New toy! HF FCAW cheapo: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Feb. 1, 2012 9:07 a.m. 1988RedT2 SuperDork

Well, you all are to blame. Based partly on the content of the recent HF thread, I went and plunked down my hunnerd clams on the renowned HF 90 Amp FCAW welder.

I've been playing with it today, and I figured I'd get some practice doing what I'm most likely to be doing with it--plug welds. So I've got a few scraps of sheet metal laying around and I punch some little holes in one piece and place it over another piece and clamp them together. Everything is pretty clean. With the machine on low power, I can fill the holes pretty well, but when I try to break them, they break. Not good. Seems I'm getting next to no penetration on the bottom sheet.

So my question: What's a good place to start, setting wise? I've got the wire speed down to 2. Do I need the high power setting even for 22-gauge sheet?

And before you jump to conclusions, yes, I've got it plugged into a 20-Amp outlet.

Thanks in advance! Er, TIA!
Feb. 1, 2012 9:23 a.m. cwh SuperDork

Kick up the power until you burn through, then back off a bit. Metal clean? Play with wire speed, too. You are a newbie, so play with it. Just takes some time and burned wire.
Feb. 1, 2012 9:26 a.m. 1988RedT2 SuperDork

Okay, referring to the instructions (gasp!) I find they recommend low power and wire speed of 1. I'll try that. Actually, they recommend low power for everything up to 14 guage. It only has the two settings--low and high, 60 or 90 amps. Practice, practice, practice. I'll be back in a little while and post an update.
Feb. 1, 2012 9:28 a.m. BBsGarage HalfDork

I have the same welder and have just recently started messing with it. According to the manual (I finally broke down and thumbed thru it) you need to

a)up the power {dont think I would do this but you can try just to see}

b) weld slower

c)up the wire speed

d) shorten the 'stick out'

I prolly would do all 3 just to see what happened.
Feb. 1, 2012 10:06 a.m. alfadriver SuperDork

bacon.

If welding sounds like hissing, i think that's too slow of wire.

it's supposed to sound like bacon frying.

Odd how things relate to bacon.
Feb. 1, 2012 10:10 a.m. 1988RedT2 SuperDork

Well, just back in from the garage. High setting works better. Much better penetration, and not blowing through. I can't honestly imagine what the low setting would be good for.
Feb. 1, 2012 10:29 a.m. ThePhranc HalfDork

Theres an app for that.

Literally. I believe Miller has the app for setting up welding rigs of all types.
Feb. 1, 2012 10:35 a.m. ultraclyde HalfDork

ThePhranc wrote:

Theres an app for that.

Literally. I believe Miller has the app for setting up welding rigs of all types.

Really??

--------> off to the app store......
Feb. 1, 2012 10:41 a.m. fasted58 SuperDork

or...

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/articles/search/
Feb. 1, 2012 11:04 a.m. ultraclyde HalfDork

ultraclyde wrote:

ThePhranc wrote:

Theres an app for that.

Literally. I believe Miller has the app for setting up welding rigs of all types.

Really??

--------> off to the app store......

okay, got it. Pretty cool stuff if you know the actual speed and amperage settings on the welder you're using....
Feb. 1, 2012 11:33 a.m. 1988RedT2 SuperDork

Okay, I think I'm done for today. I'm consistently getting welds that I can't break with my air chisel--it tears the surrounding metal first.

I've got the power switch on the high setting, running the wire speed a hair under 2. That seems to get the bacon sizzling!

Thanks for the input, guys!