Repairing Guides

how to repair a mig welder

by Mr. Felton Gerhold Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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How to Fix a Lincoln MIG Welder That 'stutters'

  1. Safety. Unplug your welder. You should never perform any kind of work on your welder while the welder is plugged in.
  2. Open Up the Handle. Opening the handle: remove the collars at the top and bottom of the handle body by unscrewing them. ...
  3. Inspect the Inside of Your Gun. On my gun, the trigger works by pushing a small copper ring up against two bare leads completing a circuit across them.
  4. Re-seat the Trigger. There will be some compression of the spring so you may need to keep a finger on the trigger to get it to stay put.
  5. Finished. Your welding gun should be good to go now, grab a couple of scrap pieces of metal and test the gun out.

Full Answer

How do you set up a MIG welder?

What You Need to Know When Setting a MIG Welder

  • Installing the Wires. The first step to setting your MIG welder is installing the wire. ...
  • Pushing the Wire through the Guide. Once you’ve attached the spool, take the wire from the spool and feed it through the first guide. ...
  • Assembling the Torch. When setting up a MIG welder, don’t try to weld with a bare torch. ...
  • Plugging in the Machine. ...
  • Setting the Gas Flow. ...

How to set up a MIG welder like an expert?

Welder Set-up

  • Prepare the Joint. ...
  • Right Kind of Gas and Filler Wire. ...
  • MIG welding setting. ...
  • Voltage Settings. ...
  • Wire Feed Speed Setting. ...
  • Gas Flow Rate Setting. ...
  • Picking the Right MIG Wire. ...
  • Installing MIG wire. ...
  • Share this Image On Your Site. ...

What is a MIG welder and how does it work?

MIG welding uses an electrical arc to short the circuit between a continuously fed anode and a cathode. The heat from this process will melt metals, allowing them to mesh together. MIG welding is popular because it can weld a variety of metal types and create a firm weld as well.

Can you stick weld with a MIG welder?

Regarding your first question, “Why can’t I stick weld with my MIG machine”, the answer is because your MIG machine only has CV output, which is not intended or recommended for stick welding. Conversely, you generally cannot MIG weld with a stick machine with CC output, because it is the wrong type of output for MIG welding.

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Why is my MIG welder not working?

Cause: When a MIG welder machine doesn't start, it can be due to a lot of reasons. Some common causes may be a dead power circuit, a blown-up fuse or simply a wrong voltage input. It could also be as a result of overloading. Solution: If your machine does not start, first, make sure that it is switched on.

What is one of the most common problems with MIG welds?

Porosity, one of the most common MIG welding defects, is the result of gas becoming trapped in the weld metal. Inadequate shielding gas coverage is among the biggest culprits, and this can be addressed in several ways.

How do you service a MIG welder?

0:001:35MIG Welder Maintenance Tips - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipKeep the unit covered when not in use this will make sure that dust and debris do not get inside.MoreKeep the unit covered when not in use this will make sure that dust and debris do not get inside. Turn off the gas and purge the line purging the lines takes all the pressure out of your system.

Why would a welder stop working?

One of the most common reasons your welder won't spark is because the connection points between the welder and the metal pieces are not clean or clear. This means that both the workpiece where you want to form an arc as well as the connection point for the work lead clamp need to be bare metal.

What causes popping when MIG welding?

The wire is hitting the surface and not melting into the metal fully. You will feel the wire pushing back on the MIG gun because of this, and you will hear a lot of random popping from the welder.

Why is my MIG welder sputtering?

When the power source senses the reduced current at the arc, it sends a surge of voltage in order to overcome the restricted current flow. This increased voltage causes the popping and sputtering that leads to poor and inconsistent weld quality.

Why does my MIG welder keep stopping?

Check your ground lead for worn or broken wires, dirty or contaminates clamps, and good tight spring tension. Make sure you are feeding the wire through your welder at the proper speed for your welding technique.

When should I replace my MIG liner?

While the rest of the components inside the cable will return to shape, a coiled steel liner that has become kinked must be replaced immediately. If you take care to keep contaminants out of your liner and not abuse your MIG gun, you can expect an average of 6-12 months of service life.

What kind of ongoing maintenance do you perform on MIG equipment?

The MIG nozzle should be cleaned regularly to remove any spatter and buildup. Make sure that the nozzle is clean to avoid inhibiting the gas flow, which could cause porosity in the weld, this is an important part of basic maintenance.

What are the common welding defects?

