Having trouble maintaining an arc.

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I recently bought a Lincoln 135 MIG wire feed machine and had the fluxcored wire on it to just get a general feel, everything went just dandyToday i bought a tank of Argon/C02 blend and switched the polatiry of my machine, set the proper wire, put all the necessary hardware on it and set my flow at about 12 L/m.  It just doesnt want to arc.   i get alot of spatter, and the filler just seams to bead up on the surface of the metal.  I also tried lowering the flow on the reg to about 9 L/m and still had the same problem.   Can anyone help me out ?  Also, no matter how low i set the reg it just sounds like the gas is blowing the arc out.
Reply:I just recently converted to mig also. I had similar things happen. I am currently using a much higher current setting, and thicker wire to get the same results as fcaw.(flux core) I have found that a good (metal) cleaning and even some pre-heating helps tremendously with weld penetration. I'm sure the elders will chime in soon, hope this helps. gimpy
Reply:Well high flows aren't going to blow the arc out for sure. Waste gas yes. Without looking at my gauge I can't say how L/M equates to CFM but you'll want to run somewhere between 22 and 18 cfm for middle ground. All the spitting and sputtering and poor or lack of bead geanerally indacates poor if not NO gas flow. Assuming you've done enough experimenting to purge the line, make darn sure your covering gas is getting out the end of the gun through all the connections. Turn it up a little higher to start with to prove it out the end of the gun. Solenoid is pulling (clicking) and all that?
Reply:Yea im pretty sure im getting flow out the end of the gun.  You can hear it come out when i pull the trigger.   Also, when i purge the line after fiddling with it.    Ive seriously tried the reg all over the damn place.  5, 11, 16, 18.   I can hear the gas escape and i see all sorts of crazy **** when i try to weld. ( some green flames and stuff like that. thats probably due to the fact the lens on the mask is green) Also upon reading the book that came with my machine it says to set it between 7-12 L/m for Argon/C02.   and higher when in windy conditions.ill be sure to turn the reg on and hold the trigger for a little bit just to blast anything out of the lines and then give it another go. Im also using .025" Super Arc L-56 wire.i can take some pictures of the aftermath if that would help any.Last edited by SirLight; 04-05-2005 at 01:40 AM.
Reply:I just noticed that you went from the flux core which would have been .030 or .035 to .025 solid. Did you turn the feed roller around to match the .025 groove to the .025 wire? That could make for poor (slippage) wire feed conditions.
Reply:Yea i did that im not mechanically challenged and can read directions quite well.   I just fiddled with all my settings and purged all my lines and im getting a good arc.  Practice time :
Reply:I just fiddled with all my settings and purged all my lines and im getting a good arc. Practice time :