restored this sweet '73 mgb I got and now its ready for action. but still seeking advice. So ive just started messing around with a clarke 130en MIG welder, the gas & gasless type. now my main skill is making holes in metal, which isnt exactly ideal. Im trying to weld a straight line on some scrap 3mm sheet steel, though im having trouble, when I use the circular torch motion my welds are all over the place, width wise. It seems like the torch is SPITTING when the wire hits the metal. This makes the wire contact point jump around, which i think is why the weld width is changing. Does any of that sound right? and more importantly, any tips & tricks you can share?
'73 MGB need advice
- Thread starter kai029
- Start date
KikiKardashian
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- Joined
- Apr 4, 2025
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- 5
Maybe, just maybe, your wire speed is too high for the machine to handle. I think that's one way to explain it otherwise it wouldn't be too all over the place the way you mean it, and width-wise too? Maybe try turning the welder down orrr you can move faster just to account for that issue.
_g33km3ist3r
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- Mar 28, 2025
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- 18
I’d also check polarity since gasless flux core should be electrode negative on that Clarke or the arc will go pop and sputter. Make sure you have a clean ground, knurled drive roll tension set right and avoid long extension cords because voltage drop can cause the arc to wander once the welder heats up. Are you running 0.9 mm flux core with about 10–15 mm stickout or using 0.8 mm and an extension cord on a shared circuit?
