Sears MIG Wire Feed Welder, Craftsman MIG Wire Feed Welder Welding Instruction Manual

S£ S
CRRFTSMRN°
MIG Wire Feed Welder
WELDING INSTRUCTION GUIDE
INTRODUCTION . SAFETY
PREPARE TO WELD
KNOW YOUR WELDER
CAUTION: Read and follow all Safety Rules
and Operating Instructions before
First Use of this Product.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 USA
811-600-000 (June 1998)
TABLE OF CONTENTS .... 2
INTRODUCTION ................ 3
SAFETY SUMMARY .......... 4
SAFETY INFORMATION .......... 4
SHOCK HAZARDS .............. 5
FLASH HAZARDS ................ 6
FIRE HAZARDS ................... 6
FUME HAZARDS ................. 7
COMPRESSED GASSES
AND EQUIPMENT
HAZARDS ........................ 8
ADDITIONAL SAFETY
INFORMATION ................. 9
PREPARING TO WELD ... 10
WIRE FEED WELDING
VARIABLES ....................... 10
SELECT THE WIRE ........... 10
Solid Steel Wire
Selection ..................... 10
Self-Shielding Flux-Core
Steel Wire .................. 10
Aluminum Wire Selection10 Stainless Steel Wire
Selection .................... 12
Silicon Bronze Wire
Selection .................... 12
SELECTING THE WIRE
SPOOL SIZE .................. 12
SELECTING THE WIRE
DIAMETER ..................... 13
SELECTING SHIELDING
GAS ................................ 13
Gas Selection For Steel
Welding With Steel
Wire ............................ 13
Gas Selection For
Aluminum Gas
Welding ...................... 14
Gas Selection For
Stainless Steel
Welding ...................... 14
Gas Selection For Steel
Welding With Silicon
Bronze Wire ............... 14
SELECT WELDING
CURRENT POLARITY ... 14
PREPARING THE WORK
AREA .................................. 14
SETTING UP THE WORK
PIECE ................................. 15
PREPARING THE JOINT ... 15 WORKPIECE CLAMP
CONNECTION ............... 17
Tuning In the Wire
Speed ......................... 17
GET TO KNOW YOUR
WELDER ....................... 19
LEARNING TO WELD ............ 19
HOLDING THE GUN .......... 19
Position the Gun to the
Work Piece ................. 19
Distance from the Work
Piece .......................... 20
LAYING A BEAD .................... 20
WELDING TECHNIQUES ...... 20
MOVING THE GUN ............ 20
TYPES OF WELD BEADS .21
WELDING POSITIONS ...... 22
MULTIPLE PASS
WELDING ........................ 23
SPECIAL WELDING
METHODS .......................... 24
SPOT WELDING ................ 24
SPOT WELDING
INSTRUCTIONS ............. 25
This Welding Instruction Guide provides basic information about wire feed
welding. It is to be used together with the User's Guide to provide all of the
information needed to safely and effectively use your wire feed welder. The information in this book applies to almost all wire feed welders and gives
the methods and techniques needed to
make satisfactory welds and do it safely.
Where information is shown that does not necessarily apply to all models or
brands of welders, it will be marked as either optional on some welder models, or does not apply to all models.
Every craftsman respects the tools with which they work. They know that the tools represent years of constantly improved designs and developments.
The true craftsman also knows that tools are dangerous if misused or abused.
Reading this operator's manual before using the welder will enable you to do a better, safer job. Learn the welder's applications and limitations as well as the specific potential hazards peculiar to welding.
SAFETY INFORMATION
The following safety information is provided as guidelines to help you operate your new welder under the safest possible conditions. Any equipment that uses electrical power can
be potentially dangerous to use when
safety or safe handling instructions are
not known or not followed. The following
safety information isprovided to give the
user the information necessary for safe use and operation.
When a procedure step is preceded by a WARNING, it is an indication that the
step contains a procedure that might be
injurious to a person if proper safety precautions are not heeded.
When a procedure step is preceded by a
CAUTION, it is an indication that the
step contains a procedure that might damage the equipment being used.
A NOTE may be used before or after a
procedure step to highlight or explain
something in that step.
READ ALL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
CAREFULLY before attempting to
install, operate, or service this welder. Failure to comply with these instructions
could result In personal injury and/or
property damage.
RETAIN THESE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
NOTE:
The following safety alert symbols identify important safety messages in
this manual. When you see one of the symbols shown
here, be alert to the possibility of personal injury and carefully read the message that follows.
This symbol indicates that the possibility of electric shock hazard exists during the operation of the step(s) that
follow. This symbol indicates that the
possibility of fire hazard exists during the operation of the step(s) that follow.
This symbol indicates that the helmet must be worn during the
step(s) that follow to protect against eye damage and burns
due to flash hazard. This symbol indicates that the
possibility of toxic gas hazard exists during operation of the step(s) that follow.
This symbol indicates that the possibility of being burned by hot slag exists during operation
of the step(s) that follow.
This symbol indicates that the eye protection should be worn to protect against flying debris in the following step(s).
Published standards on safety are
available. They are listed in ADDITIONAL SAFETY INFORMATION at the end of
this SAFETY SUMMARY.
TheNationalElectricalCode,
OccupationalSafetyandHealthAct regulations,localindustrialcodesand
localinspectionrequirementsalso provideabasisforequipment installation,use,andservice.
SHOCK HAZARDS
Electric shock can kill! To
WARNING
reduce the risk of death or
read,understand,andfollow the
following safety instructions.Inaddition,
make certainthat anyoneelsewho uses
thisweldingequipment,or who is a
bystanderinthe weldingarea understandsandfollows these safety instructionsas well.
IMPORTANT!TO REDUCE THE RISK
OF DEATH, INJURY,OR PROPERTY DAMAGE,DO NOTAI-FEMPT OPERATIONofthisweldingequipment
untilyouhavereadandunderstandthe
following safetysummary.
Do not,inanymanner,comeinto physicalcontactwithanypartofthe
weldingcurrentcircuit.The welding
currentcircuitincludes:
Do not weldina damparea orcomein contactwitha moistorwetsurface.
