Help me MIGs got the Trump.

[Uncle Jimmy]

My MIG welder has let me down, right when I had serious weldage planned. The torch trigger is doing nothing.

I first started noticing the gas was reluctant to come out, then I did a couple of spots, then one spot which blew a hole through the plate, kaput. Light is on, the transformer is humming but no feed to the torch.

Just after the wire feed mechanism there's a blue plastic cube the gas goes through and which activates the feed- I'm thinking this is the culprit? It is a solenoid valve I'm guessing?

Hoping I can get a new one for no great sum....

[SiC]

There are £40 MIG welders in lidl at the moment!

 

Edit: sorry I think they're ARC.

[gm]

where are you ? I've got one lying in the garage that you could borrow in exchange for a couple of lessons on how to use it ?

[Uncle Jimmy]

Alas, a very long way away- Stroud, Glos.

If I can't fix mine cheaply I'll stick it on t'Bay as spears and reapers and buy a new Clarke or Sealey.

[dave21478]

The solenoid valve block is just that - a valve to let gass through when you pull the trigger, it has no other effect.

 

Pulling the trigger should activate this valve to let gas through and should click a relay elsewhere to let the electric magic through and feed the wire forwards.

If neither gas or electric arrives at the torch when you pull the trigger, and the wire doesnt feed either the problem is likely the trigger or the wiring to it. Take the torch apart, its just a basic microswitch or just two bendy bits of metal that touch. No high voltage there. Short out the contacts and see if it works. If yes, the switch is done, if no, the wiring is done perhaps along the length of the torch tube somewhere or where it exits into the body of the welder.

[mat_the_cat]

What welder is it? A common Clarke problem is relay failure, which I *think* from memory affects both the wire feed and the gas. Under £3 for a new relay though, if that is the culprit. Best to rule out wiring and the switch first though.

[Tickman]

where are you ? I've got one lying in the garage that you could borrow in exchange for a couple of lessons on how to use it ?

What machine have you got? 

Best way to learn is try and stick some bits together.

Yes it is easier if there is someone who knows what to do but weld together and then try and break apart again, adjust and go again.

I'm not too far away if you want any help but am just 'hobby' standard!

[Uncle Jimmy]

Cheers gents; I'll check out the torch switch this afternoon. It is a Smig MIG 2000. Yellow painted and quite well made by the looks of it, the feed rollers are all steel.

[gm]

What machine have you got? 

Best way to learn is try and stick some bits together.

Yes it is easier if there is someone who knows what to do but weld together and then try and break apart again, adjust and go again.

I'm not too far away if you want any help but am just 'hobby' standard!

it's a Clarke 90 gas/gasless - I've played around with it and stuck various bits of scrap metal together but really need to sort out some gas as the flux cored wire does seem to give quite grotty welds. I bought it off gumtree from a bloke in dundee, not really with a purpose in mind, just because I fancied learning a new skill. there is a night class at the 'tec' in edinburgh that I had planned to enrol in last year but never got round to it, maybe this time I'll get my arse in gear

[Tickman]

it's a Clarke 90 gas/gasless - I've played around with it and stuck various bits of scrap metal together but really need to sort out some gas as the flux cored wire does seem to give quite grotty welds. I bought it off gumtree from a bloke in dundee, not really with a purpose in mind, just because I fancied learning a new skill. there is a night class at the 'tec' in edinburgh that I had planned to enrol in last year but never got round to it, maybe this time I'll get my arse in gear

I've not tried flux cored wire but mine is a little Clarke pro 90 (no idea what is pro about it) which has stuck quite a variety of things together, mostly successfully.

I did a night class and the kit they have is amazing, well worth doing.

[Station]

I got a new welder last week - I've been -shit- for years without any improvement or explanation why I wasn't getting better.

But as soon as I started using this it was doing -proper- tidy, penetrating welds instead of looking like a rabbit had crapped all over it.

 

"Your welding will be crap if your welder is crap" - simple advice someone should've given me 15 years ago.