Wire sticking to contact tip

admin

I just bought a Canox Migmatic 35, it's the Canadian version of the Millermatic 35, a welder that has been around since the 70's.  This thing is in really good shape (cosmetically) and i got a pretty good deal on it.  When I weld for about 5 min straight, the wire starts to stick into the contact tip.  If I wait a few seconds, sometimes it pops back out, other times I have to pull it out with side cutters.  Does this mean my contact tip is worn out or what should I be checking?  The machine was set in the mid welding range for this machine, 100 amps, 40 wire speed using co2/argon mix.Thanks in advance.
Reply:Yeah, replace the tip.How much stick out are you using?  Is the tip recessed 1/8" in to the gas cone?DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:I don't know the specs, but maybe it's duty cycle, and the gun just cant do that much at a time...try 2- 3-4 min.  with a break of 7 it may not melt down then....put it in front of a fan...I looked and couldn't find enough info to tell....or just keep the tip farther off the metal, change it or is it the right size tip for the wire?   the arcing may make it over heat if there is lots of play inside the tip...some  possibles to look atLincoln 225 Tombstone,Miller Big 20,Hobart 180,150' Argon,A/D hobart hood 22 Ton Log splitter,79 F350 dump eats 4.75 TONS and still turns cutters,grinders,And a  Hypertherm POWERMAX 30
Reply:Usually when I have this problem its a ocmbination of things.  The contact is old, and oxides/crud from the wire has rubbed off inside the tip and builds up puttine a little drag on the wire.  Then after lots of welding the tip gets hot, expands and puts enought pressure to stop the feed.  Cools down, and it works "ok" again.  Either get a tip cleaner and run it through a few times or just replace it.If that still doesnt help, you can get a tip a few thou bigger than your wire size.  I almost always do this for aluminum and stainless wire.Have we all gone mad?