Do not attempttoweldifany part of clothingor bodyis wet.
Do notallowtheweldingequipmentto comein contactwithwater ormoisture.
Do notdragweldingcables,wirefeed gun,orwelderpowercordthroughor
allowthemtocome intocontactwith
wateror moisture.
seriousinjuryfrom shock,
a. theworkpieceor anyconductive
materialincontactwithit, b. theworkpiececlamp, c. the electrodeorweldingwire, d. anymetal partsonthe electrode
holder,orwirefeed gun.
Do not touch welder, attempt to turn welder on or off if any part of the body
or clothing is moist or if you are in physical contact with water or moisture.
Do not attempt to plug the welder into the power source if any part of body or
clothing is moist, or if you are in physical contact with water or moisture.
Do not connect welder workpiece clamp to or weld on electrical conduit.
Do not alter power cord or power cord plug in any way.
Do not attempt to plug the welder into the power source if the ground prong on power cord plug is bent over, broken off, or missing.
Do not allow the welder to be connected to the power source or
attempt to weld if the welder, welding cables, welding site, or welder power cord are exposed to any form of atmospheric precipitation, or salt water
spray.
Do not carry coiled welding cables around shoulders, or any other part of the body, when they are plugged into
the welder.
Do not modify any wiring, ground
connections, switches, or fuses in this welding equipment.
Wear welding gloves to help insulate hands from welding circuit.
Keep all liquidcontainers far enough away from the welder and work area so that if spilled,the liquid can not possibly come in contact with any part of the welder or electrical welding circuit.
Replace any cracked or damaged parts that are insulated or act as insulators
such as welding cables, power cord, or electrode holder IMMEDIATELY.
FLASH HAZARDS
WARNING
ARC RAYS CAN INJURE
EYES AND BURN SKIN! To reduceriskof injuryfrom arc
rays,read, understand,andfollow the following safetyinstructions.Inaddition,
makecertainthat anyoneelsewhouses thisweldingequipment,or is a bystander
intheweldingarea, understandsand
followsthese safetyinstructionsaswell.
Do not look at an electric arc without proper protection. A welding arc is
extremely bright and intense and, with inadequate or no eye protection, the retina can be burned, leaving a permanent dark spot in the field of
vision. A shield or helmet with a
number 10 shade filter lens (minimum) must be used.
Do not strike a welding arc until all bystanders and you (the welder) have
welding shields and/or helmets in place.
Do not wear a cracked or broken helmet and replace any cracked or
broken filter lenses IMMEDIATELY.
Do not allow the uninsulated portion of the wire feed gun to touch the workpiece clamp or grounded work to prevent an arc flash from being created
on contact.
Provide bystanders with shields or helmets fitted with a #10 shade filter
lens.
Wear protective clothing. The intense light of the welding arc can burn the skin in much the same way as the sun, even through light-weight clothing. Wear dark clothing of heavy material. The shirt worn should be long sleeved
and the collar kept buttoned to protect chest and neck.
Protect against REFLECTED ARC RAYS. Arc rays can be reflected off shiny surfaces such as a glossy painted surface, aluminum, stainless steel, and glass. It is possible for your eyes to be injured by reflected arc rays
even when wearing a protective helmet or shield. If welding with a reflective surface behind you, arc rays can
bounce off the surface, then off the filter lens on the inside of your helmet or
shield, then into your eyes. If a reflective background exists in your
welding area, either remove it or cover
it with something non-flammable and non-reflective. Reflected arc rays can also cause skin burn in addition to eye
injury.
FIRE HAZARDS
WARNING
FIRE OR EXPLOSION CAN CAUSE DEATH, INJURY,
AND PROPERTY DAMAGE!
To reduce risk of death, injury, or property damage from fire or explosion,
read, understand, and follow the following safety instructions. In addition,
make certain that anyone else that uses this welding equipment, or is a bystander
in the welding area, understands and
follows these safety instructions as well.
REMEMBER! Arc welding by nature produces sparks, hot spatter, molten
metal drops, hot slag, and hot metal parts that can start fires, burn skin, and
damage eyes.
Do not wear gloves or other clothing that contain oil, grease, or other
flammable substances.
Do not wear flammable hair preparations.
Do not weld in an area until it is checked and cleared of combustible and/or flammable materials. BE
AWARE that sparks and slag can fly 35 feet and can pass through small
cracks and openings. Ifwork and combustibles cannot be separated by a minimum of 35 feet, protect against ignition with suitable, snug-fitting, fire
resistant, covers or shields.
Do not weld on walls until checking for and removing combustibles touching
the other side of the walls.
Do not weld, cut, or perform other such work on used barrels, drums, tanks, or
other containers that had contained a flammable or toxic substance. The
techniques for removing flammable substances and vapors, to make a
used container safe for welding or cutting, are quite complex and require special education and training.
Do not strike an arc on a compressed gas or air cylinder or other pressure
vessel. Doing so will create a brittle area that can result in a violent rupture
immediately or at a later time as a result of rough handling.
Do not weld or cut in an area where the air may contain flammable dust (such
as grain dust), gas, or liquid vapors
(such as gasoline).
Do not handle hot metal, such as the workpiece or electrode stubs, with bare
hands.
Wear leather gloves, heavy long sleeve shirt, cuffless trousers, high-topped shoes, helmet, and cap. As necessary,
use additional protective clothing such
as leather jacket or sleeves, fire
resistant leggings, or apron. Hot sparks
or metal can lodge in rolled up sleeves, trouser cuffs, or pockets. Sleeves and
collars should be kept buttoned and
pockets eliminated from the shirt front.
Have fire extinguishing equipment
handy for immediate use! A portable chemical fire extinguisher, type ABC, is
recommended.
Wear ear plugs when welding
overhead to prevent spatter or slag
from falling into ear.
Make sure welding area has a good,
solid, safe floor, preferably concrete or masonry, not tiled, carpeted, or made of any other flammable material.
Protect flammable walls, ceilings, and floors with heat resistant covers or
shields.
Check welding area to make sure it is free of sparks, glowing metal or slag,
and flames before leaving the welding area.
