mig 250p

[steel]

Hello I am thiking of buying a 250p and was wondering if anyone had one and what they thought of it. Also any pics of the welds

[zoama]

I have one that I use often but I'm a novice welder with no formal training. I like it especially after changing the oem torch to a 20' profax.
I don't have any weld pics right now but I may put some up in the next couple of weeks. Actual voltage range is 14.5 to 28.5

[everlastsupport]

The 205P and 250P are both close units if you are looking at them.

I have a 200, 205P and 250P (we use them almost everyday, even weekends). The 250P, I like, as I can roll it where I need it (I have a benzil 15AK on it, but the torch that comes with it is fine; I like smaller size).. No cart required on the 250P. 205P you will need to make a cart (or buy one) .

The 205P welds as nice, just a little less power.

Pictures of welds? That will only show you how I weld not you. Looks for user Chadrock, almost all his projects are 200, 205P and 250P and all the welds looked the same.

[Markcuda]

I just welded with mine for the first time yesterday.
I really like it.
At my work, I weld 8 hours a day, so I know how to weld.
I haven't dabbled with the pulse yet, or the stick welding yet.

[Markcuda]

Another picture.

[steel]

Looks good Mark thanks. I have 3 stick machines so dont really need the stick part.

[Markcuda]

At work, I use .045 wire, with a 90/10 mix of gas.
I run 30 amps/29ish volts=3 pass, 12 millimeter welds.
So, coming home and using my little 250p is a bit different

[Markcuda]

I'm making a cart for my 250P.
I know, it has wheels, but I can't leave good enough alone.

[zoama]

I went out to the shop and made a little demo weld. 11 gauge HR steel, 19v, 220 wire speed on the display (reads amps when welding) 75/25 gas.
I haven't learned how to minimize the BBs Any tips would be appreciated.

[steel]

run it on pulse that should get rid of them

[zoama]

run it on pulse that should get rid of them

I haven't learned to use the pulse feature, is that commonly used in short circuit ? You can click on the thumbnail pics for a larger view, it's a fairly high res pic.

[performance]

I went out to the shop and made a little demo weld. 11 gauge HR steel, 19v, 220 wire speed on the display (reads amps when welding) 75/25 gas.
I haven't learned how to minimize the BBs Any tips would be appreciated.

Excess Gun angle increases BB.s Pushing may help as well. You can tune the arc force, and reduce the wire speed or increase the voltage to reduce the BB's. After optimizing these settings, you can also go to an 80/20 or in my case a C18(Air Gas proprietary blend). Try dropping your wire speed to 200...What brand wire and wire size are you using?

[zoama]

Excess Gun angle increases BB.s Pushing may help as well. You can tune the arc force, and reduce the wire speed or increase the voltage to reduce the BB's. After optimizing these settings, you can also go to an 80/20 or in my case a C18(Air Gas proprietary blend). Try dropping your wire speed to 200...What brand wire and wire size are you using?

I'm running the silver esab wire you recommended .035. Gun angle was close to 90 deg My lws only offers 75/25 or tri mix, they looked at me like I was an alien when I asked for c18 or 80/20

[performance]

Ok, you need a lean, not a straight down angle. Start by pushing it slightly. 15 to 20 degrees should do it. The most of the BB's if there are many, will bounce in front of the weld and get reabsorbed. Keep your standoff as close as practical, 1/2" or so. Too long of a stand off can create spatter. But again, dialing the wire speed down will help. Most people tend to run too much because they feel they will get a hotter weld. But it's like trying going to a hot dog eating contest...eventually something is going to spew all over the place at too fast of a feeding rate. And dialing the arc force control will likely give you the most change in spatter. I run mine about 3 oclock on the small imig. Not sure if that will translate well or not. Mike may have more input.

[zoama]

I went out and did a few more tests, settings are all over the place but I thought it would help to narrow down my problems. Torch angle is still almost straight up and down because I hadn't read the last advise yet.
From left to right, Pic 1 is 19.5v 220 wire speed 5 arc force__ Pic 2 is 19v 200 wire speed 5 arc force__ Pic 3 is 19v 200 wire speed 3 arc force__ Pic 4 19v 210 wire speed 7 arc force.


Also, what causes the rust color around the weld ? The pieces were all cleaned with a coarse 8" wire wheel on a grinder before welding. 75/25 at 12 lpm. I usually run it at 10 lpm but increased it on these welds and it didn't make much difference.
All pieces were the same size and temperature. Pics are high res... for those who don't know how to zoom in, click on the thumbnail then click on the pic that opens, hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard while you roll the mouse wheel forward.

[performance]

Last one looks best. I'd go up to 7.5 and lower wire speed to 190. Leave voltage where it is. The reason you are getting the smoked appearance is partly because of the CO2 and the other two parts....One is because of your gun angle is forcing it uphill( notice the spatter on the up hill side?) You may be holding 90 in one plane but angling it on the other so that the arc is pushing up rather than forward. The other is because you haven't ground the metal to lay a clean pass. Wire wheels don't cut it...all you are doing is polishing mill scale...sort of like polishing pooh.

[zoama]

Last one looks best. I'd go up to 7.5 and lower wire speed to 190. Leave voltage where it is. The reason you are getting the smoked appearance is partly because of the CO2 and the other two parts....One is because of your gun angle is forcing it uphill( notice the spatter on the up hill side?) You may be holding 90 in one plane but angling it on the other so that the arc is pushing up rather than forward. The other is because you haven't ground the metal to lay a clean pass. Wire wheels don't cut it...all you are doing is polishing mill scale...sort of like polishing pooh.

All pieces had the ground clamp on the top left corner causing them to tilt back a little. I'll work on it some more tommorow, thanks for the help.

[Markcuda]

sort of like polishing pooh

Haven't we all done that a time or two LOL