Welding Tips and Tricks

Hi,

Have about 2 months experience with Gas MIG welding. I'm able to make a passing bead with mild steel. Can do ok with thicker stainless, like 1/8.

But the job is making a frame from 1x2x0.625 rectangular std construction stainless(not sure of specific no.).

Will someone please provide the settings i should start with on the 212. Set-up: 0.023 308 wire, He 90% Mix with Ar and Co2, Need wire feed and power input settings

I'm having trouble getting a flatter weld with penetration , the bead is bulging up, looks an inchworm.

Please respond, thanks,
hibo

0.625? That's 5/8". Doesn't jive with 1X2, unless that's feet.

0.0625, maybe? That'd make more sense. Your material is likely 18/8, essentially the same as 304, so your 308 filler is correct, as is the gas (Tri-mix, 90/7.5/2.5).

I'd start at 19.6V, and test on scrap, beginning with about 275 IPM wire, and turning the wire up 10-15 IPM at a time until you find the right balance. Remember, on a CV source, your wire speed sets welding current. If you don't find a good balance, move up to 20V and start over.

(I'm so used to .035 for almost everything these days, I can't give you an "exact" starting point.)

Hopefully, someone else will chime in to confirm or refute my suggestions.

Steve S.

I like this forum, amazing and very informative,

Miller has an online calculator for welding materials.
http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/calculators/

The Millermatic line of welders usually have a chart on the welder.
My 210 versions have it on the inside of the spool side cover, but yours may be different.
http://www.millerwelds.com/pdf/spec_sheets/DC12-46.pdf

There's a troubleshooting section for amperage and speed settings
near the back of the book for my Millermatic 210. It may be useful.
http://www.millerwelds.com/om/o1325k_mil.pdf