MIG wire size lesson learned

Posted by Chriscase on Thursday, June 04, 2009 at 10:18:04 :

Seems the wire size sets the heat as much as the a-b-c-d knob. I had figured that if I crank up the heat, cranking up the speed of the skinny wire would do. Not so. No penetration, just pigeon droppings pilied up on the surface.

I'm using a Lincoln Weld-Pak 100, 110 volt, with gas (CO2). It's manual says 14ga is max for solid wire, .030 max, but I've stepped up all the way to .035. Now it welds 3/16 with ease, neatness and decent penetration.

I know this is the max capabilities now, it blows my new 20 amp breaker if I try to weld 6". But I usually skip weld an inch or two on each side, less warpage that way.

Follow Ups:

• Re: MIG wire size lesson learned - Franz© 13:49:10 06/04/2009
  • Trial and error, modifying product. - Chriscase 15:43:39 06/04/2009
    • math lesson 101 - Smart A 16:25:10 06/04/2009
      • Re: math lesson 101 - M Fanoni 22:50:26 06/04/2009
      • I did say "about 50%. " - Chriscase 22:44:33 06/04/2009
      • Re: math lesson 101 - Franz© 22:34:34 06/04/2009
        • But Franz, not only do I think it helps... - Chriscase 10:13:06 06/05/2009
          • Re: But Franz, not only do I think it helps... - Dana (in Lancaster) 11:12:16 06/05/2009
            • But you've got double the amperage. - Chriscase 12:56:10 06/05/2009
              • Re: But you've got double the amperage. - Franz© 02:59:39 06/06/2009
      • One cannot simultaneously convince.... - J-Gilly 18:34:40 06/04/2009
        • Re: One cannot simultaneously convince.... - Chriscase 22:47:14 06/04/2009
• Re: MIG wire size lesson learned - Marty 13:24:34 06/04/2009
• Re: maybe you should have - Mick Stones, IDAKNOWN, USA 12:38:22 06/04/2009
  • Re: maybe you should have - M Fanoni 12:45:29 06/04/2009
    • And I went way past the manual . nm - Chriscase 15:44:50 06/04/2009

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