i might have to smash my mig with a big hammer

[F5 Dave]

OK so I'm a shitty welder. But my cheapo gasless mig has been bloody useful for gluing bits of metal together. Or shrinking steering head bearings or any number of bush projects. I farm out real welding jobs.

But the wire feed is infuriating. A driving shellwith a ball bearing pushed against it. The driven wheel has grooves and I subtly point punched some traction grooves. Then g clamp to gain further purchase on the wire. All of which improved things but now it just won't reliably drive the wire.

So do I buy another crap mig and expect 5 more years? For it to fail in the same way. Or is there some way to improve the wire feed?

[F5 Dave]

Oh yeah, and I don't really have the spare to invest in something decent for something I use once every two months.

[Katman]

So do I buy another crap mig and expect 5 more years?

Yes - it sounds like you're crap at what you do anyway.

[Motu]

It doesn't have have adjustable tension on the wire feed roller ?

[husaberg]

Have you tried any google suggestions
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/wire-feed.htm
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/sip-wirefeed.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqhRL0FgDVo

[Akzle]

learn to stick weld you pussy.






...or post pics and we can all over-engineer a solution for you.

[F5 Dave]

Here's a picture of the hammer I would use.

My old motor mower got it for being static.

Bah too hard to load. Might have to smash the tablet. . .

[Madness]

I'm assuming you won't be able to replace the torch liner but if you can, do so. Always go up one size in contact tip when using gasless wire as the gas helps cool the front end parts. Make sure your earth is connected to + too as incorrect polarity can cause the wire to burn back into the tip.

[F5 Dave]

Yes - it sounds like you're crap at what you do anyway.
Oh Steve. That would be so hurtful.

If you weren't such a colossal loser.

Loser.

[Katman]

Oh Steve. That would be so hurtful.

If you weren't such a colossal loser.

Loser.

I'm sorry, I must have mis-read you.


OK so I'm a shitty welder.

So do I buy another crap mig and expect 5 more years?

[F5 Dave]

Golly you're right husi, its the liner. I'll try see if I can replace it . Its pretty hard to pull the wire through even with the tensioner off.

[Ocean1]

Golly you're right husi, its the liner. I'll try see if I can replace it . Its pretty hard to pull the wire through even with the tensioner off.

Could be that it's not supposed to be replaceable. In which case, (if you can get the old one out) you may find a length of 4mm nylon pneumatic tubing will do the trick...

[Madness]

Once you have the liner sorted back the feeder tension off to minimum operable level so as to avoid filling the new liner with steel filings and improve tip life.

[jasonu]

Use liner lube and one of those tampons on the wire where it enters the liner (keeps the boogers out).
Cheap migs REALLY REALLY REALLY like a new tip.
Cheap migs REALLY REALLY REALLY like a decent earth lead. My mate replaced his with a HD jumper cable and it improved things immensely. Suspected wire feed problems can actually be down to a poor or too small earth lead.

5 years ain't bad out of a cheap mig. (depending on what you call cheap of course. You can get them here for less than $100) http://www.harborfreight.com/welding/mig-flux-welders.html

Don't be a Joo, buy a Miller or Hobart 150(ish) amp welder, get a bottle of gas and you will wonder why you didn't sooner.

[R650R]

Stop all this sexy welder talk.... just talked myself out of it awhile ago, my shed is only good for 10 amps on power supply end.... which rules out lof good welders....
Anyhiow found a local guy who does perk jobs very well at nice prices

[jasonu]

Stop all this sexy welder talk.... just talked myself out of it awhile ago, my shed is only good for 10 amps on power supply end.... which rules out lof good welders....
Anyhiow found a local guy who does perk jobs very well at nice prices

You'd be lucky to run a 'cheap' mig welder on 10 amps for long enough to lay down a few tacks.

