Dumb ??

admin

New guy here , i just bought a new lincoln 215   i,m using ..030 wire and keep having feed jams i finally figured out its the tip for some reason it just keeps binding the wire . i changed to the .045 tip that came with the machine and it seems to be working fine now could the tip have been out of spec ?  does it matter that im using the wronge size tip ? obviosly im learning as i go here . my only expirence was with my other welder witch is a lincoln 120 volt machine .    im only building barbque grills so its no danger of my welds failing and killing folks .    one thing is for sure after i get done with this project i will be the best grinder operator there is .  Just to clairify I do get the jist of how welding works as in penetrating into both pieces of material so the weld actually holds something and i have been around welding since i was a kid but that was mostly stick welding .  i have already built one big grill out of a old oil tank . it came out pretty good for my first time im not ashamed to have it on my porch and people no that i built it lol! ive been lurking here for a while just trying to pick up all the good tips that i can . its amazing what u can learn just from listening to others .
Reply:hey mate with that 1.2mm tip you might find that the wire will wander when you weld. this may make it hard to keep a smooth weld pool going unless you make a large slow weave.try another .9mm tip, make sure its clean and also ensure you cut the wire itself with good quality pliers. otherwise you might be getting a flat spot at the cut which will jam in the tip.
Reply:a couple of other considerations- you could try running a 1mm drill bit in the tip to clean it out. also if your drive roll tension is too tight it might be causing flat spots in the wire as well which can cause jams, especially with flux core wire
Reply:Well i didnt think of it wondering in the tip makes since though .  it actually binds up while im welding . i took it apart two or three times checking everything before i narrowed it down to the tip . it will weld fine for a little bit then bind up . finally i just stopped welding and held down the trigger and watched it till it stopped . ether the wire is not consistant or the tip is just a hair to small .
Reply:i will get a new tip and try again and pay close attention to how tight the tension is on the rollers . thanks for the help .
Reply:no probs. if you are using flux core make sure your torch is as straight as pssible too, flux core hates to go around any sort of bend or corner and will just stop travelling if there is a slight kink anywhere.good luck mate
Reply:My 215 likes the .035 innercore with matching tip... on the big reel.  Also if U R using .030 wire maybe just go up one step to a .035 tip vs all the way to .045?   I buy the Lincoln wire too, maybe? it's more uniform.  Ok, meantime we need to SEE the pics of this "alledged"  BBQ... it is a baptismal of fire around here   BBQs are in a special class somehow, every guy (including most everyone here) who gets a torch, grinder and welder for some reason gets the idea to make a  BBQ... and away we go.  I'd say the two most discussed threads are wedling BBQs and hot rods/trucks.  We are boys in leather jackets and helmetsLincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Lol well let me takes some good pics and I'll try and figure out how to post them . and hopefully no one will make fun to much . Attached Images
Reply:there ya go ... that is a keen li'l BBQ nicely done. U can be proud of it  I'd say. there are fellas here who know a lot about the air flows etc to get a good one... hopefully they'll see the tread.Some people get so motivated as to send in pics of beautifully grilled steaks off their fine BBQs , which I see as very unfair unless we are all invited.   enjoy,   ps: My wife is from Oatman, but I love her dearly regardless.Lincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Are you running .030 solid wire or .030 self-shielded fluxcore wire?If I remember correctly, from the factory, the PM 215 is set-up to run .035/.045. Are you using .030 drive rolls?ESAB Migmaster 250 Hobart Ironman 230Multimatic 215TWECO Fabricator 181i & 211iHH125EZ - nice little fluxcore only unitMaxstar 150 STH - very nice
Reply:it is solid core wire it may accually be .035 i was so tired and ill whenever i origanally posted that i might be mistaking the size .