FUME HAZARDS
WARNING
FUMES, GASSES, AND
VAPORS CAN CAUSE
DISCOMFORT, ILLNESS,
AND DEATH!
To reduce risk of discomfort, illness, or death, read, understand, and follow the following safety instructions. In addition, make certain that anyone else that uses this welding equipment or is a bystander in the welding area, understands and follows these safety instructions as well.
Do not weld in an area until it is checked for adequate ventilation as
described in ANSI standard #Z49.1. If ventilation is not adequate to exchange
all fumes and gasses generated during the welding process with fresh air, do not weld unless you (the welder) and all bystanders are wearing air-supplied respirators.
Do not heat metals coated with, or that contain, materials that produce toxic
fumes (such as galvanized steel), unless the coating is removed. Make
certain the area is well ventilated, and the operator and all bystanders are wearing air-supplied respirators.
Do not weld, cut, or heat lead, zinc, cadmium, mercury, beryllium, or
similar metals without seeking professional advice and inspection of the ventilation of the welding area. These metals produce EXTREMELY
TOXIC fumes which can cause discomfort, illness, and death.
Do not weld or cut in areas that are near chlorinated solvents. Vapors from
chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as trichloroethylene and
perchloroethylene, can be decomposed bythe heat of an electric arc or its
ultraviolet radiation. These actions can
cause PHOSGENE, a HIGHLY TOXIC gas to form, along with other lung and
eye-irritatinggasses.Donotweldorcut wherethesesolventvaporscanbe
drawnintotheworkareaorwherethe ultravioletradiationcanpenetrateto
areascontainingevenverysmall amountsofthesevapors.
Do not weld in a confined area unless it is being ventilated or the operator (and
anyone else in the area) is wearing an air-supplied respirator.
Stop welding if you develop momentary
eye, nose, or throat irritation as this
indicates inadequate ventilation. Stop
work and take necessary steps to
improve ventilation in the welding area. Do not resume welding if physical
discomfort persists.
COMPRESSED GASSES AND
EQUIPMENT HAZARDS
WARNING
IMPROPER HANDLING AND MAINTENANCE OF COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDERS
AND REGULATORS CAN RESULT IN
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH!
To reduce risk of injury or death from compressed gasses and equipment hazards, read understand and follow the following safety instructions. In addition, make certain that anyone else who uses this welding equipment or a bystander in the welding area understands and follows these safety instructions as well.
Do not use flammable gasses with MIG
welders. Only inert or nonflammable
gasses are suitable for MIG welding. Examples are Carbon Dioxide, Argon,
Helium, etc. or mixtures of more than one of these gasses.
Do not attempt to mix gasses or refill a cylinder yourself Do not expose cylinders to excessive heat, sparks, slag and flame, etc. Cylinders exposed
to temperatures above 130°F will
require water spray cooling.
Do not expose cylinders to electricity of any kind.
Do not use a cylinder or its contents for anything other than its intended use. Do not use as a support or roller.
Do not locate cylinders in passageways or work areas where they may be
struck.
Do not use a wrench or hammer to open a cylinder valve that cannot be
opened by hand. Notify your supplier.
Do not modify or exchange gas cylinder fittings.
Do not deface or alter name, number or other markings on a cylinder. Do not
rely on cylinder color to identify the contents.
Do not connect a regulator to a cylinder containing gas other than that for which the regulator was designed.
Do not attempt to make regulator repairs. Send faulty regulators to manufacturer's designated repair center for repair.
Do not attempt to lubricate a regulator.
Always change cylinders carefully to prevent leaks and damage to their walls, valves, or safety devices.
Always secure cylinders with a steel chain so that they cannot be knocked over.
Always protect a cylinder, especially the valve, from bumps, falls, falling objects and weather. Remember that gasses in the cylinders are under pressure and damage to a regulator can cause the regulator or portion of the regulator to be explosively ejected from the cylinder.
Always make certain the cylinder cap is securely in place on the cylinder, whenever the cylinder is moved.
Always close the cylinder valve and immediately remove a faulty regulator from service, for repair, if any of the following conditions exist.
Gas leaks externally.
Delivery pressure continues to rise with down stream valve closed.
The gauge pointer does not move off the stop pin when pressurized or fails
to return to the stop pin after pressure is released.
ADDITIONAL SAFETY
INFORMATION
For additional information concerning
welding safety, refer to the following standards and comply with them as
applicable.
ANSI Standard Z49.1 -- SAFETY IN WELDING AND CUTTING --
obtainable from the American Welding Society, 2051 N.W. 7th St., Miami, FL 33125 Telephone (305) 443-9353
ANSI Standard Z87.1 -- SAFE PRACTICE FOR OCCUPATION AND
EDUCATIONAL EYE AND FACE
PROTECTION -- obtainable from the
American National Standards Institute,
1430 Broadway, NewYork, NY 10018.
NFPA Standard 51B -- CUTTING AND WELDING PROCESSES -- obtainable from the National Fire
Protection Association, 470 Atlantic
Ave., Boston, MA 02210
CGA Pamphlet P-I - SAFE HANDLING OF COMPRESSED GASSES IN
CYLINDERS - obtainable from the Compressed Gas Association, 500, 5th
Ave. New York, NY 10038
OSHA Standard 29 CFR, Part 1910, Subpart Q, WELDING, CUTTING AND
BRAZING -- obtainable from your state OSHA office.
CSA Standard W117.2 -- Code for SAFETY IN WELDING AND CUTTING.- obtainable from
Canadian Standards Association, 178 Rexdale Blvd. Etobicoke, Ontario M9W
1R3
American Welding Society Standard
A6.0 - WELDING AND CUTTING
CONTAINERS WHICH HAVE HELD COMBUSTIBLES - obtainable from the
American Welding Society, 2051 N.W.
7th St., Miami, FL 33125 Telephone (305) 443-9353
9
WIRE FEED WELDING VARIABLES
SELECT THE WIRE
It isvery importantto select a typeof
wirethatis compatiblewiththe metalto bewelded (basemetal). Ifthe wireis incompatiblewiththe base metal,the qualityof importantcharacteristicssuch as penetrationand strengthmaybe
sacrificed.
