First run (MIG)

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Just got my Tweco Fabricator 211i set up last night and did a little practice run filling up a 1x1x1/8" angle with .023 ER70S-6. I'm just an engineer, but I think it's important (and often overlooked) for constructibility to be kept in mind anytime a design is being worked out.Anyway, per the information inside the machine using .023" wire on 1/8" mild steel and C25 shielding gas I set the dials to 19.6V, 457ipm, and inductance at 6/10. I definitely need more practice, and need to learn to read the puddle but it's a start.Feel free to give me any advice you see fit. My first name used to be sergeant, so you'd be hard pressed to ruffle my feathers unless you start firing 200+mm rockets at me.Attachment 712911Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk Attached ImagesLast edited by ajmartinez; 05-07-2014 at 11:10 AM.Tweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:A few more pics with different angles would be nice.   That way we can help you better by offering more suggestions.  The one pic you posted has a small porosity hole in the middle.  But for the first time, looks very promising.   "Hey I didn't come to look and learn, I came to turn and burn.... If I can't light up, I'm gonna light out!"-JodyIdealarc 250 "Fatman"MM 252MM 211 "Little boy" Victor Torches
Reply:I think I can handle snapping a few more from different angles. The guys in my fab yard had some comments to make, namely that I went too fast in at least one spot that's still visible and the pinhole you pointed out, but I'm interested in what you guys have to say as well. As soon as the sun burns through some of this cloud cover I'll post some more.Sent from my XT1032 using TapatalkTweco Fabricator 211i
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Reply:I also have a 211i and have found the inductance setting to be the deciding factor. Try it in all settings start at zero and work up to 10. With 0 being soft and 10 like welding with lightning. Weld up some butt joints and lap joints and see if you can break them. That will really help you see if your getting good penetration. Seeing that you were set at 19.6 v have you tried 220v input yet? It's a big difference the machine will come alive. Btw your welds look good as far as I can see its hard to tell with them piled up. Enjoy your new machine Sent from my iPad using TapatalkThermal arc 211iCk flex-loc 150 & 130Clamps, saws & grindersHarbor freight 80 amp inverter
Reply:It was running on a 220v input, but I will definitely mess with the inductance setting. Our fab shop gave me some homework, and we have a testing guy on the clock so I intend to use him to check my welds before I go making anything critical. Thanks for the feedback.Sent from my XT1032 using TapatalkTweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:Originally Posted by ajmartinez need to learn to read the puddle but it's a start.
Reply:Thanks for the detailed input. I'll be picking up as much scrap in the yard as I can to practice on, and will definitely be doing a single bead at a time. I really only did the stacked welds because I was having too much fun to stop myself! I hope to get some time this week to get more familiar with welding.Sent from my XT1032 using TapatalkTweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:Its too hard to give any good feedback from that speciment is what I would say. It's hard to critique the underlying beads once you stack a new bead over it. Also if you don't dunk that iron in water every pass or two, the metal gets hot enough to act like your voltage and wirespeed settings have changed. I would say switch to .030 wire and lay some beads on 3/16ths or 1/4 plate, and run longer beads (at least 6-8 inches) to make sure you are getting some arm/hand movement across the plate. Be sure to quench in water every bead or two. then we can more likely give you better feedback. Most of the time with MIG if you are going to have a failure it will be a lack of fusion/cold lap, at least that is the common wisdom I have always heard.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:I've got some .035 wire, and a bunch of bits of 3/8" plate as well as some 2x2x1/4" angle to practice on next.Sent from my XT1032 using TapatalkTweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:as stated already run some single beads atleast 6inches long and space them out. post those for critiquing. you will get much better advice if we could see your welds. I'm also a engineer or I'll graduate this fall actually. And I think all engineers should have to work in the shop before they can make any decisions in the field.  just my .02
Reply:Originally Posted by Tchillas stated already run some single beads atleast 6inches long and space them out. post those for critiquing. you will get much better advice if we could see your welds. I'm also a engineer or I'll graduate this fall actually. And I think all engineers should have to work in the shop before they can make any decisions in the field.  just my .02
Reply:A engineer looking for welding advise  really? You will be critiquing it soon enough. I'm sure you will get plenty of honest answers soon enough. Oh....wear a helmet. I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeA engineer looking for welding advise  really? You will be critiquing it soon enough. I'm sure you will get plenty of honest answers soon enough. Oh....wear a helmet.
