Wire quit feeding after I welded it to the tip. Somehow a little piece of welding wire got wrapped around the wire feed. I didn't see it. Re-loaded wire through to the gun, and as soon as I grounded and fed wire, the wire between the end of the roll and the infeed got red hot and melted the plastic guide tube. That wrapped wire was shorting the whole thing out. The molten hot wire cut right through the infeed tube. I managed to turn the tube upside down so the cuts were no longer a factor to finish the job. Fortunately the plastic infeed tube is replaceable. Now I know why.

Break is over. Back out to the garage! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

First time mine did that, I pulled the trigger....click, click, click....puff of smoke from the unit. The wire backed up inside the unit and went thru to the other side and grounded out the circuit board. $125 fix.

Get it back and it jams in the feed tube. Replace it for $20

Next time I use it wire jams in the new feed tube and I have to replace it again. This time I have to run the new tube on the outside of the of the assembley because the feed tube won't come out of the main tube.

Works fine......(crossing fingers) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I guess I got lucky then. This stupid plastic tube *should* be less than $10

My welds are improving. I can now get 70% of them to look like this. Not pro work for sure, but I'm kinda happy with it. And welding is the coolest thing since fire itself. I should have started doing this a long time ago.

That aint a bad looking weld........you can see everytime you changed your position.....

before you strike the arc..... dry run the weld... see how far you can lay a bead down before you have to move your position..

K I looked at the weld again.. slow down.... watch the puddle and work it up and down till you see it pool with the base metal

Tim,
I like your 'dry run' tip. I'll have to remember that one!

Thanks Tim, I'll give it a try. I really want an auto-darkening helmet. Mine is too dark also. I can't even see what I'm doing. If it ain't red hot, I can't see it.

dunno how to describe it but in that pic wherever the bead gets narrower ... Ill bet you were changing position....

drop some coin and get an auto dark hood... they RULE...

I know alot about a lil bit and a lil bit about alot...


welding.... I know about

>Mine is too dark also. I can't even see what I'm doing

The auto-darkening helmets help, but your also need a lot of light on the weld area. The arc is not a great source of light to see what you are doing. I use a large spotlight with a spring clamp that I can point at whatever I'm welding.

If you can see a light when welding your helmet isn't dark enough IMHO.

Mike, I've got a Miller auto-darkening that is solar powered. I love it. Just sit it outside for 8 hours and its good to go for a couple months. Every so often I'll stick it outside just to keep it fully charged. They are supposedly supposed to recharge during use, but I don't weld enough to maintain a charge on it.

>If you can see a light when welding

I'm not sure exactly what you mean. Are you supposed to weld completely blind? If you have strong enough lighting you can easily see the weld area even with a 14 shade helmet.

My experience has been that most of the light used during welding is the light of the arc. I don't notice any ambient lighting once the arc has been struck. Maybe it's my focus on the weld, but I don't think I see any other light.

But you were the guy looking for an opthalmologist. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Thanks for the Miller helmet recomendation. I'll check into it.

Gint, If you already have a shield.... go to your local welding supply and pick up and auto darkening replacement lens...

get one wilth as many sensors as possible.... this way you dont block the sensor if your in a wierd position....

I'll check into that too Tim, thanks. My helmet is a super cheapy though. It would really be nice to have it as a spare. The boys are pretty fascinated with welding. My 11 yr. old wants to help and watch.

My welder cart is almost finished. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

dont matter if you have a cheap shield.... the lenses are standard sizes..

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

oppps missed the part about your son wanting to watch....thats a good reason to treat yourself to a kEwL new shield I guess..

I edited my post (perhaps after you read it first). My "helper" wants to see what's going on. My step-kids don't really have any industrial genes. I was pretty excited that he asked to help. And he wants to watch. Maybe I can make a welder/mechanic/auto whackjob out of one of them yet.

Gint,
just tell them they aren't allowed to help. that usually does it.