in Calif it's just about $22 a bottle with all the
> haz-mat stuff etc.
> Should I forgo the Argon (and its cost)? How much pressure should I use?
> Finally, I often find it difficult to see with the mask on. I have gone
from
> a # -10 to a # -9 lens. Would I damage my eyes to go to an # - 8?
> Thanks for any help that might come. But please, spare yourself with long
> talks about metalurgy and the like. I am after setting and technique
> information. Thanks, Tom Witt B9470101
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