Hello MIG experts....... :)

[york33]

Evening all

Following another attempted play with my window frames I have found a problem with my equipment, stop sniggering

My MIG is poorly and it's a bit over a year old

Symptoms are a bit like having a dodgy earth contact but I can't see how! Just refuses to strike up a decent arc on any power setting, manages the odd brief spark but that's it. Material is only 1mm sheet steel, sanded down under the croc clip to make sure of a good contact! It was fine last time I dragged it out........

Any clues from any MIG experts??

cheers
Dave

[wedg1e]

If it's a 'proper' MIG (ie not one of those w@nky no-gas things) then the wire may have oxidised (i.e. it's rusty!).
Failing that, the torch tip may be worn (relies on good contact between wire and tip) - not too likely unless you weld for the British Olympic welding team?

[york33]

Ah, thanks Ian, hope it's that simple I will be having a look at it tomorrow It is a proper MIG, admittedly quite a cheap one, but I'd still prefer not to have to get another one!

Could potentially be one of those options, it's quite a while since I used it, so will wind a bit of wire through and try again....I did wonder when a tip was considered worn, I think I got a spare with it so might change it too. It's a bit covered in weld spatter, I'm no welding god! For some reason it didn't occur to me that it needed good contact with the wire, doh, course it does!

cheers
Dave

[boosted ls1]

I take it that the wire 'feeds out' easily.

Boosted.

[york33]

Yup, seems to still feed wire at a decent pace.....

cheers
Dave

[SEvans]

Also check there is no splatter in the shroud. The shroud should be insulated from the tip and wire. The tips and shrouds are consumables I buy the tips in bags of 6 and a couple of shrouds at a time. I've also seen problems with the trigger but you usually get a stop/start of the wire feed if there is a problem here.Make sure the wire feed is OK and doesn't stop with some resistance.

[rev-erend]

Have you tried changing the gas bottle - sounds like it's empty

[heightswitch]

you mentioned cleaning the metal where the crocodile clip goes, but are you cleaning the bit you want to weld? Lots of steel these days comes with a zinc phosphated coating that doesn't like conducting electricity??

Neil.

[rev-erend]

If in doubt - angle grind it.

Then read the trouble shooting guide with the mig welder

[wedg1e]

rev-erend said:

Have you tried changing the gas bottle - sounds like it's empty

It's always the obvious things you overlook...

[york33]

now it's raining so that's foiled the plan for tonight, I'm staying inside with rum instead, practicing for the Maldives in 3 weeks

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, will let you know.......

BTW, there's plenty of gas and I even tried getting an arc direct on the croc (earth) clip.

[dilbert]

I'm not a MIG person, but I've done a bit of plain arc stuff. You're not on an unusually long extension lead are you?

I notice you mention that you are outside, that's all.