Thanks a lot for trying to help. The gaz is Argoshield Light. It s made by Linde aka BOC aka Air Liquide. They are the main supplier here in Quebec. Even for industry I think. At least the 2 shops I ve been working in used them . And made a lot of welding .. I don t think there s another supplier here . And it s quite expensive. 90 CAD $ the small bottle ... I can t find the local MSDS, it s different from the country . The more precise I could find is the NZ one. Oxygen O2 : 3.1 % Argon Ar : 91.9 % Carbon dioxide CO2 :5%. I just noticed there s no tag with the mix on the bottle. The one I used previously were 75 % Argon IIRC . But I m just a hobbyist. Maybe I m wrong and don t remember exactly . Yes I know about the polarity issues. I ve been switching several times from flux core to S-6 Mig. So I take care about it. I keep the flow between 10 and 15. I even use tape on the manometer to check it. Tried more or less. No succes. You may be right about the wrong gas. As said above, now I m not sure they give me the same one I had before .. I think the previous one was 75/25. No label on this one . Sorry if I repeat, I search on the web and check my welder as I read you and write. I remember I use a tip from a MAstercraft. I didn t have any 0.023 tip from Miller. Not the same thread, one is 1/4 - 20 is the other metric 6 x 1.0. But same lenght , and so short that it fits without pb without damage to the gun . Once again, thanks a lot . I dont mean to make you cry, but I don t have much money and my welder at 1500 $ was a huge expense for me. Have it for 5 years now. One of the best tool I ever had. I don t think I ve used more than 20 or 30 lbs of wire, so it s supposed to be in decent shape. Just a hobby for me, my main one, so I really need a good welder station.
I didn't think you could reverse polaity on a Miller 211. I ***ume you tried it with the autoset with the same results? How about on 110? I've had issues before with a bad bottle of gas, the welding supply didn't purge the system before filling tanks, once a pinhole in the gas line, I had gas but not enough no matter how high and then one that took me awhile to figure out. One leg of my 220 went out, machine would run but welded like ****. Quick voltage test would tell you if you have 110 in each leg + the nuetral right.
Can you try it on a pc of heavier plate to see how it welds? Over the years we have gotten a couple of tanks of gas that were labeled wrong.
Oxygen O2 : 3.1 % Argon Ar : 91.9 % Carbon dioxide CO2 :5%. This is most likely the cause of the main issue you are having. I'm not familiar with this mixture so Take that into consideration too. There's really high argon content. That's probably why it looked like a straight argon weld but not exactly to me. If your last bottle was 75/25 , there's a big difference between the two. Trade it back and have them pro rate the usage. It's not fair if they gave you the wrong stuff but they will say its your fault for not looking. Worth a try to get the supplier to help with the cost.
It really needs to be 75 % Aragon and 25% carbon dioxide. Your wire needs to be ER70s-6 for the metal you are welding. I would set your flow between 15 and 20. Closer to 20. If any of these things are not correct I would fix that before going further. Also: if the mix your saying is correct...that 3.1% oxygen is the entire problem IMO.
The Autoset feature is for 0.030 or 0.035 wire. Not for thin 0.023. I like it. Not perfect, but for a newby as I am, it s a good starting point. So of course you have to adjust .. The polarity is changed by changing the inside connections to the feed and ground wire with a 7/16 bolt. I just checked the voltage, I have 110 + 110 and 220. Dedicated wire from the house main panel. Ground on the plug is supposed to be correct . Could the 91 % Ar mix be wrong for my use ? I really suscpect a wrong gaz ... I have to weld 0.035 sheet ... For a OT car ( Grand Prix 1984 ), but I exchange I ll have a 258 for my Rambler I need it ! I try a easy 1/8 plate. Clean . And be back.
What tip is on your gun? I remember switching from flux core to gas and I forgot to put the gas tip on it. I was welding with thr fluxcore tip which doesnt let gas to flow very well. Took me a couple head scratching to figure out. Brent
I got straight argon once and I had a hell of a time getting a decent weld till my pro welder buddy came by and noticed that I had the wrong gas.
Enjoy This one is another sheet metal. Brand new and clean.0.070. (1.35 mm ) I ve never done so ugly things .. I not an ace also, but can do better with flux core on 0.035 .. I didn t take time to have perfect settings. There s craters. A really small gap. But absolutely no penetration .. Showing the other side is a waiste of time .. So .. What is 90 % Argon used for ? Alu is 100 % I think. Maybe SS ?
I think your tri-mix is for stainless. Like someone said before, take it back and exchange it for the 75/25. -Pat
I think you had it ... Right side Miller + gaz + 0.23. Left side : Cheap MAstercraft and flux wire. 0.030 Setting guestimated in both cases. I really think now the gaz is wrong. Thanks all. I ll change the bottle tomorrow. I hate this shop ....
Thanks all. I know I m not a top welder. But this is quite insane I ll change the bottle tomorrow . I know I m not top, but this is really **** Be sure I ll make new pictures.
You figured it out alright, wrong/bad gaz. Looks like when a breeze comes in and blows away some of the shielding gas. Oxy and mig are mortal enemies. The "rise" in the bead is contamination pushing through the molten puddle as it cools. Also the same when the back side of the metal is dirty.
