I'm a hobby welder using a Hobart Beta Mig 200 which I bought new when they first came out in the mid-80s. I bought one of their DEMO models from the factory in Troy Ohio. I've been using it irregularly since then and recently have been having problems with it.
My welds had always been good but recently have started out with a good bead but after half inch or so they get POROUS ! Carbon steel using my usual current/voltage settings with CO2 or AR-CO2. 15-20 CFH.
My career was in electricity and electronics so I understand how electrical components age out and go BAD. Things like electrolytic capacitors, which the MIG welders use and the electrolytic capacitors might DIE. I've seen many electrolytics die when they get 30 or 40 years old in radios. Not having an oscilloscope to check the level/smoothness of the DC current, I'm at a loss to verify the condition of the voltage.
JODY, have you had this experience with older mig welders ?
When I start I have a good bead and then I stop, restart and continue.
i would be guessing gas flow. possibly dirty vents in the torch, crushed liner or a flowmeter failing. ie blockage somewhere. get one of the gas flow meters you can put on the end of the the torch and measure the flow. odds are it your getting a puff of gas at the start and then the flow drops right off.
tweak it until it breaks
I too would address gas flow. I use 35 CFH with MIG. The small amount of gas used in comparison makes welds much better and saves time grinding out bad welds.
Also, if your gas bottle (mixed) has been standing about for a long while, the gases will separate. Carefully lay the bottle on the shop floor, and roll it back and forth several times. Stand it up again, and shoot some test welds. You might find that to be a solution.
Also, if your gas bottle (mixed) has been standing about for a long while, the gases will separate. Carefully lay the bottle on the shop floor, and roll it back and forth several times. Stand it up again, and shoot some test welds. You might find that to be a solution.
I'd been having wire feed problems with my torch. The wire was consistently getting stuck at the bend of the torch. I changed the drive roll pressure with no success. I replaced the tip, replaced the liner, replaced the wire. None of this seemed to help.
I then replaced the complete torch assembly which solved the feed problem. I still have problems with porous beads.
I've watched the gas flow for long enough to know the flowmeter is not the problem.
I then replaced the complete torch assembly which solved the feed problem. I still have problems with porous beads.
I've watched the gas flow for long enough to know the flowmeter is not the problem.
I'd been having wire feed problems with my torch. The wire was consistently getting stuck at the bend of the torch. I changed the drive roll pressure iwth no success. I replaced the tip, replaced the liner, replaced the wire. None of this seemed to help.
I then replaced the complete torch assembly which solved the feed problem. I still had problems with porous beads.
I've watched the gas flow for long enough to know the flowmeter is not the problem.
I then replaced the complete torch assembly which solved the feed problem. I still had problems with porous beads.
I've watched the gas flow for long enough to know the flowmeter is not the problem.
Talking with someone today about my problem he suggested I might be welding with too low a voltage and/or current. I've been using the same settings for the last 35 years and porosity has shown up in the last year.
I spoke with a man at my welding supplier and he suggested contaminants boiling out of the metal. While I understand this, I've ground to shiny metal more than the width of the bead for the last 3 decades and when I lay my bead on shiny steel I'd not had problems with porosity.
I'm still wondering about the electrolytic capacitors in the welder since they are about 40 years old.
I spoke with a man at my welding supplier and he suggested contaminants boiling out of the metal. While I understand this, I've ground to shiny metal more than the width of the bead for the last 3 decades and when I lay my bead on shiny steel I'd not had problems with porosity.
I'm still wondering about the electrolytic capacitors in the welder since they are about 40 years old.
Two long term welders have both pointed at your gas flow issue, yet you want to chase a rabbit. Re-mix your bottle as suggested and turn up the CFH. These are super simple tests to rule out gas flow. If they prove unsuccessful, then chase a machine issue.