[flashg]

You'd be lucky to run a 'cheap' mig welder on 10 amps for long enough to lay down a few tacks.
At work we run mig welders , a 275 amp and three 250 amp welders on 32 amp single phase power.
We also run a 175 amp lincoln mig welder on 10 amp single phase power (with extension cords mostly) no problem.
My last job we had a 195 amp single phase mig welder running on 10 amp supply, also no problem. All these welders running Argoshield gas.
If you're running gas less with flux core wire, you can run less amps.

[Akzle]

You'd be lucky to run a 'cheap' mig welder on 10 amps for long enough to lay down a few tacks.

3 phase PTO.
smooth as fuck and you don't even need welding rods, just clamp some fucking d16 rebar in the cunt and melt it.

[F5 Dave]

So how can you tell if the tip is worn out? Its original. Actually Ihave 3 phase. But iI'll never get the practice to be any good. Love it for just being able to glue bits together. Decent welds go to a professional. I got a mate to give me a lesson. He sneered at the gassless. Then proceeded to surprise himself with a passable weld on 3mm plate. I managed to make a bird less constipated.

[Madness]

So how can you tell if the tip is worn out? Its original.

Wire-feed problems and welds like bird shit. They sell them in packs of 5 or 10 for a reason.

[flashg]

If the tip is badly worn, the wire will be rather loose passing through and "contact" between wire and tip can be poor causing an inconsistent weld.
Sometimes when a tip has seen a lot of heat over time, the hole can close a little causing a strangling effect on the wire, causing wire feed problems as described.
Remove tip and drill with a number drill as close as possible to correct wire size. Or buy a new tip. They're cheap enough if you can find one for a no name brand.
Hope this helps.

[flashg]

For those that weld, are self taught or/and have no proper training.
Please keep your skin covered at all times while welding.
The light is infared and ultraviolet and causes skin cancer. You will get sunburnt from it, but you won't tan.
We wear protection when we ride.
Wear protection when you weld.
You'll be so glad you did in the long run.

[Akzle]

So how can you tell if the tip is worn out? Its original. Actually Ihave 3 phase. But iI'll never get the practice to be any good. Love it for just being able to glue bits together. Decent welds go to a professional. I got a mate to give me a lesson. He sneered at the gassless. Then proceeded to surprise himself with a passable weld on 3mm plate. I managed to make a bird less constipated.

has 3 phase. doesn't do it.
=woofter.

any cunt can weld 3 phase.

[jonbuoy]

Stop all this sexy welder talk.... just talked myself out of it awhile ago, my shed is only good for 10 amps on power supply end.... which rules out lof good welders....
Anyhiow found a local guy who does perk jobs very well at nice prices

Take a look at Inverter welders. I bought one a few years ago before I upgraded my garage. I ran it on a 10amp breaker. Admittedly I don't ever weld anything bigger than 3mm plate and the majority is stop start sheet metal work. They have a much better power factor and they don't draw so much current on startup as a transformer welder.

[jasonu]

So how can you tell if the tip is worn out? Its original. .

Put in a new one and see if it welds better...DUH.

You can get reasonable results with a gas less unit. All it takes is a correctly set up machine and practice.
The initial cost of a (say) Hobart with a gauge and bottle might seam high but if you use it for more than the occasional weld it soon pays for itself as the solid wire is way cheaper than flux cored. I used to pay around $15 for a 2lb roll of flux core, I now pay around $12 for a 11lb roll of solid er70s. A gas refill (5 ft high bottle) is around $40 and lasts for ages.

[F5 Dave]

Tip hole is loose as. OK Ive learnt summit. Cheers.

Gas companies have it sewn up tight here with exchange only bottles and yearly contracts bit like phone plans. Hobbiests are screwed, which leaves those disposable cans. Meh, don't use it enough to justify. I'd upgrade my lathe first.

Just need to find some liner. I've coiled the first half of the conductive cable so I'll run the liner section 1\2 the std length in straight as possible line. Long cord was always a pain and causes more wire drag. Only have to reach my vice.

