Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
New Mig welder keeps jamming, what am I doing wrong?
Forum Index -> Body/Paint Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Chris Paterson
Samba Member


Joined: February 21, 2010
Posts: 1068
Location: Newbury Park, CA
Chris Paterson is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 8:08 pm    Post subject: New Mig welder keeps jamming, what am I doing wrong? Reply with quote

So I just upgraded my little Licoln Electric Mig welder with no gas to a Hobart welder that has gas. I set everything up. I'm working with .023 solid mig wire and CO2/ Argon mix and the damn thing keeps jamming. I get a bundle of wire by the feeding mechanism like the wire gets a little resistance and the whole thing jams. Is it me? Do I have something set up wrong? Is it my welding technique? Anyone have any experience with this? Help would be much appreciated, it's super frustrating because I weld about 4" in the thing jams. I have to cut the mangled wire at the feeder, pull it out of the tube then re-feed it again then start welding again. I tried using .030 flux core (came with the welder) for some thicker metal with no gas and same thing, the damn thing keeps jamming! Is this welder crap or is it me?
_________________
- Chris
58' PGSG
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Chris Paterson
Samba Member


Joined: February 21, 2010
Posts: 1068
Location: Newbury Park, CA
Chris Paterson is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 8:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PS. Here's the welder I bought:

http://www.hobartwelders.com/products/wirefeed/handler140/
_________________
- Chris
58' PGSG
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
rubber hammer
Samba Member


Joined: January 04, 2009
Posts: 77
Location: Edgemont South Dakota
rubber hammer is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 10:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sounds like the feed wheel has too much tension on it.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
spook
Samba Member


Joined: December 30, 2003
Posts: 2038
Location: in the shop 35750
spook is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 4:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

also make sure your tip size is the same as your wire size
_________________
www.airkooledkustoms.com
SBS US #10
feedback on the shop : http://tinyurl.com/yc7jgkl


Welcome to he darkside, its lower here.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Facebook Twitter Classifieds Feedback
Derek Cobb
Annoying


Joined: March 11, 2004
Posts: 2565

Derek Cobb is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 4:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Make sure the line has only smooth, gentle curves. The tighter the bend, the more likely it will kink. Try moving the welder further from the work so it's a straight shot.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Facebook Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Chris Paterson
Samba Member


Joined: February 21, 2010
Posts: 1068
Location: Newbury Park, CA
Chris Paterson is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 7:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

rubber hammer wrote:
Sounds like the feed wheel has too much tension on it.


Turns out this was it! I didn't pay attention to how tight my tensioner was. So any time the wire hit any kind of resistance the motor would just keep driving it forward and then it would make a bird's nest. I adjusted the tensioner so that it's as light as possible but still pushes the wire forward. This way if it hits a little resistance it won't keep driving the wire forward but instead will just slip.

Thanks for your help!
_________________
- Chris
58' PGSG
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Euro60
Samba Member


Joined: July 02, 2002
Posts: 71
Location: Flagler Beach, Fl
Euro60 is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 9:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

In my experience the only time I had problems though with the rollers being too tight and causing a birds nest is when there was some kind of resistance that should be there.
As was mentioned, keep the cable as straight as possible, and ensure you are using the proper size tip. I actually use one size bigger on tip than the wire I use.
If you run your rollers too loose, any time there is drag it will stop feeding which saves you from having a birds nest, but also many times will result in the wire burning into the tip.

The only time i ever set them really soft is when messing with aluminum wire. Its so soft that any little resistance in the cable will cause it to nest. With steel wire, I actually have them tight enough to cause a nest, but only have one about every 5 ten pound spools, and thats because someone will fiddle with the wire speed knob and I will end up burnt into the tip.
_________________
60 Euro Beetle
Handful of Rabbits and Golfs
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
oldmanmark
Samba Member


Joined: July 08, 2006
Posts: 842
Location: n.w. indiana,chicagoland
oldmanmark is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

everything these guys is saying is on the mark. i got a hobart 140 too. when first got it i would weld with the side door on welder open to see whats happening. then monkey around with the nut on the wire spool and get just enough tension when i stop welding ther is bit slack in the wire before it enters the feed wheels. then i adjust feed tensioner for the feed wheels enough to pull wire into the cable and still beable to weld with a GENTLE bend in the cable. as long as it does this consitantly im happy. cheap wire wont grip the feed wheels as good as Lincloln/Hobart, slips. make sure you got the wire in the right slot for the size of wire,or else feed problems. recently i made a support arm that holds the cable comeing out of the welder in a straight line for another foot. smooth,cable is older,flex more.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Classifieds Feedback
Foxx
Uncle Meat


Joined: August 27, 2001
Posts: 4897
Location: at the computer,.......DUH!
Foxx is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:25 pm    Post subject: Re: New Mig welder keeps jamming, what am I doing wrong? Reply with quote

chrispaterson82 wrote:
So I just upgraded my little Lincoln Electric Mig welder with no gas to a Hobart welder that has gas. I set everything up. I'm working with .023 solid mig wire and CO2/ Argon mix and the damn thing keeps jamming. I get a bundle of wire by the feeding mechanism like the wire gets a little resistance and the whole thing jams. Is it me? Do I have something set up wrong? Is it my welding technique? Anyone have any experience with this? Help would be much appreciated, it's super frustrating because I weld about 4" in the thing jams. I have to cut the mangled wire at the feeder, pull it out of the tube then re-feed it again then start welding again. I tried using .030 flux core (came with the welder) for some thicker metal with no gas and same thing, the damn thing keeps jamming! Is this welder crap or is it me?

so,..whatcha do with the Lincoln ?
_________________
Frank
OG JHC
59 panel





Sarcasm is the body's natural defense against stupidity. i seem to use a lot.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail AIM Address Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Body/Paint All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.