Others have said it, you have said it. The gas is the wrong gas for what you are doing. Get the 75% Argon and 25% CO2 mix and your problems will be gone.
The gas mix is correct for this application but you must understand how it is supposed to work. I have been in the welding supply industry for 30 years and was on a team in my past at Air Liquide and helped develop special welding mixes. Long story short here, in this case, a 75/25 mix will work best, especially if you have some light rust on the parts and cannot clean the area to weld. First, even with 75/25, turn up the flow meter to minimum 20 and 25 will work best. Second, clean all of the surfaces to be welded and most importantly the area where you put the ground clamp. Third, do not use anti spatter grease as it clogs up the nozzle blocking gas flow Fourth, NEVER use Brake Clean to pre clean your parts as it creates Phosgene Gas, the Mustard gas used in world war 1 to kill people in the trenches Last, triple heck your parity again to make sure you are correct for the solid wire you are welding with. I can get crazy detailed on how the games affect the arc, etc if you really want to know but am keepin this short and to the point
I won t argue the fact you know how to weld michael. I don t know much. I also clean. And never use any "cleaner " . Especially since we all read the Brake / Carb cleaner story. I know the effects from mustard gaz, I met guys woud suffered from this I m European ..( I always repeat my english is not perfect ) But I was 6 yo and supposed they all died since. I m not the kind of guy who complains easily. I try to find before asking But it s been 3 times I have problems with Linde for bottles . On a total of 10 bought .. That s enough ... Too much pb with this compagniy. I just waisted 3 days .... At least, it s funny discussion topic I d like to know what 90 % Ar is for ..
Michael said the gas was correct. then he went on to say that the 75% Argon -25% Co2 mix was better. He was right on that. the gas you have sounds like it might be right or OK, but in my experience it has NEVER been the right choice for what you are doing. Here is what a 90% mix is for: ARGON 90% - 10% Co2 **GREAT CHOICE FOR SPRAY-TRANSFERING MILD STEEL** This blend performs similarly to the 5% blend, but with increased heat input providing a wider, more fluid weld puddle in either short-circuit or spray transfer. Again, it sounds like it might work as typically you are welding in Mig short circuit transfer. A 90% argon blend is not however great as you have discovered. I will say it again. Get the proper C25 mix (75% Argon and 25% CO2) and your problems will be gone.
Larry where is the best place to get gas in Edmonton? I just got my small c25 bottle replaced and it was $70 and I think I pay something like $190 for my straight argon for my TIG from Arrow on the west end. You know of anywhere that is cheaper? Sorry to hijack Nali
It s ok K13 I don t mind hijack. There are discussions and the goal of a forum is to share. So it s a perfect place. I know some don t like and wan t to keep their topics "pures", but if you think mine is the perfect place to speak about the last fish you got from a lake or a mushroom. I ll enjoy. For real As long as it s funny It s the humor we have in Ca. I love it.
HAHA thanks I hope you get your problem sorted out. Nothing more frustrating than not being able to get something to work that should be fairly straight forward. I have been down that road myself with my MIG recently and it drove me nuts. Oh and I would listen to Blue Ones advice he is a welding instructor at the tech school here in Edm.
I think with the help of the Hamb powa this will be solved . I love this board .. I don t know know Edm. Quite far from here Montreal . I d like one day to make a trip from Tadoussac ( Far East side, search whales ) To BC. I just hope I won t fall asleep while crossing Alberta, I ve been told it s flat and long
Nali, I have a Miller matic 210 and just love it. It does eveything I ask it to do. My friend has a 211 and it works very nice. I also get my gas from BOC (Linde) I use argoshield 75/25 works perfect. I set my gas between 18-20 on the regulator. When using .023 wire I find I need to adjust the feed and speed settings a little from the chart. Are you sure your welder is wired from the house panel correctly? It should be on a 30-35 Amp double breaker,using # 10 wire. That welder set up should weld anything you will ever do. Maybe go see your nearest Miller dealer, they will be glad to help. Or check out www.millerwelds.com I used to live east of you in New Richmond Qc now I spend the summers there. Jim
Advanced Industrial Supply is the cheapest I know of. They lease a large bottle for $70 a year. And they are cheapest when it comes to a refill. With Oxy Pro you have to buy the bottle and refills are expensive. Thanks for the vote of confidence To the OP, parts of Alberta are quite beautiful, Saskatchewan is where you will fall asleep and drive for hours feeling like you have not moved.
Hi guys, I too was a former welding instructor and do not want to turn this into a debate with Blue One as he is correct in this case with regards to using 75/25 Ar/CO2. This is the best and easiest mix all around, especially for our hobby. The higher Argon percentage blended gases work better in specific industrial applications and without getting technical on why, as it does not matter for our specific hobby, stick with the 75/25 and you will be happy with the results. There are cases where you may get bad gas from a supplier so beware of this too but it is not typically too common in my little area of Southern California. Perform all of the checks that Blue One, I and others have given you in this thread and you will be successful in your welding projects. Good luck and I too LOVE this site in general as I have learned a ton from others for my project!
The Jalopy Journal
