mig and flux core tips and techniques, equipment, filler metal
Pushrod
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Hello everyone. My name is Nick. I’ve got a question for the pros that I can’t seem to find an answer to. I’m welding on a 1971 dodge demon, and i do not have access to a rotisserie which would make my welding issues go away. I haven’t done much over head welding before, and I’m have trouble keeping the arc steady when welding overhead. What’s happening is I’ll initiate the arc and it will go pretty good for a couple seconds and then the wire will start to melt before getting to the base metal and will drip off without ever getting to the weld pool. I’ve tried lowering the voltage, lowering and speeding up wire speed, and changing how much gas is being used. I think the problem might be a combination of things taking place all at once. My contact tip is flush with the shroud. I’m welding with .030 wire in a Eastwood multi process MP140i that I got for a really good deal. I’m using 75% argon/25% co2. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong, and could use some advice to help me get over this overhead welding road block. I’m not the best welder in the world, but I’m not the worst either. I can weld vertical and horizontal just fine when I am over top of the weld surface. It’s when the weld surface is above me that my welding skills go on break time. I don’t have any friends close by that know how to weld overhead that can come by and see first hand what I’m doing wrong. Any and all advice is much appreciated.


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Poland308
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Welcome Nick. I’m guessing the metal your welding is pretty thin?
I have more questions than answers

Josh
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Also, please list all the settings available to you, and what you set them at. Perhaps you can show them all in a picture?
Image
Pushrod
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Poland308 wrote:Welcome Nick. I’m guessing the metal your welding is pretty thin?
Yes the metal is thin. Probably 16-18 gauge sheet metal.


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Pushrod
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Oscar wrote:Also, please list all the settings available to you, and what you set them at. Perhaps you can show them all in a picture?


Here’s a picture of the control panel on my welder. Let me know what you think. It’s an inverted type welder. Not exactly sure what that means. I think it’s pretty basic in terms of settings.Image


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Pushrod
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Poland308 wrote:Welcome Nick. I’m guessing the metal your welding is pretty thin?
I forgot to mention that I’m welding 1/8” thick subframe connectors to the under side floor pan which I believe is 16 gauge sheet metal. So the metal I’m welding to the floor pan is quite a bit thicker then the metal I’m welding the subframe connectors to


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Pushrod wrote:
Oscar wrote:Also, please list all the settings available to you, and what you set them at. Perhaps you can show them all in a picture?


Here’s a picture of the control panel on my welder. Let me know what you think. It’s an inverted type welder. Not exactly sure what that means. I think it’s pretty basic in terms of settings.Image


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Can you turn on the machine and re-take that pic? What I'm trying to get at/hoped I would have seen in your picture is: what WFS and voltage are you running? What is your contact tip to work distance? What angle are you using?

Have a look at this picture. I posted this in another thread. Look at just how much info can (sometimes) be relevant:
Image



I'm not saying that you have to post something that may not apply to your machine, but the more you disclose, the "more better" advice you can receive. :) Not trying to overwhelm you, but it's [almost] always something that isn't told that ends up being the deciding factor.
Image
Pushrod
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Oscar wrote:
Pushrod wrote:
Oscar wrote:Also, please list all the settings available to you, and what you set them at. Perhaps you can show them all in a picture?


Here’s a picture of the control panel on my welder. Let me know what you think. It’s an inverted type welder. Not exactly sure what that means. I think it’s pretty basic in terms of settings.Image


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Can you turn on the machine and re-take that pic? What I'm trying to get at/hoped I would have seen in your picture is: what WFS and voltage are you running? What is your contact tip to work distance? What angle are you using?

Have a look at this picture. I posted this in another thread. Look at just how much info can (sometimes) be relevant:
Image



I'm not saying that you have to post something that may not apply to your machine, but the more you disclose, the "more better" advice you can receive. :) Not trying to overwhelm you, but it's [almost] always something that isn't told that ends up being the deciding factor.
I really appreciate your willingness to help me out. I will take another picture of the welder with the power turned on when I get home from work today. I drive Amtrak trains for a living, and I’m out of town for the next few hours. I’ll post a picture when I get back to my garage. Thank you again


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