Solid Steel Wire Selection
The welding wires recommended for
most of the mild and low carbon steel
applications you will have are AWS classification numbers E70S-3 and
E70S-6. These two wires are very
similar, but the E70S-6 tends to work a
little better on moderately dirty steel and
on sheet metal where smooth weld
beads are required. These differences
are very subtle, so in most applications,
either wire is acceptable.
Self-Shielding Flux-Core Steel Wire Self-shielding,flux-core steel wire is
usedprimarilyfor weldingmild steel
withoutthe useofa shieldinggas. Itis
especiallygoodtouse whenwelding needstotake placeina windy
environment.However,itproducesmore spatter than solidwire gas-shielded weldingandleavesa slagontopof the
weld that needs to be chipped off. Our
recommendation for self-shielding, flux-
core steel wire is AWS classification
number E71T-GS. NOTE: WITH FLUX-CORE WIRE YOU
WILL BURN THROUGH METALS THINNER THAN 18
GAUGE.
Aluminum Wire Selection
Selecting the proper wire for welding
aluminum is much more complicated than steel wire selection, primarily due to the large number of aluminum alloys
available. Also the recommended wire
alloy is not necessarily the same as the
base metal to be welded.
Because of the large number of alloys in
use, a major problem is identifying the
alloy number of the base metal to be welded. The alloy number is usually a
four digit number and most often can be
determined by referring to the owner/
operation manual, dealer, distributor, or
manufacturer of the item to be welded. If
the alloy number cannot be determined, wire selection becomes a matter of trial-
and-error. The only other
recommendation is to seek the advice of
someone who may have had previous
experience with the same or similar
aluminum welding application. After determining the alloy of the base
metal, refer to the chart in Table 1 to find
the recommended wire.
10
Table 1. Aluminum Wire Alloy Selection Chart
BASE METAL ALLOY
WIRE WELDING EASE WELD DUCTILITY USE IN TEMPS COLOR MATCH LOW CORROSION
ALLOY & CRACK STRENGTH OVER 150 AFTER WHEN IMMERSED
7005
7021
7039 7046
7146
6061 4043 GOOD FAIR GOOD GOOD POOR GOOD
6070 5356 GOOD GOOD GOOD POOR GOOD FAIR
6005 6063
6101 6151
6201 6351 6951
5052 5356 GOOD GOOD GOOD POOR GOOD GOOD 5454
5652 5554 FAIR FAIR GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD
5086 5356 GOOD GOOD GOOD POOR GOOD GOOD 5154 5183 GOOD GOOD GOOD POOR GOOD GOOD 5254 5556 GOOD GOOD GOOD POOR GOOD GOOD
5356
5005 4043 GOOD GOOD FAIR GOOD POOR GOOD 5050 5356 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD
3004 5356 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD POOR GOOD
3003 4043 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD POOR GOOD
RESISTANCE DEGREES F ANODIZING IN WATER
5356 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD
4043 GOOD FAIR GOOD GOOD POOR GOOD
5356 GOOD GOOD GOOD POOR GOOD FAIR
4043 GOOD GOOD FAIR GOOD POOR GOOD
1100 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD
2219 2319 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD
2014 2319 FAIR GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 2036
1100 4043 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD POOR GOOD
1060 1070 4043 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD POOR GOOD 1080 1100 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 1350
NOTE:
This chart assumes that the base metal being welded is all the same alloy. However, it is possible to weld two different alloys together. If this is an
application that you become interested in, contact your local welding supply distributor or the American Welding Society (AWS) for assistance in selecting the proper wire.
11
Stainless Steel Wire Selection
When weldingstainlesssteel,the alloyof the weldingwiremustbe thesame as the alloyofthe basemetal. As with
aluminum, the alloy number can most often be determined by consulting the owner/operator manual, service manual, dealer, distributor, or manufacturer of the item to be welded. Otherwise, seek the
advice of someone who may have had previous experience with the same or
similar welding application. Stainless steel wire is quite expensive. The trial- and-error method of alloy determination should be avoided whenever possible.
Silicon Bronze Wire Selection
The most popular application for silicon-
bronze MIG welding is non-structural
sheet metal welding, especially auto body work. A weld with silicon bronze wire is very similar to that produced by oxygen-acetylene brazing. It is fairly flat and easy to grind smooth. Our recommended wire for this application is
AWS classification number ERCuSi-A.
SELECTING THE WIRE SPOOL SIZE This welder will accept either four inchor
eightinchspools.Wire ona four inch spoolwillusuallycostmore perpound
thanon an eightinchspool. However, weldingwireoxidizesovertime,soit is importantto selecta spoolsizethatwill be usedupwithinthe times
recommendedbelow.
1=
STEEL WIRE - is usually coated
with copper to prevent the wire from
rusting and to enhance the transmission of welding current from the contact tip to the wire. It is
recommended that copper-coated
steel welding wire be bought in spool sizes that will be consumed in six months or less. In the early stages of aging, the copper coating
will begin oxidizing. The more time that passes, the heavier the
oxidization will get. To check the wire for copper oxidation, unspool about two feet of wire, pinch the wire between thumb and forefinger, then pull the thumb and forefinger down the length of wire. Look at the thumb and fore finger; there will be a line created by the copper
oxidation. A fairly fresh spool will
leave a light gray line, whereas a well oxidized spool will leave a darker line. Heavy copper oxidation will cause arc flutter and possibly wire drive slippage. If steel wire
continues to oxidize, the steel wire
under the copper coating will rust
causing even worse arc flutter and
drive problems.
2.
SELF-SHIELDING, FLUX-CORE,
STEELWIRE - spoolsshouldbe selectedbasedonthesame
guidelinesas for copper-coated steelwire.
ALUMINUMWIRE - haseven
3.
moreof a potentialstorageproblem thansteel. Ittendsto oxidizemuch fasterandthe oxidationismuch
heavier.Theearlystagesof
oxidationarevirtuallyinvisible,but
astimepasses,awhitepowderwill
developthatwillcauseextremearc flutter, wiredriveproblems,
contaminationbuild-upintheliner, wireburn-backintothecontacttip
anda poorweld. Ideally,itwould
bebesttouse upa spoolof
aluminumwirewithinthreemonths.
