Welding help please

[drift_g35]

I recently got a miller 120. Its an older 240v welder but not too old. 90's I think. I learned how to stick weld in high school and then had a gas-less mig. I would not consider myself a great welder but i would feel comfortable with my welding capabilities to weld car frames and stuff.

That being said, I feel like a complete idiot. I cannot get a decent weld to save my life with my new miller. Its got a tank (no idea where to set the gas to) I was told between 15 and 20 cfm. I have no idea what wire is in it (its silver not copper colored). I have my heat turned to the 2nd position (2 of 4) and my wire speed pretty low. 30 on a (10-100) scale.

This is what is happening. I am getting splatter all over the place. So bad that if I do get a good weld it looks like shit because of all the splatter. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[brianakell]

gas to 20 with the trigger pulled.
argon/co2 mix hopefully is what youre using. straight co2 isnt as good
the wire in there is likely stainless, but shouldnt be causing the spatter
play with wire speed, up and down.

likely the liner or feed rollers are not doing their job and the wire is not feeding smoothly would be my first guess

[drift_g35]

Yes I am using argon/co2 75/25. Ive messed with my wire speed and it doesnt help at all. When I said splatter I mean, like a 12 inch area. And its all sticks and has to be ground down.

[newracer]

I am a novice welder but I have only had splatter like that when my gas was low or when I forgot to turn it on. Maybe the gas is not compatible with the wire.

[dwalker460]

YOu can come over to the shop and I can walk you through the setup on mine. You can even bring your welder and we can try it here. If it is 110 and your using an extension cord that will make it suck, if its 220 and your using house current it might suck even more. If you have the pos and neg cables reversed, like for using flux core wire it will suck, and if your using flux core wire with gas it will suck worse. Also have to make sure the tip size and wire size match.

Offer stands to help you out. Im here all day.

[T.rexford]

You need to check the polarity of your leads first. It very well may be set up for fluxcore.

Then you need to find out what wire your running. Also you need to know the diameter of your wire and double check that with the roller in the machine and make sure its setup to run that size of wire. Also check your tip size too and make sure its the correct tip for the wire your running.

[Tinelement]

Can you see on the spool of wire what it is?? Should be an ER70S-6 no larger than ".035 in your machine.

Sounds like you have a flux core wire.

Also give the feeds a good cleaning and adjust the tension on the feed.

[Tinelement]

And????

More importantly, what are you welding?

[drift_g35]

YOu can come over to the shop and I can walk you through the setup on mine. You can even bring your welder and we can try it here. If it is 110 and your using an extension cord that will make it suck, if its 220 and your using house current it might suck even more. If you have the pos and neg cables reversed, like for using flux core wire it will suck, and if your using flux core wire with gas it will suck worse. Also have to make sure the tip size and wire size match.

Offer stands to help you out. Im here all day.

Where in aurora are you located. I am using a 220 plug from my dryer with a probably 50ft extension cable. I cant get around that though or Ill have to upgrade my service at my house as I am maxed out. What wire is suggested. Ill just go buy wire since there isnt anything on my current spool that describes it. My wire and tips do match, im pretty sure about that.

[drift_g35]

And????

More importantly, what are you welding?

The spool doesnt have anything. Its just black with no markings at all. I'm welding just plain mild steel.

I got the welder from my uncle who owns a steel erector business. He used it to make a few motorcycle trailers and then put it in storage since he is never home and when he needs to weld something he just using one of his work machines. When he gave it to me it had a copper spool it it but it was rusted from not being used. He then gave me the other spool that I am using now that is not rusted. For all I know he gave me some weird ass wire that is only used for 1 type of metal that ive never heard of.

[Great-Kazoo]

You need to check the polarity of your leads first. It very well may be set up for fluxcore.

Then you need to find out what wire your running. Also you need to know the diameter of your wire and double check that with the roller in the machine and make sure its setup to run that size of wire. Also check your tip size too and make sure its the correct tip for the wire your running.

^This^ Polarity check 1st correct wire for gas 2nd metal compatibility 3rd

[dwalker460]

Where in aurora are you located. I am using a 220 plug from my dryer with a probably 50ft extension cable. I cant get around that though or Ill have to upgrade my service at my house as I am maxed out. What wire is suggested. Ill just go buy wire since there isnt anything on my current spool that describes it. My wire and tips do match, im pretty sure about that.

I am actually at 73rd and Washington.
I bet you ahve the polarity reversed and are using flux core wire.