Need some welding advice

[HCJtractor]

I am a novice welder and have been building some simple things to help me refine my skills. I have a Miller 211 Mig. Sometimes I am running a bead and all is sizzling like it should and then "pop", the arc breaks and the glob of molten metal forms and splatters. It may pop a few times and then start sizzling again. The resulting weld is porous an splattered.

I know this is obviously operator error but what could cause this? I am using shielding gas, and have tried to have everything clean beforehand. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Shield Arc]

Might be a bad spot in the roll of wire, can you switch rolls of wire? When is the last time you replaced or blew out the liner in the Mig gun? Could also be you changing the stick out length, and not realizing it.

 

[cowski]

i will take a guess! i think you wobble with the gun and get too much distance between it and the metal.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Sounds like what happens to me when the gas cylinder gets low. May be a problem with your regulator or hoses or something.

Are you welding inside or out?

 

[deereman75]

did you buy the wire at harbor freight?

 

[Jim in ICT]

Bad fitup? Too much gap in your joints? Ground clamp & wire good?

 

[larryinparks]

too much stickout? gasflow?

 

[HCJtractor]

thanks, I will check all of that. Wire is good quality from Airgas.

 

[mjncad]

thanks, I will check all of that. Wire is good quality from Airgas.

Not necessarily. Get yourself some true Lincoln wire instead of the Airgas house brand Radnor by Harris as I recall. Yes, I know Harris is owned by Lincoln; but I suspect Airgas tells Harris to make the wire cheaper than the true Lincoln stuff.

 

[Chilly807]

Check the feed tension, it might be a tad loose. If the wire stops feeding momentarily it will cause what you've described.

Sean