=
STAINLESS STEEL WIRE -
oxidizes at a relatively slow rate
and its oxidationis very light,so the
care for handling and storing
stainless steel wire is much less
criticalthan for aluminum and steel wires. However, because stainless
12
steel wire is quite expensive, it is still a good practice to follow the storage recommendations.
5=
SILICON-BRONZE WIRE - spools should be selected based on the
same guidelines as for copper- coated steel wire
The above recommended spool storage times are rules-of-thumb and can be
impacted by many factors such as length of time in distribution prior to retail sale, warehouse conditions, time of year (i.e.
humid months or dry months), and how the spool was packaged by the
manufacturer. Although these factors are out of your
control, there are some things that you
can do to slow down the oxidation
process: store in a dry place when not in
use, store in sealed plastic bag when not
in use, and leave unopened in the
manufacturer's package until ready to
use.
NOTE:
if you have an oxidized spool of
SELECTING THE WIRE DIAMETER
Using a wire that is too small in diameter
can cause excessive weld spatter and
weld heat. A wire that is too large can
cause wire stubbing (stubbing is caused
when the molten metal bridge between
the electrode and weld pool cannot be
broken and the electrode stubs into the
pool and the pool freezes) and, at low
amperages, cause an uneven arc. In
either case, the weld is ruined. Use
Table 2 below to identify the
recommended wire diameter to use for
the metal being welded. The
if a spool has developed heavy oxidation, the only solution to
the problem is to discard the spool of wire.
wire, do not discard it until you have unspooled a few turns of wire to see if the wire further
down on the spool is in usable condition, if not, - discard the
spool.
recommendations supplied in Table 2 are for typical applications only.
Table 2. Wire Diameter Amperage
Ranges (Typical)
WIRE AMP
DIAMETER RANGE
0.024 inch 30-90
0.030 inch 60-200 18 Gauge -
0.035 inch 90-230 14 Gauge -
METAL
THICKNESS
26-18
Gauge
3/16 inch
5/16 inch
SELECTING SHIELDING GAS
The shielding gas playsan extremely
importantrolein the MIG welding
process.As withmost welding
processes,itiscriticalthatthe molten weldpuddlebe shieldedfromthe atmosphere.Inadequateshieldingwill
resultinporous,brittlewelds.
Not only is shielding the weld important; selecting the proper gas to shield with is of equal importance. Generally, the shielding gas selected is dependent
upon the type and thickness of metal
being welded. Selecting the wrong gas for the metal to be welded can result in
porosity, brittleness, and/or undesirable
penetration of the weld. Although there are many gasses and gas
mixtures available for MIG welding, the following recommendations are based on the electrical output characteristics and
metal thickness welding capabilities of this specific MIG welder.
Gas Selection For Steel Welding With
SteelWire
Foreithermild or lowcarbon(High
StrengthStructural)steel, in thicknesses thatcan beweldedwiththiswelder,our
primaryrecommendationis a gas
13
mixtureof75%Argonand25%Carbon Dioxide,though100%CarbonDioxideis alsoacceptable.DONOTUSEArgon gasconcentrationshigherthan75%on steel.Theresultwillbeextremelypoor
penetration,porosity,andbrittlenessof
weld.
Thisgasmixturehelpstopreventburn throughanddistortiononverythinsteel yetprovidesgoodpenetrationonthicker steel.Itsabilitytominimizespatter
resultsinclean,smoothweld appearances.Inaddition,itprovides
goodpuddlecontrolwhenwelding verticallyoroverhead.Thisgasmixture isavailablepre-mixedinasinglecylinder
fromyourlocalgasdistributor.
Gas Selection ForAluminum Gas
Welding Our onlyrecommendation for shielding
analuminumweldispureArgon. Do not attemptto usethe Argon/Carbon Dioxide (recommended for steel) whenwelding
aluminum. Gas Selection For Stainless Steel
Welding
The best shielding gas for stainless steel
weldingisa mixtureof90% Helium,
7.5% Argon, and2.5% CarbonDioxide. However,the 75% Argon, 25% Carbon
Dioxidemixture(recommended for steel) canalsobe used,butanincreaseinthe
area beingheatedbythe arcwill be experiencedcausingslightlygreater
distortionof thebase metal. Also this mixturecancausea decreaseinthe
abilityofthe stainlesssteelweld toresist corrosion.Eithermixturecan be
obtainedina singlecylinderfrom your localgas distributor.
NOTE: Potential shielding gas
problems.
1.
DEFECTIVE GAS - Just like any
other product, a cylinder of gas can be defective. Moisture or other
impurities in the gas can create dirty, porous, brittle welds with
greatly reduced penetration. The only remedy is to replace the cylinder.
.
INSUFFICIENT SHIELDING GAS COVERAGE - This problem can be
created by several causes. The symptoms are a dirty, porous, brittle, and/or non-penetrating weld. Refer to your WELDER USER'S
GUIDE for corrective action.
Gas Selection For SteelWelding With Silicon BronzeWire
Use onlypureArgon whenweldingsteel withSilicon-Bronzewire.
SELECT WELDING CURRENT POLARITY
Direct current (dc) reversepolarity is required when usinggas-shieldedsteel weldingwires. Direct currentstraight polarity is usedwithself-shieldingflux
coredwires. Depending onthe configurationof your welderas it was manufactured,youmay needto convert thepolarityfor thetypeof wireyouwill be using. (Note:someweldersdo not havethe capabilityof changingthe polarity.)
Direct current reverse polarity is sometimes referred to as DCEP (Direct
Current Electrode Positive) and dc straight polarity is sometimes referred to as DCEN (Direct Current Electrode Negative).
PREPARING THE WORK
AREA
An important factor in making a satisfactory weld is preparation. This includes studying the process and equipment and then practice welding before attempting to weld finished product. An organized, safe, convenient, comfortable, well-lighted work area should be available to the operator. The work area should specifically be free of
all flammables with both a fire
14
extinguisherandbucketofsand available.
