Welder Question

[19SIKtySix]

Hopefully somebody can help me out...I have a 110v Snapon welder that I'm having some issues with. I hooked it up to give it a try and was getting a lot of pop on my welds. I double checked the ground and my gas pressure (it was about 17psi) but no luck.

Now this welder has been put thru it's fair share of work and was stored outside but under cover, so I thought it was time to replace it. However, before I go and purchase another welder, I want to make sure it's not a power problem.

My question is, could I be plugging into an outlet and the welder not be getting enough power? Anybody know of a way I can check the load on a breaker? My garage has about 12 plugs in it (some are GFIs, which is what I had it plugged in to), I was hoping to find a way to verify the welder is getting enough juice.

[leuggy]

did the GFI plug ever trip when using the welder? I wouldn't use a GFI plug for a welder use a normal plug, just 120 volt welder ?


Blaine

[67swb72klb]

Originally Posted by leuggy

I wouldn't use a GFI plug for a welder use a normal plug, just 120 volt welder ?


Blaine

X2 no small gauge extension cords also

[19SIKtySix]

Originally Posted by leuggy

did the GFI plug ever trip when using the welder? I wouldn't use a GFI plug for a welder use a normal plug, just 120 volt welder ?


Blaine

No, the GFI didn't trip, I was thinking it'd be better to plug into a GFI in case there was an issue. Like I said, I have quite a few outlets around the garage, however I haven't tried plugging into each one.

I was planning to take some time this weekend and work on this more. I'll try plugging into a normal plug. Also I wasn't using an EC, just the standard cord for the welder, I believe it's like a 25' cord. Thanks for your suggestion

[19SIKtySix]

Originally Posted by 67swb72klb

X2 no small gauge extension cords also

No, I didn't have an EC plugged in, just the supplied cord on the welder...I'm going to try using a normal outlet tonight, thanks.

[msgross]

Are you sure it's not the metal you were welding? voltage on welder not set properly, speed of wire? Lots of variables.

BTW, All outlets in a garage are required to be on GFCI, at least newer garages are so it wouldn't matter which outlet.

[Bigdav160]

I once owned a SnapOn mig welder. I think it was a YA205 made by Century.

Some days it would weld great, other days terrible.

What was wrong with it was the gas solenoid inside the machine. It would intermittently cut back the gas flow.

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by msgross

Are you sure it's not the metal you were welding? voltage on welder not set properly, speed of wire? Lots of variables.

This ^^^

Any grease, oil paint or rust on the metal can make it pop.

Gary

[19SIKtySix]

Originally Posted by msgross

Are you sure it's not the metal you were welding? voltage on welder not set properly, speed of wire? Lots of variables.

BTW, All outlets in a garage are required to be on GFCI, at least newer garages are so it wouldn't matter which outlet.

It very well could be the metal, I was testing the welder on an old brake drum...I ground down my weld area and the ground area, but I could have easily left some rust/possible oil on the drum

Originally Posted by Bigdav160

I once owned a SnapOn mig welder. I think it was a YA205 made by Century.

Some days it would weld great, other days terrible.

What was wrong with it was the gas solenoid inside the machine. It would intermittently cut back the gas flow.

The model I have is a YA219, like I said it's been in my family for awhile. My nephew had been using it, but it was outside and I noticed when I got it back that there were remains of wire on the ground, splatter in the nozzle, some wire had rust, etc.

I don't want to blame him, so I'm trying to verify if the welder is still effective or if there are other issues, that a new welder won't solve before buying a new one.

Originally Posted by GASoline71

This ^^^

Any grease, oil paint or rust on the metal can make it pop.

Gary

I'm going to try some other metal tonight, I just recently got a small sheet of 18ga, I'll use a piece of that to test. I was trying to find some thicker metal for a good bead. I'm going to look over the brake drum again and make sure both areas are cleaned really well.

Thanks guys for all the feedback, this helps.

[truckster]

I would turn the heat and gas both up beyond what you need for the thickness you're welding. Clean the weld area well (I use brake parts cleaner to degrease) before you start, and make sure the area where you attach the ground is clean as well. You'll burn through 18 gauge, but it should eliminate any pop and you'll know for sure if it's a power or gas delivery problem.

