Flux core welder autoset

[mcbane]

I normally use a Miller 252 mig machine but have been using a Miller 140 for a project far from the garage where all I have is a 20A 110v circuit. I didnt have a lot of mileage on the 140 and because it had strange knobs for wire speed and voltage (not inches per minute or volts) I had only used it on autoset. Worked just fine with Harris 10 gauge .030 flux core for non-structural welds on 3/16 angle.

But then I ran out of the Harris wire and put in a spool of Hobart flux core .030 flux core. All of a sudden, crazy amounts of splatter and welds that look like worms. I eventually got it to work on manual by apparently using a lower voltage and higher wire speed than autoset thought was appropriate.

Does anyone know how autoset works and why it works with 3rd party wire but not wire produced by a Miller subsidiary (Hobart)?

 

[metaleltr]

Was the Hobart wire new? Moisture may have negatively affected the flux. Did you maintain the same arc length. Long arcing may lead to porosity.

 

[mcbane]

Brand new wire. The wire stick out from tip to weld pool was about 1/2", same as I had been using with the Harris wire.

The strange thing is that it was possible to fix the issue by taking the welder out of autoset and manually adjusting wire speed and volts. So the wire worked just fine but somehow defeated the autoset mechanism that was supposed to come up with appropriate wire feed and volts.

 

[jubilee]

Don’t know anything about a Miller 140. Is it possible you inadvertently changed the drive wheel tension a little when you changed spools? Also, the amount amount of lubricant on different brands of wire might cause a little slippage.

 

[Mr_fixit]

[QUOTE

But then I ran out of the Harris wire and put in a spool of Hobart flux core .030 flux core. All of a sudden, crazy amounts of splatter and welds that look like worms. I eventually got it to work on manual by apparently using a lower voltage and higher wire speed than autoset thought was appropriate.

Does anyone know how autoset works and why it works with 3rd party wire but not wire produced by a Miller subsidiary (Hobart)?[/QUOTE]

Nope. But doesn't flux core use the opposite polarity of mig?

 

[c39er]

I'd go here and ask your questions...https://forum.millerwelds.com/forum?

 

[My Old Tools]

Autoset is not and never has been for flux core. It is calibrated for MIG gas. And yes, flux requires a change in polarity.

 

[AngryBeaver]

This is why I hate autoset machines. every wire, ever batch of gas will change your settings. a welder needs to know how to adjust his welder, not just rely on some chart.

but yes, you need to make adjustments on auto set machines