[Havoc0122]

Getting there: increased IPM a bit. Getting much better with technique.

[Oscar]

190/200 IPM still looks too hot based on the drooping But the 180 IPM looks very much better. I'm curious as to what the actual WFS is on your machine? Have you tested it (the WFS) based on the "6 second" method?

[Havoc0122]

190/200 IPM still looks too hot based on the drooping But the 180 IPM looks very much better. I'm curious as to what the actual WFS is on your machine? Have you tested it (the WFS) based on the "6 second" method?

Negative never tried it, but I can Monday

[Oscar]

190/200 IPM still looks too hot based on the drooping But the 180 IPM looks very much better. I'm curious as to what the actual WFS is on your machine? Have you tested it (the WFS) based on the "6 second" method?

Negative never tried it, but I can Monday

Sounds good. My wire should be here tomorrow to give it another go and double-check settings.

[Havoc0122]

6 seconds measured 38 inches. That's at 400 settings. So it's off by 20. 2 attempts today. 170ipm worked better than 180. -20

Another attempt soon

[Oscar]

6 seconds measured 38 inches. That's at 400 settings. So it's off by 20. 2 attempts today. 170ipm worked better than 180. -20

Another attempt soon

You should create an entire "map" so you can have a chart to refer to. Just my opinion of course.

[Havoc0122]

6 seconds measured 38 inches. That's at 400 settings. So it's off by 20. 2 attempts today. 170ipm worked better than 180. -20

Another attempt soon

You should create an entire "map" so you can have a chart to refer to. Just my opinion of course.

Is there a reference I can use?

[Havoc0122]

It seems like that top weld Saturday was the closest I've gotten so far. I just can't stop the sag. Slight slight bite on the sides... I'm looking forward to you giving it a go. I feel like I'm right there. The weld Saturday was 20.5v 180 IPM. Like I'm going one step forward then right back where I was.

[Oscar]

6 seconds measured 38 inches. That's at 400 settings. So it's off by 20. 2 attempts today. 170ipm worked better than 180. -20

Another attempt soon

You should create an entire "map" so you can have a chart to refer to. Just my opinion of course.

Is there a reference I can use?

That's what I mean. You should create your own reference chart. IOW, do the 6-second method at many spaced intervals on your WFS dial, at least 10. That way you can have accurate WFS numbers for your machine. Just a suggestion of course, but that way when some one says "use 275 IPM", you can dial it in more accurately than if you were 260 IPM or 295 IPM and not even know it. The more points you do this for, the better dial'ing in you can do. Again, just a suggestion.

[Oscar]

Wire's here! But just barely! I've had good luck with other kiswel wire, so I think this will run good too.

[Oscar]

First trial run with Kiswel KC-28C ER70S-6 wire, 0.045" diameter. I was worried my little Pro Pulse 200 would struggle with a 44lb spool due to the sheer weight, but nope. Didn't even have to use half the available down-pressure on the drive-roll! Little buddy is a beast!

90/10 Ar/CO₂
149 IPM
20.0V




It went in fine, but I was getting large spatter BB's, so I need to turn the voltage down.

[Oscar]

Experimented with a whole bunch of voltage settings, but stayed within the 149-161 IPM WFS window. Voltage ranged from 18.8-20.5V.



I really ended up liking mid-150's IPM for WFS (153/157 IPM), and the voltage was crisper with the voltage dropped down to ~18.9-19.5V.



I wanted to try more combinations of WFS/V but I accidentally knocked over a small plastic bucket of soapy water that I was using to clean some oily plates I had drilled/tapped earlier. So yea, that was the sign for me to stop for the night.

Keep in mind that the wire I used for the previous tests (the 0.035" wire) was ER70S-3, where as this one was ER70S-6. I think that is the reason this time around I used less voltage; S-6 wire has more silicon and other deoxidizers to deal with imperfectly prepped steel, and that silicon also makes it wet-out/flow more. S-3 has less such deoxididers so the puddle is not as fluid for the same given voltage, and thus I used up in the 20.X range. The application where S-3 really shines is pulsed-spray MIG, where the less fluid puddle helps out-of-position welding.

[Havoc0122]

Thanks obviously I'll do it you know your stuff that's no doubt. Thanks for the tip.

That looks like a nice V up bead. Im not sure if we're pulse or spray transfer. I've been trying to find out. So the wire is the main factor in that. Ah hah! The other welders don't prep their steel like I do (good habits) and they make beautiful welds still. I'll double check the wire today. I'll also drop to the 150-160 ipm. Will also adjust voltage according so transfer type. So less voltage for spray and a little more for pulse? Or do I have it backwards? I'm learning a ton it's great thanks.

[Havoc0122]

Experimented with a whole bunch of voltage settings, but stayed within the 149-161 IPM WFS window. Voltage ranged from 18.8-20.5V.



I really ended up liking mid-150's IPM for WFS (153/157 IPM), and the voltage was crisper with the voltage dropped down to ~18.9-19.5V.



I wanted to try more combinations of WFS/V but I accidentally knocked over a small plastic bucket of soapy water that I was using to clean some oily plates I had drilled/tapped earlier. So yea, that was the sign for me to stop for the night.