[19SIKtySix]

Originally Posted by truckster

I would turn the heat and gas both up beyond what you need for the thickness you're welding. Clean the weld area well (I use brake parts cleaner to degrease) before you start, and make sure the area where you attach the ground is clean as well. You'll burn through 18 gauge, but it should eliminate any pop and you'll know for sure if it's a power or gas delivery problem.

That's a good idea, thanks for the info...I'll try to use these tips tonight and see if there's any difference.

[Bigdav160]

I've been told to NEVER use brake parts cleaner before welding. Some of those sprays do not evaporate well like the old days.

[truckster]

Originally Posted by Bigdav160

I've been told to NEVER use brake parts cleaner before welding. Some of those sprays do not evaporate well like the old days.

When I use brake parts cleaner before welding I put it on a paper towel and use the paper towel to degrease the area I'm welding. That way it doesn't pool up. I also make sure the paper towels are disposed of well away from my welding area.

I think any solvent is dangerous if not used properly.

[67swb72klb]

Brake drums are cast iron and don't like to be welded...I would stick with some clean sheet metal

[19SIKtySix]

So I got home last night and tinkered with the welder, I wanted to try on the sheet metal piece that I have. I tried another outlet (whether that matters or not) and started thinking is there anything else I can do. Well from the welder being outside before, I decided to clean up the ground clamp. I wire wheeled the clamp itself, the contact on the ground wire, and even cleaned up the nut which had rust on it.

I played with the settings on the welder (like what was suggested earlier) and layed down some tacks on the sheet metal:





You can see as I tweaked the settings from top to bottom, the results got better...needless to say I was stoked to find out my welder isn't complete junk. I don't plan on doing any heavy welding, but if I keep tweaking the welder, it should take care of the little tasks I need it for. When I was laying down the tacks, I could hear that familiar buzz sound.

[19SIKtySix]

Originally Posted by 67swb72klb

Brake drums are cast iron and don't like to be welded...I would stick with some clean sheet metal

That could be part of the problem, I know the brake drum is rusted up pretty good, plus my negative clamp had some corrosion. Perhaps the areas I cleaned weren't clean enough. I just know that no matter what I did, I got bird crap welds. I never could get that good buzzing sound, but I finally did when tacking on the new sheet metal.

Thanks for your input, I appreciate it!

[GASoline71]

Using brake cleaner to remove grease and then welding can kill you...

The fumes from Phosgene gases are deadly.

http://www2.worksafebc.com/i/posters/2013/ws_13_09.html

Gary

[Steven R]

just a question for you, you said the welder was outside, was the wire still in the welder at that time. I have had issues with a contaminated roll of wire that had gotten wet and then corroded.

Have you tried a new roll of wire? and when is the last time you change the contact tip, or at least insured matched contact tip and wire size.

my two cents hope it helps

[Sluggo]

as stated above by Steven R, it could be rust on the wire which in turn would cause your liner to partially clog and that will make the wire drag and cause that same problem, if its been outside pull the wire out of the liner and shoot some cleaner, not brake cleaner, maybe something like maf sensor cleaner or whatever into the liner until it comes out clean then relube it with mig lube you can get at the welding supply store, that should help solve your popping problem as well and try not to practice on brake drums as mentioned above, ive been in the welding industry for 40 years or so, just a little background on me, good luck

[cg285]

Originally Posted by Bigdav160

I once owned a SnapOn mig welder. I think it was a YA205 made by Century.

Some days it would weld great, other days terrible.

What was wrong with it was the gas solenoid inside the machine. It would intermittently cut back the gas flow.

one of my employees came from cuba. one day he decided to weld something with my miller 200. he says something like "wow dees muchine weds mu bueno"
laughing i says if you think it welds good now try it with the gas on.

[Clavo106]

if this helps any weld aid.on old wire I have it on my mig.. ... https://weldingsupply.com/cgi-bin/ei...UNDEF:X:007062