Any welders in the house?

[TheGaj]

Hi all, I'm trying to modify a motorbike trailer I bought to take a bigger bike, and as a complete welding n00b, i'm finding it harder than I thought!

So... last night I started, I have borrowed one of these SIP Migmate 150 Turbo from my friend, with all the gubbins to go with it. Tried last night on some off cuts of steel, and just managed to make a mess with big blobs of weld not holding much together at all! After about half an hour of trying, the welder stopped working, another half an hour of staring at the thing, and decide that a nice cold pint would help me think! So pop downstairs to the pub (it's great living above one), and two pints later I go back to tackle it again, only to find out the reason it wasn't working was the gas had run out.

Back to the pub aagin, two more pints later an a bit of sweet talking to the landlord, and I got meself another big bottle of CO2. Kewl.

Gonna try again tonight, but looking for some tips on techniques, easiest ways to start, how much wire should be sticking out the welder when you start etc etc, I managed to weld the wire to the gun several times, before it finally had enough of my trying! Any help much appreciated. Feel free to teach me like an idiot, 'cos when it comes to welding I am!!

[Ichy]

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/learning-mig.htm

Its a bit hard to explain by writing but this site has videos. I don't necessarily agree with the technique but its a start.

Random Tips.
Main thing is to make sure the feed rate and power are correct for the thickness of material. No penetration usually means your moving too fast or the power is too low. If the wire is pushing off the part then the feed rate is too high, if it sort of 'backfires' the feed rate is too low.

Make sure everything is clean.

If there are bubbles in the weld then theres not enough Co2.

To stop the wire welding it to the tip use anti spatter spray, not sure what you can use in its place, maybe oil, tallow? This usually happens if theres a bad earth or you are too close to the workpiece or maybe the power is set too high.

[Ichy]

BTW the tip should be about 1/2" from the surface, if you have welding gloves and a head mask the it can sometime be easier to use your other hand as a guide, sort of like a rifle?

[TheGaj]

[mr.z]

Try this one too (h@ynes welding manual)
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[slimjim04]