Welding advice

[iwaxmyjimmy]

Well I just recently purchased a welder and I'm still learning the machine, hobart handler 190. I need some help with my technique but I don't have time to take classes with my work schedule in the Army. If anyone could give a brother some tips I would greatly appreciate it. Running 75% argon 25% Co2 and .030 solid wire.

This is some .060 wall I used to build my welder cart

This is some 1/8" plate I used to make some shock mounts. From what I've read I need to turn the wire speed down

It kind of looks like the weld is sitting on top of the plate but it's blue/discolored on the back side at the joint

Maybe I do need to turn the power up, that was on 3. But that splatter had me worried the wire speed was to high.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

Oh and this is the finished product of the cart

 

[dremu]

It kind of looks like the weld is sitting on top of the plate but it's blue/discolored on the back side at the joint

Try it on a piece of scrap, then cut the joint in half to see your penetration. My gut says there's a bit too much wire up top and you coulda turned the speed down a bit, but I'm no expert.

I'm under the impression that the discoloration on the back side is what you're wanting, but we'll see what the pros chime in with.

I'd also try to go farther towards the edge, which I know is a pain with tube and really hard around corners. Again, maybe the pros will pop up with The Right Way to do that.

-- A

 

[eel757]

The first ones don't look that bad the second one try slowing down or increase wire speed as far as penetration it depends on the metal thickness you may have to bevel the edge or leave a small gap

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

The first ones don't look that bad the second one try slowing down or increase wire speed as far as penetration it depends on the metal thickness you may have to bevel the edge or leave a small gap

Yeah I didn't bevel the edges at all

 

[eel757]

How thick is the metal?

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

How thick is the metal?

Last two pics were 1/8" on voltage level 3 and 40 on wire speed

 

[eel757]

When I comes it takes practice best thing is get some steel plate and practice but joint and T joints as far as heat and speed go off the cart on the welder then go from there a lot of it is personal preference.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

When I comes it takes practice best thing is get some steel plate and practice but joint and T joints as far as heat and speed go off the cart on the welder then go from there a lot of it is personal preference.

I'll do a few more practice runs. I'll try beveling it next time

 

[ktmoutfront]

On the second 2 pictures, grind the surface before welding. Makes a huge difference. And slow the wire down. With limited switched setting, not an unlimited dial in, technique is really important. Practice is the key.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

Turned down the wire speed some and less splatter, I really need to practice to get a good bead though. I'm drawling pretty much a "j" then reversing it. Using the pull method. I'm practicing with upper shock mounts so they aren't really load bearing but should easily hold with my welds. They seen plenty strong but need to be beautified.

 

[ktmoutfront]

Try circles insted of J's.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

Try circles insted of J's.

How low of pressure do y'all run your cylinders down too? And do y'all leave the regulator at a certain PSI?

 

[ktmoutfront]

Psi depends on tip cone size. I ru. 22psi or so. If the wind is blowing, more. The smaller the cone, less psi. I run my tank dry because it is usually on the weekend when I run out.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

Psi depends on tip cone size. I ru. 22psi or so. If the wind is blowing, more. The smaller the cone, less psi. I run my tank dry because it is usually on the weekend when I run out.

Lol yeah it's windy as hell where I'm at but I just bought a 55# bottle and it's down to 750 psi now. I'm running it 20 PSI.

 

[cybrfire]

2nd pic, i'd say more heat, less wire or a combination of the two. Adjust travel speed to suit once you get a "wetter" puddle.

 

[jekquistk5]

Start trying to push, better penetration. I push 90% of the time.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

I'll weld some scrap together tonight and practice some. Hopefully I will feel comfortable enough that when it comes time to build my tierod I'll weld the bungs in myself. I know I'll have to bevel the 1.5 .250 wall tubing for that. I'm still amazed how powerful this 190 is.

 

[tRustyK5]

Start trying to push, better penetration. I push 90% of the time.

This, drag is for stick welding. I push all micro-wire and flux core. On the 1/8" stuff in your pic, try it with heat on 4 and leave the wire speed alone. Frankly I don't manipulate the puddle much at all...just a straight push. Stack of dimes is a TIG thing, not MIG.

As for gas setting, all y'all need to re-check your gauges, it ain't psi you're looking at, it's CFH. For .030-.035 I run at 20 minimum, and up to high 20's if there is any sort of breeze.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

This, drag is for stick welding. I push all micro-wire and flux core. On the 1/8" stuff in your pic, try it with heat on 4 and leave the wire speed alone. Frankly I don't manipulate the puddle much at all...just a straight push. Stack of dimes is a TIG thing, not MIG.



As for gas setting, all y'all need to re-check your gauges, it ain't psi you're looking at, it's CFH. For .030-.035 I run at 20 minimum, and up to high 20's if there is any sort of breeze.

I'll try it tomorrow I gotta do some command survey, army stuff always gets in the way of truck stuff. It's weird