Reply:Just being honest bud, but reality. How long did you study to become a engineer! I bet it took alot of time and money...correct? When you get in the field you will find that you are still stranded and green. So fast foward ten more years, now you have 10yrs field experience and four years of schooling. A total of 14yrs together to finally gain some respect. NOW.....just imagine on our side of the spectrum after being beat to death physically from the work and constantly being harrased by you guys how it works. You wanna learn how to lay down a few wormy mig beads in short order because work is coming soon, and be like ..."yo man im one of you too". Not gonna happen. Good luck and wear a helmet. From the heart bud good luck. Im being honest.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Thanks for your honesty.Without going into my entire life history, I took the extra long route through my engineering degree but it didn't take all that much of my own money. I was a mechanic in HS, and my first two years of college were easily paid for by always flagging more hours than I physically worked. The next five years were Army time, and the GI Bill/Hazelwood Exemption (TX program) paid for the rest of my education. Four years part time, one year full time. Two of those years as a design/field engineer without a degree (and thus without the level of pay).I can imagine your perspective, as I've been on the side of the hill the crap rolls down before in more than one role, but don't assume all I'm after is learning to "lay down a few wormy mig beads in short order." Work isn't coming soon, it's been going on for a while. I know welding is a valuable skill, and not one learned overnight. I won't claim to be "one of you too," unless I've passed the same tests to the same standards. I'd like to do 6G one day, and if it takes me a decade to get there so be it.What kind of helmet would you suggest? I've got lots of them. Motorcycle? Advanced Combat Helmet? Just a hard hat? Road bicycle? I'm here to soak up some wisdom, not pick the wrong helmet Sent from my XT1032 using TapatalkLast edited by ajmartinez; 05-13-2014 at 09:23 AM.Tweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:Send your resume to SpaceX. They signed a lease for a complex in  near Brownsville Texas I believe. They are hiring like mad and like young-ins like you. Otherwise if you don't mind Hollyweird, their Hawthorn facility is the place to apply.Got some inside info that Vladimir Putin has put the brakes on our astronaut transport to the ISS, so SpaceX is in talks with NASA to speed up their manned vehicle program by a year.Last edited by shovelon; 05-13-2014 at 03:24 PM.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:I heard the fishing in space was crap so I think I'll stay earthbound for now!Sent from my XT1032 using TapatalkTweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:Originally Posted by ajmartinezI heard the fishing in space was crap so I think I'll stay earthbound for now!Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonThat's true. What are your plans?
Reply:I would suggest a hard hat with the welding hood attatchment. You'll be a huge hit on the job. They'll all be screaming your name and showing you your #1 every time you show up.  Seriously bud, it sounds like you got your head screwed on straight and are on the right path. Cool man glad to see it. At this point I see your honesty and drive and best of luck with work. We get a lot of fly by night members here who just want some quick get rich quick in the field survival tips, and then are never to be seen again. Sounds like you got a life plan together cool  and it helps your a fisherman and a hunter I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Good deal! I just so happen to have that helmet combo Thanks for the well wishes, and believe me I understand your concerns at the outset. I'll be in for the long haul, and hope to put as much into the forum as I get out of it.If I seem cranky ever it's a safe bet I haven't been up a tree trying to stick a deer or out on the water in the pirogue I built chasing reds in too long!Sent from my XT1032 using TapatalkTweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:10/4 brother! I'm on board! And if it ever seems like I'm cranky I'm not. I'm just a dlck  I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Man you could fit like eight TX whitetail between those beams.Sent from my XT1032 using TapatalkTweco Fabricator 211iOriginally Posted by weldermike10/4 brother! I'm on board! And if it ever seems like I'm cranky I'm not. I'm just a dlck  Attachment 718101Attachment 718111
