Big Stripdown and Weld thread 300tdi

[Alibro]

So Alibro you have 3 grinder's as well ??

Erm yes, a 115mm, a 125mm and a 225mm.

Does that make me VERY posh?

 

[Chrisw8]

Very rich !!! Lol

Ok, today's Jobby........

Cut out rot ...and make a patch.

Cover everything inside and out in Fertan

 

[Magicgrotto]

Does that make me VERY posh?

Naaa to be VERY posh you need two 9" & four 4&1/2" grinders

Chris lookin GOOD

Steve

 

[Chrisw8]

Welded in the plate......

Had some bubbles popping through weld puddle...??? What's that all about ???.... Welding onto dirty metal perhaps ??

Anyways, grinded back and re done the bad bits, finished off with a coat of Bonda Prima

 

[pete1987RRC]

So if you have a 9", 2 x 4 1/2", a 3" and a 4 1/2 I must be real posh, TBf one is a Tesco model that I borrowed from a mate 15 years ago.

 

[Chrisw8]

Too hot again today ...... Can't get going....., so just made this plate ready for welding ......

 

[Magicgrotto]

LOOKIN GOOD Chris!
More Power less wire! Needs to sound like Chips in a CHIP PAN ! Or Bacon in fryin pan !

Steve

 

[Chrisw8]

Hi Steve,

I've bought a tidy earth clamp from local welder shop, and done a bit more practicing . I'm ok in the garage on scrap, but still getting too much weld on the car. ...... Must be my technique !!!! Lol

Anyways,

Welded up the plates and primed them .

 

[Magicgrotto]

Well Chris the only thing I can say is it wont fall apart !!
I understand that your welding outside not the best place to weld ! wind blowing the gas away
Can you post a picy of your welder? wot sort of gas are you using ?? wot gas regulator do you have ?
Still think your wire feed is to high ! or your not moving fast enough , the weld just doesn't seem to have penetrated enough for my liking !
another thing wot size wire are you using ?

Steve

 

[Chrisw8]

I'm using Clarke 151te welder. the sheet metal is 2mm.
settings on welder are 3max and wire speed around 6ish.
use argon mix gas. .6mm wire.

I don't start moving the gun until I can see a puddle forming and see it 'eating into the metal', and then move it (admittedly not very fast) while keeping the puddle at the end of the arc.

If I increase my movement, how does that make it hotter ?? ...... surely it'll be less hot ?

 

[Alibro]

Shouldn't you be using 0.8mm wire for 2mm metal? I'm no expert and my welding is no better than yours but I thought 0.6mm was more for body panels around 1mm than chassis steel.
Mind you I could be well wrong so hopefully a proper welder will have a better idea.

BTW loving this thread and big respect for giving it a go.

 

[Chrisw8]

Cheers Alibro. I'm blagging it as I go !!! lol

I suppose .8 would be better, but the manual says .6 is ok upto 3mm.

 

[Magicgrotto]

Hi Chris , Am I reading right ? Max power 3 ? Good on 2mm plate ! Good on gas ! wot do you have gas regulated at ?
Do you push or pull ? As for the wire speed I would be around 4,1/2 /5ish
MY welder is bigger than your's & I use 0.8 wire Power 1/8 but I only use power settings 4/5 ! If i'm on setting 4 my wire speed is around 5.5 ish & If i'm on setting 5 my wire speed is around 6.5 ish

Steve

 

[Chrisw8]

steve.

3/max is the highest setting . gas flow is 10ish. I got a 2 dial gas regulator and a 'pea' type one on the side of them.
I understand that that's about right, though I do notice it a bit 'blast furnace' at times !!

Ive tried a lower wire speed at 3/max and it seems to be stuttering and not getting a good arc.

perhaps ive got the wire feed motor clamp too tight ? ......... I shall have a play with that tomorrow.

 

[Chrisw8]

......and I try and push, if I can get my head / arm / back in the correct position. lol
otherwise its point and make the most of it. !!!

 

[Magicgrotto]

Stutter as in jerky ? Gas flow good ! how old is the welder ?
I tried 0.6 wire in mine & it was sh**e would not weld Put 0.8 wire in & a 100% improvement !
Have you ever blown the wire tube out with a compressor ?? you will be amazed on how much CRAP comes out

Steve

 

[Magicgrotto]

.......... Yet I have a Snap on 150 welder that LOVES 0.6 wire & welds better than the 1 I'm using at the moment !

Steve

 

[Chrisw8]

its only about 2 years old.......bought it for the disco.

the stuttering appears to be the wire burning back towards the tip, which is why its on 6ish

ooooooo .......... just had a thought ........in the garage it plugs into the socket on the wall.

when I'm welding the Landy, its on an extension lead. wonder if that's the problem ??

 

[Magicgrotto]

I would give the wire line a blow out ! Extension lead only a prob if getting HOT
I'm going to make a suggestion that you try some 0.8 wire that way you can turn your wire speed down & hopefully not get such a prominent weld but still get the penetration you need

Steve

 

[Chrisw8]

will do. I'll have a play tomorrow. many thanks for your comments and suggestions.

chris