Welding Tips and Tricks

I have been using a Lincoln Weld-Pak 100 with the gas bottle conversion for several years just for light fabrication and repairs around the house...

Last week I decided to pony up for a bigger machine... I purchased a Miller 211 auto-set with the free spoolgun promotion.

I brought it home and set it up for a test run using the 'auto-set' feature... and quickly realized that I can't keep up with the flow of wire...

It's not the machine... it's my lack of ability, I'm sure.

I then set the machine in manual mode to play with the wire speeds... the recommended setting for what I was doing was to set the wire speed at '60' (if I remember correctly)... I had to turn it down to '30' to keep up with it.

Ok, I know I need some practice.... but what effect does running the wire that much slower have on the quality of the weld? I'm guessing it would run hotter... does that equate to more penetration?

FWIW... I'm using the .030 ER70S-6 wire that came with it, C25 gas, welding 1/8" mild steel.

-Thanks -Bear

Youre going to have to watch out for distortion. Voltage will need to come down with it as well to maintain the proper "mixture".

682bear wrote: I then set the machine in manual mode to play with the wire speeds... the recommended setting for what I was doing was to set the wire speed at '60' (if I remember correctly)... I had to turn it down to '30' to keep up with it.

Ok, I know I need some practice.... but what effect does running the wire that much slower have on the quality of the weld? I'm guessing it would run hotter... does that equate to more penetration?

FWIW... I'm using the .030 ER70S-6 wire that came with it, C25 gas, welding 1/8" mild steel.

-Thanks -Bear

Wire feed speed = amps
Voltage controls the weld height and width.

They both work together for a proper weld - but they have to be balanced - too much or too little voltage for the wire feed speed will not work well.

Here is a pretty good explanation:
http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/ar ... ng-basics/

MinnesotaDave wrote:

682bear wrote: I then set the machine in manual mode to play with the wire speeds... the recommended setting for what I was doing was to set the wire speed at '60' (if I remember correctly)... I had to turn it down to '30' to keep up with it.

Ok, I know I need some practice.... but what effect does running the wire that much slower have on the quality of the weld? I'm guessing it would run hotter... does that equate to more penetration?

FWIW... I'm using the .030 ER70S-6 wire that came with it, C25 gas, welding 1/8" mild steel.

-Thanks -Bear

Wire feed speed = amps
Voltage controls the weld height and width.

They both work together for a proper weld - but they have to be balanced - too much or too little voltage for the wire feed speed will not work well.

Here is a pretty good explanation:
http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/ar ... ng-basics/

With my inexperienced eyes fig 6 and fig 7 would look like good welds from the outside.