Toproperlyprepareforwelding,itis necessaryto:
1. prepareanorganized,welllighted workarea(seeFigure1).
2. provideprotectionfortheeyesand skinoftheoperatorandby-
bystanders,
3. andsetuptheworkpieceand
maketheworkpiececlamp
connection.
I I
i p
I \
.J Surface _
from the weld joint area and from the site where the workpiece clamp
will be connected.
To determine if the aluminum you intend to weld is anodized, simply touch the two
probes of an electrical continuity tester or ohmmeter to the aluminum in
question. The probes should be an inch or two apart. Ifthere is no indication of electrical continuity, the aluminum is
anodized. If the base metal pieces to be joined are
thick or heavy, it may be necessary to
bevel the edges, with a metal grinder, at
the point of contact, as in Figure 2. The
angle of the bevel should be approximately 60 degrees.
INCORRECT
I
i/_'q \ Metal j@
Figure 1. Work Surface Preparation
SETTING UP THE WORK
PIECE
PREPARING THE JOINT For effective welding, the surfaces to be
joined must be free of dirt, rust, scale, oil
or paint. Welding on metals not properly cleaned will cause a brittle and porous
weld. Aluminum welding requires more
detailed preparation than steel welding.
1. A clean weld joint area is a must in obtaining a quality aluminum weld.
Remove dirt and oxidation with a stainless steel bristled wire brush.
Remove any oil or grease with a good chemical aluminum cleaner.
2. Aluminum is often anodized to prevent it from oxidizing. However,
an anodized surface will NOT conduct electricity. Therefore, to
weld anodized aluminum, you must
sand or grind the anodized coating
CORRECT
Figure 2. Workpiece Preparation
WARNING
ARC RAYS CAN INJURE
EYES AND BURN SKIN! To
help prevent eye injuries when
grinding, always wear goggles. The grinder must also be inspected to verify that it is in good condition.
See the chart, TYPES OF WELD JOINTS, in Figure 3, for detailed
instructions for preparing the weld joint. During welding, the work pieces will
become hot and will tend to expand. The expansion may cause the pieces to shift
from the regular position. If possible, the work pieces should be clamped into the position they are to occupy when the welding is completed.
15
45" PLATE BUTT WELD JOINTS . 60 PLATE
37.5" _ _P_
_P_ SINGLE V JOINT
SINGLE BEVEL JOINT _ _ _ 60"
DOUBLE BEVEL JOINT DOUBLE V JOINT
3/32" TO 1/8"
I _11_
.10,.TO1/8"\ / VEEJO,NT
18% -_/_
CLOSEDJOINT I1
SHOULDEREDaE _80"
_/80",.._/ OPEN JOINT
1/4" OR MORE "_
DOUBLE VEE JOINT
SINGLE FILLET
LAP JOINT
SINGLE STRAP JOINT
FILLET WELD JOINTS
DOUBLE FILLET
SINGLE FILLET T-JOINT
DOUBLE STRAP JOINT
Figure 3. Types of Weld Joints
FEATHER EDGE
1/8" OR MORE
DOUBLE FILLET T-JOINT
16
WORKPIECECLAMP CONNECTION
Itis best to connect theworkpiece clamp
directlytothework pieceand as closeto theweld as possible.If itis impractical to connecttheworkpiececlampdirectly tothe work piece,connectitto the metal
thatis securelyattachedtothework piece,but notelectricallyinsulatedfrom
it. Also, make surethe attachedmetal
piece is ofaboutthe same orgreater
thicknessas theworkpiece.
CAUTION
There is risk of electronic component damage if the workpiece clamp is
being connected to an automobile or other equipment with on-board computer systems, solid state electronic controls, solid state sound systems, etc., DO NOT WELD until disconnecting the cable from the
battery that is attached to chassis ground. Failure to do so may result in
ELECTRONIC COMPONENT
DAMAGE. Tuning In the Wire Speed
Tuning the wire speed is one of the most
important parts of MIG welder operation. Selecting the best wire speed setting is
much the same as tuning in a station on the radio. It must be done before starting
each welding job or whenever the heat setting, wire diameter, or wire type are
changed. Tune the wire speed according to the following steps.
1,
Set up and ground a scrap piece of the same type of metal that you will be welding. It should be equal to or greater than the thickness of the actual work piece and free of paint, oil, rust, etc.
2,
Select a heat or voltage setting.
3.
Hold the gun in one hand allowing the nozzle to rest on the edge of the work piece farthest away from you and at an angle similar to that which will be used when actually
welding.
ARC RAYS CAN INJURE
WARNING
EYES AND BURN SKIN! To reduce the risk of injury from
arc rays, never strike a welding arc until you, and all bystanders in the welding area, have welding helmet or shield in
place and are wearing the recommended protective clothing. DO NOT CONTINUE
unless you have read, understand and intend to follow the entire SAFETY
SUMMARY provided at the front of this
manual.
.
With your free hand, turn the WIRE SPEED control to maximum and
continue to hold onto the adjust- ment knob.
5. Lower your welding helmet and pull the trigger on the gun to start an
arc.
6. Begin to drag the gun toward you while turning down the WIRE
SPEED control at the same time.
7.
LISTEN! As you decrease the wire speed, the sound that the arc makes will change from a sputter-
ing sound to a smooth, high-pitched buzzing sound and then will begin sputtering again, if you decrease the wire speed too far.
8. Continue to decrease the wire
speed until the arc noise passes the high-pitched buzzing (preferred sound) and begins to sputter again.
g, Turn the WIRE SPEED control
back, in the opposite direction until you come back to the preferred sounding arc noise.
The WIRE SPEED is now tuned in.
REMEMBER! Repeat this tune in procedure whenever you select a new heat setting, a different wire diameter, or a different type of wire.
NOTE: When tuning in the WIRE
SPEED for self-shielding flux- core wire, you will find a very
17
widepreferredsoundingrange.
