Habor freight welder question...help!

[Fugio]

So I got the 90 amp wire welder a week ago and it's been working fine on test pieces.

But just now I went to weld a barrel band to a piece of old sheet metal (to make an outdoor table top) and nothing happend. The wire feeds, but no spark.

If I touch it to the grounding clamp it welds fine.

So this is the first rusty metal I've tried. It worked with one rusty piece, but is it a problem if both pieces are rusty? I can't figure out what else could be wrong!

 

[hickfied]

You need to ground the piece better.

 

[Fugio]

Ok. But HOW? I'm putting the clamp like 2 inches from where I'm welding. Grind the rust off of where I'm clamping it?

 

[Bobcat753]

Remove all rust. Rust doesn't conduct electricity. And you will get horrible welds.

 

[Fugio]

Yep! I used the grinder to make a spot for the ground clamp. Works great now!

Horrible welds is no problem. It's just an outdoor table. I want it to look rusty and imperfect.

Thanks again!

 

[Bobcat753]

Your welcome.

 

[rob0781]

Grinding the area you are welding will help alot cheap 120v flux corr welders aren't like 220v stick welders. The metal needs to be clean to get the best possible weld with that machine.