Cracking website with mucho info for welding amateurs (like me !)
when MIG welder specs can weld up to x mm mild steel, doesthat ment total tickness of both pieces? (surely it has to).
is there quick rule of thumb to say x Amp welder can weld up to y mm of mild steel?
where x = 120 Amp is of particular interest
The "thickness" figure has always seemed a little spurious to me...
If you are clever how you notch or V the joint you can weld much thicker than they claim....
Have a look HERE there's a table showing what power you need for what thickness.
Cracking website with mucho info for welding amateurs (like me !)
Also check (same website) their info on the welding ability of the Clarke 90.
The quoted capabilities of Mig welders are often hopelessly optimistic.
I've got a Clarke 90 and it'll do 1.5-2mm max... I think Clarke say it'll do 3mm. No way. Not even with notching and 100% CO2....
quote:
Originally posted by BenB
Also check (same website) their info on the welding ability of the Clarke 90.
The quoted capabilities of Mig welders are often hopelessly optimistic.
I've got a Clarke 90 and it'll do 1.5-2mm max... I think Clarke say it'll do 3mm. No way. Not even with notching and 100% CO2....
When I welded some 5mm plate I had to get my stick welder out - my 150A MIG just couldn't get it hot enough to make a proper weld pool (just got
cold, brittle welds).
Fortunately I like stick welding...
if you need to weld something thick make sure youve got a really good earth clamp and lead. the higher the resistance, the lower the welding current.
everything youll ever need to know about mig welding is on mig-welding.co.uk!
It's def true that a good earth is important. I put a new earth clamp on my mig recently and it was a revolation!!!
My Erfi 170 will weld 6mm no problem and will probably go thicker but I never needed to. When I was at the foundry we used to flatten copper pipe round the end of the earth cable then drop a metal weight on it to earth to castings or use mole grips to clamp to plate.