The range could span as much as 60° on the WIRE SPEED
control. It is important to know that the heat of the arc and
penetration into the base metal increases as the wire speed increases within the preferred
sounding range for a given heat
setting. It is possible, therefore, to use the wire speed control to slightly increase or decrease heat and penetration by
selecting higher or lower wire speed settings WITHIN the preferred sounding range for a given heat setting.
18
LEARNING TO WELD
Whether you have welded before or not,
it is important that you become familiar
with your new welder, its controls, and the results achieved at different settings. We strongly recommend that you
practice with your new welder on scrap metal trying different heat settings, base metal thicknesses, and welding positions
for each type and size of wire that you will be using. By doing this you will gain
a feel for how changes in these welding variables affect the weld.
Of course, if you have not MIG welded before, you will need to develop welding
skills and techniques as well. The self-taught welder learns through a
process of trial and error. The best way to teach yourself how to weld is with short periods of practice at regular
intervals. All practice welds should be
done on scrap metal that can be
discarded. Do not attempt to make any
repairs on valuable equipment until you
have satisfied yourself that your practice welds are of good appearance and free
of slag or gas inclusions. What you fail to
learn through practice will be learned through mistakes and re-welds later on.
HOLDING THE GUN
The best way to hold the welding gun is the way that feels most comfortable to
you. While practicing to use your new welder, experiment holding the gun in
different positions until you find the one
that seems to work best for you.
Position the Gun to the Work Piece
There are two angles of the gun nozzle
in relation to the work piece that must be
considered when welding.
1.
Angle A (Figure 4) can be varied, but in most cases the optimum angle will be 60 degrees. The point at which the gun handle is parallel to the work piece. Ifangle A is
increased, penetration will increase.
If angle A is decreased, penetration will decrease also.
_\
Angle A
Figure 4. Gun Position, Angle A
2,
Angle B (Figure 5) can be varied for two reasons: to improve the ability
to see the arc in relation to the weld puddle and to direct the force of the
arc.
\1
Angle B
Figure 5. Gun Position, Angle B
The force ofthe welding arc follows a straight line out of the end of the nozzle.
If angle B is changed, so will the direction of arc force and the point at which penetration will be concentrated.
On a butt weld joint, the only reason to vary angle B from perpendicular (straight
up) to the work piece would be to
improve visibility of the weld puddle. In this case, angle B can be varied anywhere from zero to 45 degrees with 30 degrees working about the best.
19
On a fillet weld joint, the nozzle is generally positioned in such a manner so as to split the angle between the
horizontal and vertical members of the
weld joint. In most cases, a fillet weld
will be 45 degrees.
Distance from the Work Piece The end of the welding gun is designed
with the contact tip recessed from the
end of the nozzle and the nozzle electrically insulated from the rest of the
gun. This permits the operator to actually rest the nozzle on the work
piece and drag it along while welding. This can be very helpful to beginning welders to steady the gun, allowing the welder to concentrate on welding technique. If the nozzle is held off the work piece, the distance between the nozzle and the work piece should be
kept constant and should not exceed 1/4 inch or the arc may begin sputtering,
signaling a loss in welding performance.
LAYING A BEAD
EXPOSURE TO A WELDING
WARNING ARC IS EXTREMELY
HARMFUL TO THE EYES
AND SKIN! Prolonged exposure to the welding arc can cause blindness and burns. Never strike an arc or begin welding untilyou are adequately
protected. Wear flameproof welding gloves, A heavy long sleeved shirt, cuffiess trousers, high topped shoes and a welding helmet.
WARNING
ELECTRIC SHOCK CAN KILL! To prevent ELECTRIC
SHOCK, do not perform any welding while standing, kneeling, or lying directly on the grounded work.
WELDING TECHNIQUES
MOVING THE GUN Gun travel refers to the movement of the
gun along the weld joint and is broken into two elements: Direction and Speed. A solid weld bead requires that the welding gun be moved steadily and at the right speed along the weld joint.
Moving the gun too fast, too slow, or erratically will prevent proper fusion or create a lumpy, uneven bead.
1, TRAVEL DIRECTION is the
direction the gun is moved along the weld joint in relation to the weld
puddle. The gun is either PUSHED (see Figure 6) into the weld puddle
or PULLED away from the weld
puddle.
Figure 6. Gun Travel Direction
For most welding jobs you will pull
the gun along the weld joint to take
advantage of the greater weld puddle visibility. However, there are a few applications where pushing
the gun may provide some
advantages:
a, VERTICAL WELDING can
be done by starting at the
top of a weld joint and
pulling the gun down toward the bottom. However, in the event that puddle control
becomes difficult (such as the puddle wanting to run downward), starting a
vertical weld at the bottom of a weld joint and pushing
the gun up toward the top
2O
will help to overcome this
problem.
b. ALUMINUM WELDING can
be done using either direction of gun travel, but pushing will leave a weld
that is cleaner in
appearance. Pulling the gun will leave a sooty weld since the finished weld is always
being blasted by the arc and the impurities coming out of the weld puddle. This
problem affects the weld
appearance only and the weld can be cleaned up with
a stainless steel bristled wire brush.
2=
TRAVEL SPEED is the rate at
which the gun is being pushed or
pulledalong the weld joint. For a fixed heat setting, the faster the travel speed, the lower the penetra-
tionand the lower and narrower the finishedweld bead. Likewise, the slower the travel speed, the deeper
the penetration and the higherand wider the finishedweld bead.
TYPES OF WELD BEADS
The following paragraphs discuss the
most commonly used welding beads.
Once you have the gun in position with the wire lined up on the weld joint, lower your helmet, pull the trigger and the arc will start. In a second or two you will
notice a weld puddle form and the base of the bead beginning to build. It is now time to begin to move with the gun. If you are just learning to weld, simply
move the gun in a straight line and at a steady speed along the weld joint. Try to
achieve a weld with the desired
penetration and a bead that is fairly flat and consistent in width.
As you become more familiar with your
new welder and better at laying some simple weld beads, you can begin to try some different welding techniques to
improve, and add versatility to your welding skills.
There are two basic types of weld beads, the stringer bead and the weave bead.
1,
The STRINGER BEAD (Figure 7)
is formed by traveling with the gun in a straight line while keeping the
wire and nozzle centered over the weld joint. This is the easiest type
of bead to make and is the type you have been using up to this point.
