MikeRJ
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| posted on 24/10/04 at 05:55 PM |
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CO2/Argon differences
Ran out of CO2 today, so fitted a new bottle of Argon/CO2 mix. Without changing any other settings, it all went tits up!
The arc was forming well in front of the metal, and the wire was just foring a big molten ball that dropped down regularly, which virtualy no heat
going into work. Sound was different, very quiet hiss instead of "frying bacon". Fiddled around and found I had to increase the wire
speed significantly (about 30% more) to get it to weld properly, and then started to burn holes in everything, so had to turn down the current as
well.
Finaly got it welding ok, and it is producing much nicer welds with virtual no spatter. However, is it normal to see such a big difference between
CO2 and Argon?
Also I have found it even harder to weld upside down now, the nozzle keeps getting choked up with crap, what am I doing wrong?
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Ben_Copeland
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| posted on 24/10/04 at 06:16 PM |
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CO2/Argon mix is better for mig welding. CO2 on its own is much much colder, so the settings would need to be changed
Ben
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JoelP
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| posted on 24/10/04 at 07:06 PM |
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i noticed a similar thing when i started on argon mix. with more wire feed and higher current (i think i turned it up, but my machine doesnt have very
precise current controls) i got it working ok. As the experts say, if you arent struggling with blowing holes, you dont have the current high
enough!
nowadays i dont even think about settings (maybe a bad thing), when welding thinner stuff (16g) i have the current and feed down, on 3mm stuff i flick
the power level and crank the wire feed up to 9.
Beware! Bourettes is binfectious.
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Ben_Copeland
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| posted on 24/10/04 at 07:16 PM |
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Ah.. switches... hmmm dont have switches with TradeMIG, you have lots of knobs and i can safely say it makes a better weld. Especially now i'm
using Argonshield (Argon/CO2) 
Ben
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Z20LET Astra Turbo, into a Haynes
Roadster
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Peteff
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| posted on 24/10/04 at 08:01 PM |
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I use lower amps with 5% argon than with neat CO2 but I only use CO2 if I run out of good stuff. If you're getting your shroud spattered up
it's usually because your arc is too short but the hiss you described was the opposite. You might be better off turning your work over till you
get the hang of it.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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