[TheForge] Re: MIG setup

[Harland Johnson]

Rick 

A while back, I had an "on and off"  difficulty getting an arc to strike.  
The problem would resolve and then come back like a gremlin. 

The eratic problem was finally cured, when I replaced the  ground clamp with 
a new one with heavy duty copper connections and a strong clamp spring.  I 
initally resisted  suspecting the prior ground clamp, as it (the problem 
clamp) was relatively new and looked "OK". 

Since getting an  AC/ DC stick welder a few years ago, I think that my stick 
welds look  "prettier" using DC, positive ground / negative stick. 

My little Lincoln 230 volt / 170 amp mig welder has an instruction decal 
inside the feed control panel door: to reverse  polarity when switching from 
solid/ gas wire and going to flux wire. 

Dann Johnson 

RICK KORINEK writes: 

> Ralph,
> Hello.  I have a related polarity question.  I was making a 
> top die block for my 50# LG.  It is a platform with the 
> dovetails which will take replaceable dies (similar to the 2-
> piece bottom dies that Sid sells, and you make).  I was 
> welding the die block together--making the dovetails out of 
> pieces welded together.  The question is about using 7018 
> rod. I purchased some 1/8" rod to use for this application.  
> I had a hell of a time getting the arc to start.  I have a 
> small (180 amp) stick welder.  Even at full current, I could 
> not draw an arc.  Finally in frustration, I abandoned the 
> stick machine and went back to the MIG machine and welded the 
> die up with 60k tensile wire. 
> 
> So, my first question is:  Is 7018 just plain hard to start?  
> Also, what polarity I should have set up for the 7018?  And 
> would this make a difference for start-up?  My welder was set 
> up with the electrode on the "Smooth arc" connection and the 
> ground wire on the "common ground" connection.  There is 
> a "Forcing arc" connection point that I know nothing about.  
> Do you have any wisdom to sprinkle on this situation. 
> 
> Thanks,
> -Rick 
> 
> Ps.  I will forward the draft article I wrote about the 
> Fitchburg event to you. 
> 
> 
> ---- Original message ----
>>Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 16:27:08 -0400
>>From: "Ralph Sproul" <brhlbsmt at mcttelecom.com>  
>>Subject: Re: [TheForge] MIG setup  
>>To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net> 
>>
>>Hi John,  General rule is reverse polarity for hard wire and 
> dual shield
>>wires(electrode positive) and straight polarity for strictly 
> flux cored wire
>>(electrode negative). 
>>
>>There are exceptions for some of the flux cored wires. 
>>
>>Ralph
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "John Switzer" <switz at mindspring.com>
>>To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>>Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2004 11:16 AM
>>Subject: [TheForge] MIG setup 
>>
>>
>>> Ok, here is my chance to show my ignorance.  I took three 
> semesters of
>>> welding & now that I have bought a wire feeder so that I 
> can MIG weld I
>>> don't recall if you MIG with electrode positive or 
> negative.  I seem to
>>> remember something about one way for MIG and the other for 
> Flux wire.  Any
>>> help is appreciated. 
>>>
>>> Thanks 
>>>
>>> John Switzer
>>> 7019 Burnt Mill Rd
>>> Beulah, CO 81023
>>> (719) 485-3109 
>>>
>>> 
>>>
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>>
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>>
> Rick Korinek
> Emerald City Forge
> Framingham, MA
> _______________________________________________
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Dann Johnson