Nigelw Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 Has anyone here got any special tips to offer up to try to get this going better, I have been practicing but I tell ya, if anything I seem to be getting worse not better at it! Is is wire speed? Amps? Am I not using the correct technique? been looking for a vid or two on the tube but all I can say is that if I need to do just a couple of passes once in a while it looks ace, but if I need to do a fair but like today on a mates truck I can't weld for the life of me upside down, vertical no problem horizontal no problem but upside down today just is not working and getting tired of the burns too!! Help me out fellas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynic-al Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 I find it hard too. I tend to leave the amps the same but turn up the gas and wire feed and move faster. That and wear something thick! Still doesn't end up as neat though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 Any chance you can make it not quite so upside down? ie roll the truck onto it's side safely? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 As above with Al, more wire, more gas, and hold the torch a little further, and at more of an angle to the workpiece. Also, remember you can stop if it looks like it is going to drop off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 ...and a clean weld joint - rust and/or paint will make it a lot harder . I find turning the power and wire speed down and going slower makes it easier and if necessary weaving more to get the right size weld ..whatever you do overhead on vehicle's is always a pain , earplugs and lots of PPE and room to get out of the way of hot droplets should they happen cheers Steveb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted December 27, 2013 Author Share Posted December 27, 2013 It was a couple of patches on the sills the same as I did on Rusty last week and it turned out ok but today it was like pigeon droppings, looked like my chickens had been under there with a case of the squits I did put the opposite side up on ramps to get it easier but not really a great help. I needed to be confident of weld strength which is why I kind of left the amps high, prep was good and area was cut out and flapped back with 40 grit sandy discs, new plate was sanded back and wiped with acetone to remove grease, sorry but no pics as still can't find the camera, just wondering what else I could have done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 Were you plugged into a long ext lead? as voltage drop can be significant with a welder cheers Steveb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 I think that's my problem - welding out the garage on an extension, where the garage is effectively an extension down the length of the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted December 27, 2013 Author Share Posted December 27, 2013 Were you plugged into a long ext lead? as voltage drop can be significant with a welder cheers Steveb Oh dear My big lead was busy with the water pumps after the flooding on Christmas day and I only had to hand the medium lead, it's heavy enough for most things but the welder is a mighty beast and hungry for current!!! When the waters have receded a bit more I will do a few more test pieces on the side of the bench to see what differences are. Just for those that are wondering what I mean, this is what I was greeted by on Christmas morning in my barn. Yes that is water in front and all around my straw stocks OK lets see how bad it is else where, open up the back barn doors..... Oh FFS!!!!! But my new barn doors look good that I made last week Right now to take SWMBO to work.... Yes that will be the road outside my house flooded What a bad start to Christmas day, thank god it got better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 I have had a bit of time experiment, in the end of my tests I found the only way I could achieve consistent results was to change over to Argoshield gas(I always run CO2) turn amps down and the wire feed too, I am finding it a bit of a learning curve again but it really has improved, ssuppose everydays a school day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie_grieve Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 LOL, That dog's face says it all!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickeyw Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) When I was at college, I blagged a few lunch time welding courses with one of the mech eng tutors (I wasn't on a course that included welding). I already had a cheapy MIG that I'd tried upside down work with, and not managed great results. The college MIG plant was a decent pro grade unit, and made beautiful welds whatever way up they were. This without any adjustments. The tutor did make a point that the better the machine, the better it welded, any way up. Good clean parts to be joined will help achieve a better weld, as will good access, good lighting and a good welding set. Oh and plenty of practice with YOUR welder, so you just know what speed for what power setting works best. I have always used Argon/CO2 mix (Argoshield type) gasses, not tried plain CO2. Oh and try not to weld outside on a windy day, Edited February 13, 2014 by mickeyw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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