MIG with argon

Hey guys,

I've been trying to use pure argon with my MIG welder today, but without much success.
This is the first time I'm trying this and not sure whether I'm doing something wrong, something not right with gas flow or the MIG welder.
All I hear is a lot of popping sound and 'charcoal burning' looking welds with chunks of metal not sticking to the base metal(Pictures attached).
I tried with all the different settings from the MIG welder fast/slow/medium speed and all four amp settings as well as keeping the MIG tip closer to the base, medium distance and further bit away as well, but to no good. Gas comes out fine, except this setup doesn't allow to control the gas flow as the this cheap MIG welder has no such control.

There might be an issue with the regulator(or rather the flow meter) I'm using as in the pictures below.
It does the TIG without any dramas. I couldn't actually see the flow meter ball moving(not moving at all or just jumps a bit initially when I open the TIG torch gas control knob and then back to the bottom). So, I didn't actually get a reading of TIG flow from the flow meter per say. The regulator gauge goes all the way to the end (25Mpa?).
So, I'm not sure whether I have a crap regulator+flow meter, but it did ok with TIG steel).

The MIG welder is a cheap Mishto 130amp one, but should do the job that I need to do without much issues.

So, what am I not doing right to not get semi-decent welds with MIG+argon combination, 'cos I've been told it should be just ok when proper MIG shielding gas mix is not available.

Is there a trick to how to get it right?

Any help, suggestions, tips, advice etc etc would be great.


P.S. The regulator+flow meter is not an expensive one, but thought it should do the job of regulating the pressure, at least. It is an online purchase, from a local seller.

You have no gas flowing through your mig Dom.

Release the feed roller tension for the wire , turn the welder on and press the trigger on the handpiece of the Mig and watch the little ball , if your welding inside your shed try 8-9 litres per minute , outside if windy you need more but it can get too windy for a mig .

Forgot to say you have to adjust the knob on the left side to get the flow rate while your activating the mig .
Unrelated but if your going to weld something that's heavily galvanised , grind the gal off the area to be welded and don't breath in the fumes it's nasty stuff .

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Originally Posted by GQtdauto

You have no gas flowing through your mig Dom.

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Gas was flowing and comes out of the tip(or rather the nozzle). I could clearly hear and feel it as well.

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Release the feed roller tension for the wire , turn the welder on and press the trigger on the handpiece of the Mig and watch the little ball , if your welding inside your shed try 8-9 litres per minute , outside if windy you need more but it can get too windy for a mig .

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It's been dead wind all day and evening today. No wind, but pretty warm. I think the flow meter is either faulty or I am not sure how to read it or get it going properly. It only has on/off. I actually controlled the flow from the knob on the TIG torch. No such control available for the MIG welder though.

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Forgot to say you have to adjust the knob on the left side to get the flow rate while your activating the mig .
Unrelated but if your going to weld something that's heavily galvanised , grind the gal off the area to be welded and don't breath in the fumes it's nasty stuff .

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If you meant the knob for the flow meter, yeah I opened it up. I think it's only an open or shut type of valve, not a flow control know(hope I'm wrong about that). And yeah, I ground the gal off where I was welding on it. The TIG handled it fine. But, no good outcome with the MIG though.

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Originally Posted by GQtdauto

You have no gas flowing through your mig Dom.

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May be the flow meter is stuffed and the valve ain't letting out enough flow to suit MIG(but ok enough for TIG)??!!

It's possible to have too much gas coming out but I'm not sure that's your problem , can you take a photo of the handpiece with the nozzle or shroud in place and one of it removed .

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Originally Posted by dom14

May be the flow meter is stuffed and the valve ain't letting out enough flow to suit MIG(but ok enough for TIG)??!!

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I'm doubting it Dom.

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Originally Posted by GQtdauto

It's possible to have too much gas coming out but I'm not sure that's your problem , can you take a photo of the handpiece with the nozzle or shroud in place and one of it removed .

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Ok, cool. Gimme five minutes. I'll upload a couple of photos.

Just took these pictures of the nozzle and the tip.