[Madness]

Gas companies have it sewn up tight here with exchange only bottles and yearly contracts bit like phone plans. Hobbiests are screwed, which leaves those disposable cans.

Not quite.

Ezi-Swap cylinders have no monthly rental and you only pay when you swap for a full cylinder, just like LPG at most servos these days. Initial outlay is a few hundy but the cylinder's yours to sell and there's no fixed contracts.

Most decent inverter MIG machines run okay on Co2, except down real low on panel steel. Get Co2 cylinders filled at fire extinguisher joints for around $50.00. The disposable bottles are shit, maybe use for Argon but fuck that for mixed gas.

[Ocean1]

Ezi-Swap cylinders

That's Global Welding Supplies, locally...

[Madness]

That's Global Welding Supplies, locally...

Is Colin still a surly cunt?

[husaberg]

Tip hole is loose as. OK Ive learnt summit. Cheers.

Gas companies have it sewn up tight here with exchange only bottles and yearly contracts bit like phone plans. Hobbiests are screwed, which leaves those disposable cans. Meh, don't use it enough to justify. I'd upgrade my lathe first.
.

My father who is only an occasional mig welder still uses a Soda Stream gas bottle. Not that cheap filling, but no plans or expiry dates to worry about.
$12.99 for 30 litre refill.
205gms

[Motu]

Fuck gassless, get a cheap or free bottle for CO2, good welds and cheaper than gassles in the long run. I use an alloy dive bottle, lasts for years for home use.

[F5 Dave]

So I'm on like my 2nd or 3rd roll of wire. In like over ten years. The long run would have to be pretty long. I don't think I'm immortal, I mean so far so good, but its not worth investment when STR has just got new boots and the GasGas needs a new S12 on the rear which will bring me far more enjoyment.

Man I'm pooped. Good ride today. Hot though.

[Motu]

When I closed my account with BOC and surrendered 6 bottles, I looked at gassless - no fucking way !!! A free dive bottle, 6 years and still half full, plenty of wire left. No brainer to me, but your brain is set in a rut you keep explaining yourself into.

[Ocean1]

the GasGas needs a new S12 on the rear

I may be able to help you there.

18" or 19"

[F5 Dave]

Um 18.


10 char

[Ocean1]

It's a slightly soiled 130/80/18 S12, I took it off the 525 when I replaced the rims.

It ain't quite new, but it's free to a good home.

327830

Edit: there's a 120/100/18 Pirelli scorpion in similar nick there too, same price.

[Akzle]

five buck and a bag of chips

[F5 Dave]

Thanks for the offer, I'm a bit sniffy about tyres, but I've just looked at my visa bill and I'll gratefully accept.

[F5 Dave]

Well the very helpful chap at global didn't sneer, gave advice and sold me a new inner. Its now usable:2thumbsup
.. . but still has a propensity to slip. Might look at the drive wheel next.

[jasonu]

Well the very helpful chap at global didn't sneer, gave advice and sold me a new inner. Its now usable:2thumbsup
.. . but still has a propensity to slip. Might look at the drive wheel next.

Fuck mate I told you what to look at...

[F5 Dave]

Yup I did listen. Earth lead looks good and was about to buy some more tips and thought I should double check if 0.8 or 0.9. Seems it measures 0.8. Thought it was 0.9 so good thing I held off.
The drive wheel often slips.

[Grumph]

The drive wheel often slips.

Recon the drive assembly. I was given a MIG which slipped like buggery. Replaced the bearings and refaced the rollers, solved.

Sold the thing in the end as I couldn't get on with it, prefer gas.

[jonbuoy]

A lot of people seem to get put off MIG welding by trying to learn on a bad/cheap machine. A good welder will be able to coax a half decent weld from a cheap machine, a beginner can struggle to do much at all on a cheap machine.

[F5 Dave]

Yes and I'm sure I'd play better golf with some carbon fibre Pings, but seeing as I hhaven't swung a club since the 90s its hardly worth it, is it?