First welds with Millermatic 211

[ligito]

I just tried some test welds on .065 wall 1 x 2 tubing.
I started at baseline but my welds were mostly very flat.

What do I need to adjust to get them to have a rounder appearance?

[Vulcan Man]

Was this on the 230 volt setting what size wire were you running?

[Can You Weld This For Me?]

Hard to tell by the pic and short beads. Looks hot. .030 or .035 wire? If you are going by the chart under the hood, it's too hot. Weld something together like two pieces of 1/4" flat.

[BryanDowdy]

Looks too hot & too slow. Get some photos up close and we will be able to help you more.

[ligito]

It is .030 wire.
I'm doing my test on .065 because that is what I'm using for my first project, my welding cart.

I was using 110 volt 20 Amp circuit.

I thought it looked too hot.

[workerjim]

Were you using the auto set? I was using mine with .035 with autoset on 1/8" with gold gas and it was leaving some ugly welds. I thought it would be more matic then it was doing. I was welding better with my thunder bolt stick welder. I hope I m doing something wrong and it not the welder. :(

[davedarragh]

It is .030 wire.
I'm doing my test on .065 because that is what I'm using for my first project, my welding cart.

I was using 110 volt 20 Amp circuit.

I thought it looked too hot.

What shielding gas you using? If it's straight CO2, the AutoSet must be turned off. It is designed to be used with C-25 ONLY. How many CFH are you running from your bottle? 25 CFH is common, can go to 30, so check the "under lid" recommendations.

Looks like your travel speed is too slow, and setting too hot.

Ground (work clamp) should be on DC- and gun to DC+ unless using self shielded, flux-cored wire, then switch them.

Keep us posted

Dave

[davedarragh]

Were you using the auto set? I was using mine with .035 with autoset on 1/8" with gold gas and it was leaving some ugly welds. I thought it would be more matic then it was doing. I was welding better with my thunder bolt stick welder. I hope I m doing something wrong and it not the welder. :(

What is "gold gas?"

The AutoSet feature is designed for use with C-25 gas ONLY. CO2, run it manually.

Remember, these are "short-circuit transfer" machines, and need SOME amount of CO2 to support the arc. (unless you're running FCAW).

Globular and spray-arc uses a higher content of Argon mixture, but with the 211, and small MIG's, C-25 or 100% CO2 is all that's needed.

Let me add, if you're running stainless wire, then a "Tri-Mix" gas is needed.

Dave

[workerjim]

It is argon and carbon dioxide praxair calls it star gas

[davedarragh]

It is argon and carbon dioxide praxair calls it star gas


Some suppliers must have their own verbage for industrial gases.

Post some pics (if you can), so we can help.

Sounds like these new 211's are really starting to sell.

Dave

[workerjim]

pic 571 new miller 211 autoset
pic 572 is my buddys lincolin 215xt

I made both welds. I am new at welding. I was hoping to get the same results with the 211 miller. I was using the 110 volt mig with .035 with auto set on 1/8". The base metal was 3/8" and the other metal was 1/8" It was real jerky like the wire was stabbing the work. Am I expecting to much out of the auto set or should I just set it manually

[turbo38t]

The last pics look way too cold. Crank the heat up a bit....

[Steve W]

Workerjim, have you tried it with .023 or .030 solid wire since your using 110 volt on auto set? .035 might be better on 220 volt. Is it set to the right polarity?
Good luck, Steve

[Danny]

With shielding gas and solid wire a 120 volt unit struggles on 1/8", especially with an .035 wire. When the unit is being supplied from a 120V source, trying to weld 1/8" to 3/8", with solid wire, is asking way to much from the the MM 211. For this application you really need the unit plugged into a 230V source.

If you take the time to remove that mill scale from at least the weld zone area you'll increase your potential to produce a quality weld.

[Can You Weld This For Me?]

Yup. Take your blending disk or grider and get that scale off the area to be welded. Crank it up a bit.

[workerjim]

I m know using 230 v. I was just trying it out with 110 v. I was using the auto set with the 110 and the 220 . Now I m using .0747 square tube just like ligito the first poster the weld is hot it is burning through the metal. The weld is on the inside of the tube. Should I be using the auto set or should I just forget that and set it manually? Do millers run hotter? Thanks for the past advice I m going to try it out right now. I m just confused on the Auto set feature .

[ligito]

Here are some more crappy pictures--it rained today.

[Can You Weld This For Me?]

Ligito, your's still looks a bit warm. If you were welding say some 1/4" it might look different, not sinking into the metal so much. I wish I was there, we would have that thing sizzling in few.

Workerjim, I have not played around with the autoset. I would try to manually set the machine up if possible, get a few good beads, then go back and play with the autoset. JMHO.

[workerjim]

I have been using it manually and the sweet spot seems to be 4 on voltage and 40 wire speed. 1/8" to 16 GA even 1/4" any more and it just to hot. I think millers or this miller runs hotter. Which I think is good. Then we will not be pushing it. Ligito try running it on the next lower gauge on the chart miller has on the inside of the panel on the metal size you are welding. Then play with it. I think auto set works for speed welding because it lays down some deep heavy welds.

[ligito]

I'll try that as soon as we have some dry weather.

[nfinch86]

Hi Dave; Yes Praxair's Gold Gas is their C-25 ! :)

............ Norm :)