Keep in mind that the wire I used for the previous tests (the 0.035" wire) was ER70S-3, where as this one was ER70S-6. I think that is the reason this time around I used less voltage; S-6 wire has more silicon and other deoxidizers to deal with imperfectly prepped steel, and that silicon also makes it wet-out/flow more. S-3 has less such deoxididers so the puddle is not as fluid for the same given voltage, and thus I used up in the 20.X range. The application where S-3 really shines is pulsed-spray MIG, where the less fluid puddle helps out-of-position welding.

We use s-6 wire. So that is the one with a faster flow rate. Would that be used in pulse or spray transfer?

[Havoc0122]

First try. Looks rough. I'll lower the voltage a little next time and play with the IPM keeping within the 150 to 160 range. That one was around 145 IPM (says 160).

[Oscar]

Thanks obviously I'll do it you know your stuff that's no doubt. Thanks for the tip.

That looks like a nice V up bead. Im not sure if we're pulse or spray transfer. I've been trying to find out. So the wire is the main factor in that. Ah hah! The other welders don't prep their steel like I do (good habits) and they make beautiful welds still. I'll double check the wire today. I'll also drop to the 150-160 ipm. Will also adjust voltage according so transfer type. So less voltage for spray and a little more for pulse? Or do I have it backwards? I'm learning a ton it's great thanks.

Keep in mind your machine will likely weld a little different, as mine is a completely different unit. All mine were done in shortt circuit. No pulse/spray here as those results would have been completely different. I was simply commenting about it in general with regards to wire type. S-6 is pretty much the most common, although sometimes S-3 can be had cheaper, but it doesn't respond well to millscale/rust/other impurities as well as S-6. Either wire can be used for spray or pulsed-spray, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

Hopefully you have a ballpark idea of where your settings should be. You can always try different combinations of course, you just have to play with the voltage to make sure you are not too low or too high. I think your settings are pretty much spot on since the bead has a good profile. I think at this point its mostly just technique. This is actually the first time I welded 3/8" going uphill, so if I as a hobbyist can do it, anyone can.

[Havoc0122]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... 4139736656

I checked this video on spray pulse at lunch. He sets his welder at 140 IPM and .99 volts? What's .99 equate to on a miller? He has a lot of good info on the vid..

[Havoc0122]

Im just gonna keel trying every possible combo. Everyday until i get it.

[Oscar]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... 4139736656

I checked this video on spray pulse at lunch. He sets his welder at 140 IPM and .99 volts? What's .99 equate to on a miller? He has a lot of good info on the vid..

That's not voltage. That is a trim, which equates to a relative addition/reduction centered at the number 1.00, where 1.00 means "no change" from the set voltage.

[Havoc0122]

Oh I see. Never used one like that. I took the day off yesterday but I'm back. I'm thinking about going to Tulsa Welding School as the Jacksonville campus is an hour and a half away. There's also a community college in town but the cirriculum isn't as good. Then there's an 18 month program about 45m away in which you walk away with an AA in welding technology. It's called Southwestern Uni. I think I'm going to need to considering I'm still somewhat young. Any experience with these? I like the TWS cirriculum and it's only 7 months. Longer commute though. Going to try and practice today but I'll probably be pretty busy.

[Havoc0122]

Unfortunately didn't practice today. Will start back tomorrow. My main question about welding school is would the 20,000$ debt I accrue be worth it considering I already have 3 years mig welding steel and aluminum and tig welding stainless. A lot of torching oxygen/acetelyne and plasma..

[Oscar]

Unfortunately didn't practice today. Will start back tomorrow. My main question about welding school is would the 20,000$ debt I accrue be worth it considering I already have 3 years mig welding steel and aluminum and tig welding stainless. A lot of torching oxygen/acetelyne and plasma..

Accrue that debt (if you must, but scholarships are better) getting a Bachelor's degree in a high-demand field, then weld for fun.

[Poland308]

Let’s be clear! An average mig welding job will get you 40grand average per year. At best. Higher end stick or tig work will get you more. A solid pipe fitter/ welder on a 2000 hr year will get you 80k. Specialize beyond that and it gets hard to pin down a dollar figure.
Now, that said, the experience you get from working an average mig job has an added value. Depending on how much you want to learn. The value becomes a bit of its own rabbit hole.

[Havoc0122]

Let’s be clear! An average mig welding job will get you 40grand average per year. At best. Higher end stick or tig work will get you more. A solid pipe fitter/ welder on a 2000 hr year will get you 80k. Specialize beyond that and it gets hard to pin down a dollar figure.
Now, that said, the experience you get from working an average mig job has an added value. Depending on how much you want to learn. The value becomes a bit of its own rabbit hole.

Thanks for the tips. It's going to be between TWS and Southwestern university. I've never liked school but 4 days a week in lab sounds great. I'm leaning toward TWS it has all the good stuff in 7 months. The 7 months is selling me.. they might not do an actual degree but looks like companies hire students before they even graduate. How much I want to learn? Everything about arc welding, oxy acetelyne welding, submariner one day maybe. I was even considering just buying my own welder teaching myself other processes that way but organized school you can't beat. Anyway I'll post some pics today. Give her a go.

[Havoc0122]

Unfortunately didn't practice today. Will start back tomorrow. My main question about welding school is would the 20,000$ debt I accrue be worth it considering I already have 3 years mig welding steel and aluminum and tig welding stainless. A lot of torching oxygen/acetelyne and plasma..

Accrue that debt (if you must, but scholarships are better) getting a Bachelor's degree in a high-demand field, then weld for fun.

Actually with additional pipe fittings training it's 10 months. That's cool too though.