Reply:Rather than start a new thread I'll just add to this one.First off, some OA cutting on 1/8" plate. 000 tip, O: 30psi, A: 4psi. I could consistently run 4-5" cleanly and at about the same point in the steel, regardless of which direction I traveled, the cut would stop and I'd have to start again.The edges cleaned up easily just scraping a piece of angle across the back, but I'd like some ideas about why the cut would stop in that one area of steel coming from either side (hopefully you can see below where I had to restart the cut).   Sent from my XT1032 using TapatalkLast edited by ajmartinez; 05-15-2014 at 08:50 AM.Tweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:Next up some wormy MIG beads. I messed around with the settings on the machine to spew out some ugly stuff, not that I need much help in that department. The different sounds and feedback in the gun are pretty pronounced when you're way off.The REALLY ugly stuff in the middle was first. If memory serves I went 14.5V @ 300ipm, then 200ipm, and 450ipm all with inductance at 30%. I stepped up voltage to 16, and left wfs around 350 for a few tries at different inductance settings for a bunch of the other stuff and that seemed controllable and let me move slow enough to watch the puddle. Then I turned it up to 19.7V, 457ipm, and inductance at 60% (the settings inside the door) and ran some beads on the back side (no picture).Sent from my XT1032 using TapatalkLast edited by ajmartinez; 05-15-2014 at 09:06 AM.Tweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:Last one, I cleaned up the middle of a 3x10x1/8" strip and tried my best to make a pass across the whole thing. .023" ER70S-6, 19.7V, 457ipm.Sent from my XT1032 using TapatalkTweco Fabricator 211i
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Reply:To me looks like ur bead is a bit "high" you want to aim for 1/8" or less for the height. You could speed up or try a hotter setting. Also to my eyes looks like the toes aren't tied in too well. I would say turn it up a bit an give it a try. Just my .02 I'm sure one of the gurus will chime in on this.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by TchillTo me looks like ur bead is a bit "high" you want to aim for 1/8" or less for the height. You could speed up or try a hotter setting. Also to my eyes looks like the toes aren't tied in too well. I would say turn it up a bit an give it a try. Just my .02 I'm sure one of the gurus will chime in on this.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:One spot where I had a little hitch in my movement. I'm going to keep at it, but I feel pretty good about the way I'm starting out.Sent from my XT1032 using TapatalkTweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:In my brief experience with hard wire... I can tell you this, with full confidence.I can't stand it. At least on steel. It's for the birds. But anyways. What I used to do to get by was set the volts around 17.5 and wire at 175. Or 18.5 and 185. If you get the pattern here... It was always a good starting point. The travel speed is sort of slow (at least compared to how I run FCAW). Fire up and get your puddle going, and when you start moving, keep your speed consistent to keep the puddle the same size. If you want to do something better, get some dual shield FCAW wire. If you're using 75/25 you can use the same gas. With FCAW (I guess with MIG too) the settings really don't matter. Pick a number for the voltage (I always start around 25) and with one hand on the trigger and one on the wire speed wheel, fire up. Adjust the wheel until you're sizzling bacon. Then you're dialed in. FCAW/GMAW isn't really my thing though. This is just my beginner advice. My rule of thumb is the hotter the better.
Reply:I think you are getting there. One way to tweak your settings is to pick a voltage and then monkey with the wire speed. you can adjust wire speed while you weld. You are looking for maximum bacon sound...no joke. when your wire speed is too low, or too high, it won't sound like sizzling bacon. Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:are you cleaning your metal first? I find my machine runs better when I take off the millscale with a grinding wheel or sanding disk. With all due respect to akabadnews, once you get your settings dialed in, solid wire is easy. I taught my 9 year old and 11 year old daughters to MIG weld in about an hour. Granted they aren't making structural welds, but they make decent looking welds on their art projects without any effort. Just slow down and focus on your gun movements and try not to monkey with the volts or wire speed once you have them set correctly.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:Yes, I ground down to shiny base metal before doing the long run. Most of the practice runs were cleaned up with a wire brush first, but I decided to use my grinder for the long single bead. This weekend I'm either practicing more welds or going fishing. Maybe both!Sent from my XT1032 using TapatalkTweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:I always liked Jody's videos...this one is a good start for you.  Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:Thanks! I'll give those a look after work.Sent from my XT1032 using TapatalkTweco Fabricator 211i