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I just got a new Hobart 140 Handler and I haven't been able to produce a decent weld yet. They always seem to be fat, tall, and basically just plain ugly with very shallow penetration.I'm running .030 steel wire and a bottle (how much working pressure do I need?). I have tried moving the controls all around, but seem to find that having the controls set at #3 or 4 feed speed and max volts works the best. I still can't get any "burn through" or even good color penetration on 1/8" steel. The machine is supposed to be capable of 1/4" steel.Also, I seem to be sticking the wire alot. I've backed the wire tension adjustment back to about a 2 or 3 (where it can slip) so I don't keep bending the wire and have to re-feed it.I know I need more time, practice and maybe even need take a course, but I have welded successfully before with other equipment. MIG, TIG, some arc and Ox/Acy.Can anyone who knows the 140 help me with some beginner's basic settings advice?
Reply:Have you got the polarity set correctly on your welder for using the solid wire with gas? Most of the new welders come with a spool of flux core wire so when you make the switch over to solid wire you need to be sure and change the polarity.
Reply:These often come from the factory with the polarity set at DCEN for FCAW. Since you are welding in the GMAW process, verify that your polarity is set for DCEP.Set your flow for between 15 and 20 CFH for starters. I weld as low as 12 CFH when in a good windless shop. As long as you get no porosity, you have sufficient flow.Your machine is NOT capable of 1/4" steel unless you are an expert welder and spent a lot of time properly preparing the joint and preheating; please don't build trailers or bridges with that thing.It is also more limited in GMAW than in FCAW. You realistically have a 1/8" machine in GMAW. But you can still do a lot with it. Use FCAW and weld up to 3/16" in one pass, but even then don't do it when someone's life depends on it until you are an expert.
Reply:Yes, I was reading the manual (what a concept) and remembered the [olarity thing. I have to verify that, but I believe I did that when I set it up.I don't really plan on welding any 1/4", for anything as important as "someone's life on it" Ha, Ha.The manual said to run it to the max for 1/8" 4/40 settings. The wire pressure is about what theu recommened too, test into some wood for curling.Thanks for the tips and I'll just keep practicing. |
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