MM 211 shielding gas

[junkyardwarrior]

Have done some welding over the years and with GMAW processes, I've always used straight CO2. That's what I learned with and what I had success with. Last year I bought the Millermatic 211 when it was on sale, and I love the machine. However this last week I've been having an issue and I think I know the problem but I want to run it across you guys'. I was installing subframe connectors into a fox body Mustang, so you already know that the frame rails are paper thin. Anyway, everything was sanded clean but I had to do this on my back, welding overhead lap joints and butt joints. Couple times I found myself burning through. Most of the time it was fine but seems like if I turned the voltage down a little bit, the arc would become really sloppy, even after adjusting the wire speed. If I got the tip REALLY close to the work, it would do ok-still not great, but well enough to get the job done. Still got a bit of arc instability. In some cases I'd have to get the tip so close to the work that it would burn the tip which I felt was abnormal. I'm using ER70S-6 at .023 and the correct Miller/Hobart tips. Wire feed roller also correct for the .023" wire. I never had problems with wire feed-just arc instability. Seems like if I got far enough away from the work to see what I was welding, the arc would get so instable that it was almost impossible to run a good bead.

Does this sound typical of straight CO2? I was considering trading my CO2 for C25.

[aametalmaster]

Yup grab a bottle of 75/25 it will make a difference...Bob

[Ironken]

I use C15 with my 252 for light material and for spray.

[ryanjones2150]

C25 will run smoother, but also check and make sure you have a good ground. Replace the junky ground clamp that comes with that machine with one that's a bit more skookum.

[old jupiter]

Ditto the C-15, which will do nearly all the jobs you're likely to do (depending on who's filling the bottles, nominal C-15 might be actual C-20, since CO2 is cheaper than Argon). As compared with C-25, less burn-through, easier to carry out of position, less spatter. A lot of big operators use this, including Genie Industries (man-lifts) in this area.

[Ironken]

C25 will run smoother, but also check and make sure you have a good ground. Replace the junky ground clamp that comes with that machine with one that's a bit more skookum.

Hey Ryan.....All of my new machines get better work leads and "more skookumer" clamps. Good advice! Just outta curiosity....where did you come up with the term "skookum"? My wife makes fun of me when I use it.

[H80N]

Hey Ryan.....All of my new machines get better work leads and "more skookumer" clamps. Good advice! Just outta curiosity....where did you come up with the term "skookum"? My wife makes fun of me when I use it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skookum

BTW.. you might find these informative...

Worth downloading for reference..

http://catalogs.praxairdirect.com/i/...al-manuals/110

[Ironken]

Thanks H80n for the "skookum" links.

[old jupiter]

I'd like to see an expert in Northwest coast indian languages have a look at that Wikipedia entry, because some of it doesn't sound right. The cited sources seem not to include any linguistics experts. However, that entry links to one on "Chinook Jargon" that looks much more authoritative.


From the Wikipedia entry: Skookum is a Chinook Jargon word that has come into occasional use in the Pacific Northwest.^[1]
The word skookum has three main meanings:

1. (in regional English) an adjective with a variety of positive connotations;
2. a monster; similar to the sasquatch.
3. a souvenir doll once common in the United States in tourist areas.

Here in the greater Seattle/east Puget Sound area all of us early baby-boomers were told as kids (often in Boy Scouts) about "Chinook-talk" and grew up with the word Skookum, with the meanings "good, fine, excellent, well-done." And that was all. And nobody says "skookumer."

Whatever, Ironken is right, you need the right clamps to get the plenty skookum welds.

[H80N]

Thanks H80n for the "skookum" links.

Actually... I thought the link to the Praxair manuals was more useful..

http://catalogs.praxairdirect.com/i/...al-manuals/110

lots of good info there....

....

[ryanjones2150]

Skookumer. More skookumer. I use them. My wife makes fun of me too. I also like seeberdeeber, seebler and shmoo...amongst a few others.

I lived outside Seattle for 10 years, so maybe I picked it up then. Not sure.

But something is REALLY much more skookumer, then it's skookum choocher.

Used in a sentence...."that new ground clamp that ironken got is the skookum choocher of ground clamps."

The Praxair links were good too. Seems like you posted a link to a video talking about welding gases a while back too. That one was good. If my memory is correct, it was about argon and helium though.

[Ironken]

Actually... I thought the link to the Praxair manuals was more useful..

http://catalogs.praxairdirect.com/i/...al-manuals/110

lots of good info there....

....

That manual in now on my Google Drive. Good find....I had an older version saved.

[Ironken]

Skookumer. More skookumer. I use them. My wife makes fun of me too. I also like seeberdeeber, seebler and shmoo...amongst a few others.

I lived outside Seattle for 10 years, so maybe I picked it up then. Not sure.

But something is REALLY much more skookumer, then it's skookum choocher.

Used in a sentence...."that new ground clamp that ironken got is the skookum choocher of ground clamps."

The Praxair links were good too. Seems like you posted a link to a video talking about welding gases a while back too. That one was good. If my memory is correct, it was about argon and helium though.

I picked up "skookum" and "choocher" from this youtube tool guy that goes by Ave. He says some funny s!#t and is pretty sharp.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WvszAb0Y0Ec

H8o, I would be interested if you could re post that shielding gas video that Ryan mentioned.

[H80N]

H8o, I would be interested if you could re post that shielding gas video that Ryan mentioned.

That was one of Jody's on using Helium mixes to boost heat when TIG welding aluminum with an underpowered welding machine...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvk8rH05ADU

Here are more from him... same subject.. but more recent (part 1 & 2)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhDvRJ7HZ6E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhJy7SbtH6s&feature=iv&src_vid=yhDvRJ7HZ6E&annotation_id=annotation_22469189

[old jupiter]

Does he know what a coocher is? A coocher isn't a tool; however, you might use YOUR tool in conjunction with a coocher . . . .

Junkyardwarrior, are you seeing how widely informative this site can be? Not only the welding setup info you asked for but some useful terminology thrown in absolutely free. Some of us could further advise you on language appropriate to welds-gone-wrong, but the site would properly delete that. Of course, the real gurus here, like H80N, haven't had their welds go wrong in such a long time that they have probably forgotten those particular verbal responses, whereas MY language could serve to post-heat my welds, alas.