Welding question

[rok-the-boat]

I recently got me a small low power MIG welder - max 90A. IT's OK for welding thin stuff - seems to work OK. I have a question though - it seems to be 'on' all the time . Like, when I bring gun up to the job it arcs before I pull the trigger. Is that normal?

Other than that, it works fine. Just have to be careful to keep the nozzle away from the job when not welding.

[bogan]

like a proper weld arc, or just a residual spark? later is normal i think

[Bikemad]

its common/normal for them to spark once if the wire contacts the job before you pull the trigger........more common with single phase i believe

[porky]

Im no expert,nor engineer but i have cheap shit arse mig (gas and gasless single phase 15-20min duty cycle (i think)) and based on my one, something isnt right. Feed + spark+ gas together when you depress button. (Fan always runs)

[porky]

okay just checked to make sure im not talkin crap. As said all together when the button is depressed, only difference mine is a Telwin turbo 130, dont see that should make any difference. Hope this helps.

[tigertim20]

I recently got me a small low power MIG welder - max 90A. IT's OK for welding thin stuff - seems to work OK. I have a question though - it seems to be 'on' all the time . Like, when I bring gun up to the job it arcs before I pull the trigger. Is that normal?

Other than that, it works fine. Just have to be careful to keep the nozzle away from the job when not welding.

get it looked at. the trigger may need replacing

[rok-the-boat]

I pulled the trigger to bits and took the sides of the machine and checked the wiring. All seems OK so must be something deeper inside that I can't see/test. It doesn't really affect the operation except that I have to be careful where I put it down.

[Latte]

As soneone else said it's normal (well, not uncommon) for the wire to "stick" even when the trigger isn't pulled. As long as the wire isn't feeding, and it isn't glowing red when it sticks then just break/cut it free.

[rok-the-boat]

There is only one wire to the trigger and I tested it - it activates the feed. There is another big fat wire but that seems OK. No more wires so I can't see anything wrong really.

[Taz]

Mines a Telwin Maxima 130. It doesn't spark unless trigger is pressed.

[BoristheBiter]

If it arcs then turns off, it will be residual curent, some do this.
If it continues to arc (like you can weld with it) take it to get checked as this is not right.

[bsasuper]

when you are ready to weld, weld, when you dont want to weld, stop tapping the wire on the job.Done

[rok-the-boat]

I've gotten used to it now. It seems to work OK for welding thin stuff, which is all Iwant it for at present. I'm gonna spend some $ and get me a better TIG later.

[Juzz976]

Sounds like a fault to me, if it were to be tested in our workshop it would fail.
However we would send you down the road for repairs.

[Rhino2010]

Its quiet normal on cheap machines. It is just residual current. We bought some cheap migs in out of china and they all did it. But our quality machines from finland, Italy and Czech Republic dont do it. There is a way to stop it but it costs quiet a bit of money.

[CookMySock]

Mine doesn't do that. It only powers up the electrode when the trigger is pulled. Sounds scary lol.

[jasonu]

The cheap migs do it, totally normal. You get what you pay for and that is one of the skimps the manufacturers did in orger to sell them for $80. I've got one and have used it to build a trailer. It is at the maximum for the welder. I took off the side covers and pointed a fan at it and that made a big difference, no more automatically cutting out every 10 min because of overheating. It does an OK job, strong but not real pretty.