Happy Holidays fellow Cheveller's!

I am practicing my welding on 1/8" x 1" stock w/ mm175.
I am getting too much buildup and not enough penetration. I am running a 50' 10ga extension do you think I need to check for voltage drop?

The chart says V=4.5 and ws=80 for 1/8" steel, however to get less buildup and more penetration I tried V=8.0 ws=50. These settings along with a beveled edge and a slight gap cause puddling on the bottom which I believe means 100% penetration.

All suggestions greatly appreciated.

I need to know if the extension is too long/small
How to achieve 100% penetration

I am practicing on welding in frame washers for the body mounts to rest on.

Thank you all...

Mark,
Try upping the voltage and wire speed. Also are you using argon/ CO2 mix. Check if your gas is set too high It should be about 20 psi with trigger open. (set it with it open). Another thing is hold the MIG tip closer to the work and weld slower. Can you see the puddle in your helmet? If you have a auto darkening helmet adjust the tint down so you can see your work. The last thing, Practice, Practice, Practice this will only make you better. later

I think I've run about v=6 and ws=55 when welding 1/8" when using 0.030" wire and that seems to work fairly well. From your settings are you using the 0.023" wire? If you are, it's really too small for welding 1/8" steel. The other problem you may have is that you need to get the gun more upright with the tip closer to the weld. You don't want much stick out but if you begin welding the tip then you're too close. I often will pull the tip shield partially off to keep from doing that.

Peter

Mark,

Here's a link to your MM175 manual (no sarcasm intended). http://www.millerwelds.com/om/o1324c_mil.pdf


Page 17 of that manual states that 14 AWG is recommended for up to a 66' run. So, if you're using 50' of 10 AWG, you should be more than OK and can rule out voltage drop as your problem.

As to what could be your problem, like Peter, I'd question what wire you're using - .023, .030? Also if you're using flux or gas.?.? Honestly, I would probably recommend you head over to Miller's forum and post your question. They have a number of welding gurus that are very helpful! http://www.millermotorsports.com/mboard/forumdisplay.php?f=3

John,

Thanks for the reply. Yes I am using .23 Argon/co2
I will check the gas psi open. I have a fixed darkness lens not auto darkening. I will consider getting a shade lighter if visibility is a problem.

Peter, thanks I never thought about "extending" the sheild. I have practiced both pulling and pushing the weld. My current practice is to push the wire at 1/8 thickness. I don't have any .30 wire but will get some and try that. Thank you.

Gordo, thanks for all the feedback.
Yes the manual says the min input conductor is 14ga and the max length is 66'. I am not sure if that means that I can get away with 66' of 14ga or not but either way I would think the 10ga would be ok, thanks. I will check out and post on the millermotorsports forum you suggest it's just that so many people here are new to mig and this seems to be a semi-suitable forum.

In summary I will release the wire and set the gas to 20 valve open. I will try .30 wire verticle and closer (I am already pretty close) I will increase voltage and wire speed.

Two last questions, should I have to bevel the metal or should I be able to get full penetration w/o.
Will there always be high buildup or will a hot enough puddle be able to absorb the wire?

WOW

Just checked out the miller and Hobart forums, Tons of good stuff, Thanks Again Gordo!

No problemo! Glad it helped.

The reason I recommended that is that most of the people here that weld (including myself) are welding hobbyist. I think you'll find that the Miller forum tends to have the welding professionals - people that weld for living. I'm sure we have a few of those people here too, but many more over there on a daily basis. Hobart also has a good forum... tends be slightly less professional, and more hobbyist. Both GREAT resources.