mig welding - complete novice

[VWCamperfan]

It is supposed to come through the end. Try unscrewing the end (they should usually unscrew), feed a bit of wire through and put the end back on over the wire.
May be getting stuck just inside the nozzle.

[rugchucker]

Hi rainman.
If it is a standard type off mig welder, pull the shroud off, thats the shiney nozzle cover, then unscrew the nozzle with some pliers. Feed the wire through then rescrew on the nozzle and push on the shroud.

The tension on the wire reel needs to only just enough to stop the wire from bird-nesting.

[rainman]

Thanks, I'm not going to get another chance to try it out this weekend but I've got some free time next week and will have another go. I'm beginning to wish I'd just painted over the rust.

[AngeloEvs]

Answers allready posted but check the 'cut' of the wire and replace the bronze nozzle if it looks knacked! Once your up and running you will be glad you didn't just paint over the rust. Mig welder?.......can't do without em if you like older motors!

[ricicles]

check the size of the wire and the size of the tip. on the gasless it should be 0.1 bigger than the wire you are using. most of the mig gasless i looked at had 0.9mm fluxed wire so 1mm tip. i was talking to pep and he told me his welding tutor said for 1mm and below steel we should be using 0.6mm wire. i am not sure if this is available fluxed so it may be worth converting your mig to gas. it does seem that some people are not to keen on gasless but i got good strong welds, much better than my old one with gas.keep positive about it and put some pics up here i would be interested to see what you are doing. if you are still struggling with your welder take it back to where you bought it from, they will hopefully set it up for you.

[weldore]

0.8 or even 1mm will be fine for the rust buckets
oh and if your in a spot b&q superstores supply mig welding stuff

[dugcati]

...........as do Machine mart and mst local large car shops.. oh and Halfrauds too

[andymacdonald30]

The wire sometimes get stuck on the spring wire thingie inside the bend on the gun

Is it a new machine? If not the wire thingie may be rusty or even full of dirt

Check the bronze nozzle first though or you have to take the entire gun apart

Don't bother buying the welding wire from Halfrauds they only sell small drums of it 200 grams I think

Go to a proper welding supply shop and get the 1 kg drums it works out a lot cheaper

I use 0.9 wire with a 1mm hole and it works just fine

Andy

[rainman]

The whole kit came from Halfords and had a spool of wire already in. It was reduced as it was the display model so no packaging or instructions. I'll have a go at taking of the bronze bit on Monday and if I can't get the wire to go through will have to assume it's the wrong size. Will the diameter of the nozzle hole be written on it somewhere?

[AngeloEvs]

Not marked. As others have said, remove the shroud, unscrew the bronze nozzle, operate the trigger, wire should feed through. Slip the nozzle over the wire and refit. If you can't then take it back to Halfords and complain , it isn't fit for purpose irrespective of what you paid for it. Get them to fit the correct tip or supply you with the correct diameter wire (and don't leave until they have it set up for you to use - you are new to this!).

[Nicola&Tony]

Mig welding forum and website has links to lots of instruction manuals. It's also a great source of info when troubleshooting welders and welding. If you're not sure what make of welder you've got, post a photo of it on here. Coming from Halfords, there's a good chance that it'll be a Sip machine (black / grey in colour).

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sip welder example

Tony

[rainman]

Thanks for that. I had another go today and it was just a case of unscrewing the brass tip. The results of my first attempts are too embarassing to post, a lot of splatter and very little adherence, but i think I might be getting the hang of it. It seems a lot harder than arc welding, as in harder to control what's going on but I'll stick at it and hopefully improve (only welding bits that will be hidden out of sight for now).

Thanks all for the advice.

[Pepperami]

Lots of spatter (it's gasless)and no adhesion (not hot enough)

I had a little practice at the weekend! I dont recommend CO2.

[rainman]

I'm afraid it's only a very basic welder with a switch for high and low and it came with no instructions because it was a reduced-price display model and I was being a cheapskate.
I just assumed low setting was best for fairly thin materials. I'm wondering if part of the problem (not discounting my own lack of skill) is that the 1mm patch material is heating up a lot quicker than the van I'm trying to stick it to? I also think i need to clean up the van metal a bit more. I've run out of wire and time but hopefully try again tomorrow on the higher setting. I'll also have a look at that mig welding link on a previous post (can't remember who's). All good fun, i'll be very pleased with myself if I can get the hang of it.

[Pepperami]

Don't practice on your van use some other scrap