Novice Welding Questions...

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I recently purchased a CAMPBELL HAUSFELD™ FARMHAND 115 WIRE FEED WELDER from Tractor Supply to see if the investment was going to be worthwhile before I upgraded to a Miller.  Unfortunately I have had nothing but bad luck welding so far.  Here is what I am trying to achieve...I am trying to weld two pieces of steel transmission linkage together, ~3/16 in diameter.Welder Setup:.035 Mig Wire75%/25% Argon CO2 MixHighest Heat Setting ~115a3 on the wire Speed Scale of 10I tried clamping the two pieces in the vice and tacking it together and the weld would stick to one piece and break off the other.  Then I tried drilling a hole in the center of both pieces and connecting with a metal rod.  After that again I tried welding them together and it stuck again just to one piece, it was the opposite piece though.  Then I tried clamping both pieces to a metal workbench in case maybe there was a ground problem and then I grounded the whole bench.  Still the same results though.All the surfaces are ground and then gone over with a wire wheel so it is perfectly clean.It just seems like there is selective penetration of the weld.Any comments/tips/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance for the help!-Austin
Reply:with 115a being the highest setting id use .025 wire with the amps at max like that i would imagine the wire feed should be close to its highest setting as well (as a guideline, not a rule).what kind of motion are you using (are you welding only in one spot, or are you moving from one piece of the linkage to the other?)?  pictures would probably help alot if possible
Reply:Clean your piece, not just grinding it. Get some acetone and wipe it thoroughly. Also, if it's round, bevel around the diameter of the rod. Then put the two "points" together and fill in between. You aren't going to be able to just put the two pieces together and get them to stick. There is a bit of work involved. Keep trying, try the above and a few pics will help. Ask if you have other questions.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:pictures***************************************Lincoln AC225 stick welderLincoln HD100 WeldPak flux core wire feed welderThree of the cheapest grinders money can buy
Reply:yep, we need a pic or two, almost sounds like one of those pieces isnt steel,  but what the other fellow said about wire size... Another thought, you might use a propane torch to preheat the pieces to a dull red then give it another go.  When you cleaned your pieces, did both of em throw sparks?  Any coatings on em?Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:Austin,I'm the bearer of Bad Tidings - the Cambell Hausfeld welder that you describe does not have a good reputation.  I got rid of mine because it would weld worth a sh...t using gas.  See my posting athttp://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread...light=campbellLater, I discovered this earlier posting - same bad rap!http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread...light=campbellI quote...poonker  Campbell Hausfeld Mig/Flux Core? Ok Ok, I'm a newbie and i'm looking at purchasing a Campbell Hausfeld Model: WG300000AJ 85 AMP Mig/Flux Core Wire Feed Welder 120 Volt.  Can anyone give me some feedback on this perticular model, and if it will get the job done for the type of work i'm doing. arcdawg  DO NOT BUY IT ! save your $$ and get a hobart miller or lincoln, they are a huge step up and once you start welding you wont want to stop ands you will be disapointed in the quality of that machine !Mine was ok with flux-core wire but when I switched to gas (CO2) - and solid 0.030 wire I had absolutely poor penetration - could not even weld a lap joint between two pieces of ~18 gauge steel sheet!  When I changed to a Lincoln 175 there was a world of difference - not just in the range of thickness it could handle but most especially in the quality of the arc.Rick V
Reply:you have complete fusion on one side, but very little on the other, if this is so than it sounds to me like your running colder on one side, meaning the bead doesnt cover enough of the weak side, do you have pics?