still learning

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Just spent the evening playing with my two welders. Very new to MIG, so that is where I spent most of my time tonight.Some of these welds are from TIG class in the first few weeks, I'm just practicing on old coupons.I'll start with my best of the night.These are some leaf spring shackles that I cut off. I'm not sure eactly what they're made of or coated in because they have not rusted. I'm really hoping they aren't galvanized Next I tried some vertical uphill. The left one was better than the right.I laid some beads on thinner plate to see what settings it likes:Ignore the lap weld, that was from TIG class.And finally another butt weld with the thin plate again. You can ignore most everything except for the butt weld in the center:So thats my MIG practice. I just picked up a proper bottle of 75/25 argon/co2 today. The straight argon was not working well for me.
Reply:It's a good start, keep it up.  You will get some better mig results with the mixed gas.And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:Can the stickout be adjusted on a Chicago Electric 151 MIG?It looks like an older version of this:http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=97503
Reply:Originally Posted by torQ!Can the stickout be adjusted on a Chicago Electric 151 MIG?It looks like an older version of this:http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=97503
Reply:I was referring to tip #2 here:http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/...ding-tips.htmlMine looks way more like this or even deeper.
Reply:"I see!", said the blind dog. If you are not against grinding the face of the gas nozzle somewhat, you can shave enough off to get them closer to flush. I have actually done that before, it works good. It helps to know whether or not you can get replacement gas nozzles; just in case you shave off a little too much!City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Thanks guys
Reply:I'll give you the same advice that was given to me by my foreman when I was new to MIG.  (I'll try to be more polite then him though).-Get your face right down in the weld -Keep the gun 90* from the work piece-Push (this will cause a debate, but this what I was taught)-Keep the tip as close as you can without melting it or the wire to itMy advice:-Practice running straight lines, a piece of soapstone is going to be your best friend.Practice flat.  Once you can do it then horz.  Once you're comfortable with that go to vertical downhill.  When you can do that prepare to be humbled by vertical uphill.  Then be amazed at how well you can overhead after that.  Work on straight stringers then start playing with little circles, half moons, c's, lowercase l's, or whatever is comfortable for you.  Consistency is the name of the game.  Try to get a rhythm. Try counting off or tapping your boot.  You'll be amazed at how uniform they look once you can move in rhythm, almost robotically.My two cents
Reply:With the tip so far recessed into the nozzle, what you have is a tip/nozzle setup that's good for spray, but not so great for short circuit.  If you can change tips or nozzle style to a setup that puts the end of the tip flush with the end of the nozzle, you'll have a better view of the puddle when using the shorter stickout length that goes with short circuit welding.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Great advice desert rider.  I take the nozzle off,  take it to the grinder and get it flush or just a little recessed.  This greatly improves visibility.Lincoln 255XT Power Mig                                                                    Lincoln Precision Tig 225Hypertherm Powermax 30
Reply:Had my best night in TIG class.  Worked on a flat fillet weld, horizontal butt weld, and a flat lap weld with no filler.  Made one attempt at a overhead fillet, but I couldn't keep the tungsten out of the puddle.It feels really good to finally have a feeling like I know what I'm doing.