Welding Tips and Tricks

Just got a millermatic 120 cv/dc welding power source/wire feeder.. Not sure how to set up or see if I need more wire speed or more volts

Welcome to the forum. Sorry I don't MIG so I can't help there.

Second picture is alot better than the first. First pic looked too cold.

Greazemonkey,
Welcome to the forum!
Looks like you are improving well. I will say that you have a consistent bead width down. The first weld can be argued that the wire speed was to much or there was not enough volts
Download the Miller weld calculator on your phone and this will help with machine settings. What were your settings and gas you were using?
-Jonathan

Speed 3 volts 1 gas 20... I have a millermatic 120 cv/dc it's a old one but it works.i do have that app but my welder is different so it's hard to set the volts..it's a 1,2,3,4,5.. I have been welding for like 3 months

To help you out, if you have a clamp on muli-meter, while welding have someone clamp it around your Mig gun, this will tell you your volts. For wire speed, cut your wire flush with your nozzle and pull the trigger for a count of 6 seconds. Measure it and multiply be 10, this will give you your IPM. Figure out what each setting is and this is one way to help you adjust your machine.
The other way is to listen for that "bacon" sound and the appearance of the weld. Keep the pictures coming.
-Jonathan

I well do the voltage deal the wire speed I can adjust that on the Machine. When it comes to the shape an the style of welding and moving the mig gun. I will keep putting more pictures

By doing the wire count, you can convert your numbers on the wire speed selection to IPM and it should make it easier to set the machine vs just setting it on a number.
2 cents.
-Jonathan

I have more pics tell me what you think. O an my settings on the machine

.

First a question... are you welding on a solid chunk of steel? If so this will make your welds appear "cold". If you have some sheet or 1/8" plate give some fillets a try. Again looks like you have a steady hand. I see nothing wrong with these welds considering you are just starting. What gas are you using?
Well I guess you do have the WFS on the machine already.
-Jonathan

Here's a simple way to set your machine correctly.
Put one hand on the wfs dial, helmet on your head, mig gun in your other hand. set-up a piece of metal.
Prop your nozzle on the metal, maybe since you have a miller gun you can recess your tip up to about 1/2 stick-out.
Then pull the trigger and start welding.
Adjust your wfs until its sounds like bacon, and constant sizzle.
This is a must for me when I weld pulse mig aluminum....
Only way to set a strange machine in a reasonable amount of time.
Try it,
~John

No it's a small 1/8in square tube I'm using 75% argon 25% carbon. Thanks I've been practicing just want to get good an right.

I'll give that a try too thanks

It may sound odd, but John is dead on. When you have short-circuit MIG "just right", it will sound like bacon frying...

I will do that tomorrow he how it comes out I'll put up the pics

Good luck, try all different stuff and see what happens.

~John

I will and thanks everyone I will try all the advice that you guys gave me

Greazemonkey wrote:Just got a millermatic 120 cv/dc welding power source/wire feeder.. Not sure how to set up or see if I need more wire speed or more volts

Hi. First weld looks cold. Second looks good. Have you tried a little RTFM? Read the Effin' Manual? I still check the weld charts on my machines and set accordingly after over 12 years of welding routinely. Great starting points and often I don't change from them. FYI. HTH. EIEIO.

--HC

My welder dont have it an I've been looking online for a sheet so I just been doing it off sound

Greezemonkey,

Watch this whole video.

http://welding-tv.com/2012/10/30/mig-we ... it-badges/

~John