07-13-2016, 08:50 PM
Re too much gas;
If you are trying to "Find your way" on a new welder, Yes you can have too much gas BUT and it's a big but, it's really easy to control that by putting a couple of scrap steel bars either side of your weld so as you are welding in a trough, this trough fills with sheilding gas and stops the swirl from picking up air, this also works if you are trying to conserve gas you can reduce your gas flow by using the trough to hold the gas in place.
I learn a machine by turning the gas right up so I know there is plenty, then reduce until I get porosity, at which point I increase by about 20 - 25% All of the "Settings" are estimations as there are too many variable factors to make it possible to give hard numbers. for example; a tapered welding shroud will create more swirl than a straight one, a slight breeze outside can mean you need 50% more sheilding gas than working inside a still shop, something I have experienced many times yet never seen in a manual or text of any kind, they didn't even cover that when I was studyng Weld Inspection, instead they said , and I quote "When you get to a new site find an Experienced welder and pay attention to his opinions" they were not pleased when I asked what course we needed to take that would teach us what an"Experienced welder"looked like.
There's really only one way to find the right settings and that is experience with the process and time on your particular machine, sorry about that.
I hope this helps, regards
Rick
If you are trying to "Find your way" on a new welder, Yes you can have too much gas BUT and it's a big but, it's really easy to control that by putting a couple of scrap steel bars either side of your weld so as you are welding in a trough, this trough fills with sheilding gas and stops the swirl from picking up air, this also works if you are trying to conserve gas you can reduce your gas flow by using the trough to hold the gas in place.
I learn a machine by turning the gas right up so I know there is plenty, then reduce until I get porosity, at which point I increase by about 20 - 25% All of the "Settings" are estimations as there are too many variable factors to make it possible to give hard numbers. for example; a tapered welding shroud will create more swirl than a straight one, a slight breeze outside can mean you need 50% more sheilding gas than working inside a still shop, something I have experienced many times yet never seen in a manual or text of any kind, they didn't even cover that when I was studyng Weld Inspection, instead they said , and I quote "When you get to a new site find an Experienced welder and pay attention to his opinions" they were not pleased when I asked what course we needed to take that would teach us what an"Experienced welder"looked like.
There's really only one way to find the right settings and that is experience with the process and time on your particular machine, sorry about that.
I hope this helps, regards
Rick
Whatever it is, do it today, Tomorrow may not be an option and regret outlasts fatigue.