Figure 7. Stringer Weld Bead
2,
The WEAVE BEAD (Figure 8) is used when you want to deposit metal over a wider space than
would be possible with a stringer
bead. It is made by weaving from side to side while moving the gun. It is best to hesitate momentarily at
each side before weaving back the other way.
Figure 8. Weave Weld Bead
21
WELDING POSITIONS There are four basicweldingpositions:
fiat, horizontal,vertical,and overhead.
The FLATPOSITION (Figure9) is the easiestof thewelding positions
andisprobablytheoneyouhave beenusingthusfar. Itisbestifyou canweldinthefiatpositionifat all possibleas goodresultsareeasier
toachieve.
Figure 9. Flat Position Weld
2,
The HORIZONTAL POSITION
(Figure 10) is next in difficulty level. It is performed very much the same
as the flat weld except that angle B
(see POSITION OF THE GUN TO THE WORK PIECE, above) is such that the wire, and therefore the arc force, is directed more toward the
metal above the weld joint. This is to help prevent the weld puddle from running downward while still allowing slow enough travel speed to achieve good penetration. A good starting point for angle B is about 30 degrees DOWN from
being perpendicular to the work
piece.
Figure 10. Horizontal Position Weld
3.
The VERTICAL POSITION (Figure
11) is the next most difficult position. Pulling the gun from top to bottom may be easier for many people, but in some instances it can be difficult to prevent the puddle from running downward. Pushing the gun from bottom to top may
provide better puddle control and allow slower rates of travel speed to achieve deeper penetration. When vertical welding, angle B (see
POSITION OF GUN TO THE WORK PIECE, above) is usually
always kept at zero, but angle A will generally range from 45 to 60 degrees to provide better puddle
control.
22
Figure 11. Vertical Position Weld
4, The OVERHEAD POSITION
(Figure 12) is the most difficult
welding position because gravity is
pulling at the weld puddle trying to make it drip off the work piece.
Angle A (see POSITION OF THE
GUN TO THE WORK PIECE, above) should be maintained at 60 degrees, the same as in the flat
position. Maintaining this angle will reduce the chances of molten metal
falling into the nozzle should it drip from the weld puddle. Angle B should be held at zero degrees so that the wire is aiming directly into the weld joint. If you experience excessive dripping of the weld puddle, select a lower heat setting. Also, the weave bead tends to work better than the stringer bead when welding overhead.
Figure 12. Overhead Position Weld
The illustrations in Figure 13 show the sequence for laying multiple pass beads into a single V butt joint.
NOTE: WHEN USING SELF-
SHIELDING FLUX-CORE WIRE it is very important to
thoroughly chip and brush the
slag off each completed weld bead before making another
pass or the next pass will be of poor quality.
Figure 13. Triple Pass V Butt Joint
2, Fillet Weld Joints.
Most fillet weld joints, on metals of
moderate to heavy thickness, will require multiple pass welds to
produce a strong joint. The illustrations in Figure 14 show the
sequence of laying multiple pass
beads into a T fillet joint and a lap
fillet joint.
MULTIPLE PASS WELDING
1. Butt Weld Joints. In PREPARING THE WORK
PIECE, we discussed the need for
edge preparation on thicker materials by grinding a bevel on the edge of one or both pieces of the metal being joined. When this is
done, a V is created, between the two pieces of metal, that will have
to be welded closed. In most cases more than one pass or bead wilt
need to be laid intothe joint to close the V. Laying more than one bead into the same weld joint is known as a multiple-pass weld.
Figure 14. Triple Pass Lap and T
Weld Joint
23
SPECIAL WELDING METHODS
SPOT WELDING
The purpose of a spot weld is to join pieces of metal together with a spot of
weld instead of a continuous weld bead.
There are three methods of spot welding: Burn-Through, Punch and Fill, and Lap (see Figure 15). Each has advantages and disadvantages depending on the specific application as well as personal preference.
PUNCH AND FILL LAP SPOT
BURN THROUGH
Figure 15. Spot Weld Methods
. The BURN-THROUGH METHOD
welds two overlapped pieces of
metal together by burning through
the top piece and into the bottom
piece.
With the burn-through method,
larger wire diameters tend to work better than smaller diameters
because they have greater current carrying capacities allowing the arc
to burn through very quickly while
leaving a minimal amount of filler
metal build up. Wire diameters that tend to work best, with the burn- through method, are 0.030 inch
diameter solid wire or 0.035 inch
self-shielding flux-core wire.
Do not use 0.024 inch diameter
solid or 0.030 inch self-shielding flux-core wires when using the
burn-through method unless the
metal is VERY thin or excessive filler metal build-up and minimal
penetration is acceptable.
Always select the HIGH heat setting with the burn-through method and tune-in the wire speed prior to making a spot weld.
2,
The PUNCH AND FILL METHOD produces a weld with the most
finished appearance of the three spot weld methods. In this method, a hole is punched or drilled into the
top piece of metal and the arc is directed through this hole to
penetrate into the bottom piece.
The puddle is allowed to fill up the
hole leaving a spot weld that is
smooth and flush with the surface of the top piece.
Select the wire diameter, heat
setting, and tune-in the wire speed
as if you were welding the same
thickness material with a
continuous bead.
,
The LAP SPOT METHOD directs the welding arc to penetrate the
bottom and top pieces, at the same
time, right along each side of the
lap joint seam. Select the wire diameter, heat
setting, and tune-in the wire speed as if you were welding the same
thickness material with a
continuous head.
SPOT WELDING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Selectthe wire diameter and heat settingrecommendedaboveforthe methodofspotweldingyouintend
to use.
2. Tune in the wire speed as if you
were going to make a continuous weld.
3. Hold the nozzle piece completely perpendicular to and about 1/4 inch
off the work niece.
4.
Pull the trigger on the gun and release itwhen it appears that the desired penetration has been
achieved.
24
5,
Make practice spot welds on scrap metal, varying the length of time you hold the trigger, until a desired spot weld is made.
6,
Make spot welds on the actual work piece at desired locations.
25
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