What are common weld defects?Lack Of Penetration or Incomplete Penetration.Lack Of Fusion or Incomplete Fusion.Undercut.Spatter.Slag Inclusions.Cracks.Porosity.Overlap.More items...•

What causes black soot on MIG?

A: The black soot actually is magnesium oxide. Magnesium content in 5356 is high (up to 5 percent). Some common base materials, such as 6061, also have relatively high amounts of magnesium—generally 1 percent. When magnesium is vaporized by the arc's heat and comes in contact with oxides, black soot forms.

What are the common welding troubles causes and what are the remedies for them?

Causes and Remedies of Incorrect FusionCauses of Incorrect FusionRemedies of Incorrect FusionIncorrect electrode angle.Ensure the angle of the electrode is suitable for welding.Employing too fast travel speed.Decreasing the speed of arc travel.4 more rows•Jul 3, 2022

How do I know if my MIG weld is too hot?

You will have undercut on the toes of the weld and the weld puddle will be too hot to control and will usually be crowned up in the middle. Another clue is if you burn a rod down to about 3 inches long and your stick welding rod is glowing red, you are too hot.

What is a good set of wheels for a welder?

Thie welders is heavy to lug around the garage. A set of castor wheels would be useful.

What does DC rectified output do on a welder?

On my welder, this DC rectified output feeds the torch, and also goes back in to the control PCB.

Do welders work on high voltages?

WARNING: Welders work on high voltages and currents. You should not meddle unless you know what you are doing and taking the necessary safety precautions.

Can you swap hinges from front to rear?

Swapping the hinge mechanism from front to rear is possible but too much work, so I just notched out the pinch point on the lid, using a grinder. Doesnt look great, but function takes over form when it comes to welders.

Is a welder a simple thing?

The building blocks of this welder are actually relatively simple (in comparison to modern day inverters). It may be heavy and bulky but it comprises of simple analogue electronic components, which makes it fairly easy to repair.

What happens if you stick out your MIG welding wire?

Make sure that you are using the shortest wire stick-out allowed for MIG welding. If your wire sticks out too far, this can cause splatter. It is important to use the right-sized contact tips and to have clean liners to prevent this issue as well.

How to tell when a welding gun needs to be replaced?

If you are still having a poor wire delivery, it might be time to replace your gun. Copper wires inside of your welding gun wear down over time and need to be inspected regularly. You can tell when a gun needs to be replaced because certain parts of the gun will be much hotter than usual/how it used to be.

Why is my weld not coming out?

Some of the most common issues with welding come down to three things: Dirty workspace or materials. Poor quality welding tips or fillers. Too high or too low voltage and amperage. But, there are certainly more reasons why your weld is not coming out the way you intended.

Why is my weld porosity?

First, porosity can be caused by poor gas coverage . The welding process requires a certain amount of shielding gas to prevent weld puddles from air penetration. Too much gas flow can pull air into the weld, causing porosity. Too little gas coverage can also cause porosity in your welds. Try to weld with 50-60 CFH of gas flow to prevent this.

Why is my weld uneven?

Improper weld shape can also be caused by the speed of welding. If you go too fast, it can come out ripply and uneven. Also, make sure that you are applying the right amount of shielding gas. Improper shielding gas can have many unintended consequences that require a lot of extra effort to fix. It is best to check all of your settings before you start.

What causes porosity in welding?

Porosity can also be caused by surface contaminants. Dirt, oil, rust, paint, and even sweat can cause porosity in your weld. To prevent this, clean your wire, hose, welding surface, and gloves before going to work. To clean these, you can use metal grinders like steel wool, or chemical solvents.

Why does my welding weld crack?

It can occur days or weeks after you have finished welding. Cold cracking occurs because of hydrogen diffusion, where hydrogen collects around imperfections and contaminations in the weld. Make sure you are choosing the right filler and base to prevent this.

How to get stuck wire out of welding gun?

Grasp the stuck welding wire with the pliers and pull it out of the welding gun . Grab the welding wire from the point where it enters the welding gun.

What do you need for a MIG welder?

Things You'll Need. Pliers. Wire cutter. Always wear eye protection when using the MIG welder. A metal inert gas (MIG) welder uses a semi-automatic arc welding process in which a continuous welding wire is fed through the welding gun, forming a weld. One of the most common problems with an MIG welder is the welding wire becoming stuck in ...

What happens when a welding wire gets stuck?

When the welding wire becomes stuck, you must remove it or the welding gun can be damaged. Removing the welding wire from the welding gun is a quick process, so you can get back to welding in no time. Advertisement. Video of the Day.

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