Maintenance Tips for MIG Welders

MIG welders heats work-piece metals by conducting electric arcs between MIG wire electrodes and the metal in question. This produces enough heat to melt the metals so that they can be joined. They offer a highly effective means of welding joints, but only if they are adequately maintained. When not correctly maintained, components will become worn and unresponsive, or might not conduct enough electricity to weld properly.

Because of this, it is important to conduct regular maintenance on MIG welders to ensure that you won’t suffer downtime and unnecessary expenses from a need for welding machine repairs.

Cleaning and Adjusting Drive Rolls

Throughout using the machine, its drive rolls (particularly the knurled ones) become bogged down with drawing compounds which eventually has an effect on the tension and grip provided by the wire. From time to time, these drive rolls should be removed and cleaned with a wire-brush. While doing this, you should also inspect the rolls for any wear and tear to gauge how much of their life expectancy is left.

Calibrating Drive Roll Pressure

Increasing pressure to reshape flux-cored wire will eventually result in the wire developing edges that affect the performance of the machine. To limit this, it is a good idea to periodically use an air nozzle to blow out the liner from the torch to the feeder. This will remove unwanted debris from the liner which would otherwise build up, and eventually stop it from feeding.

Index Spring Liners

As MIG welders are used, they tend to rub on key points on the liner, gradually wearing it down, eventually causing it to stop feeding, and can also be a common cause for chatter. To solve the problem, replacing the tip regularly will help extend the lifespan of the liner, but the liner spring, which is easily replaceable, will need to be changed at some point.

Contact Tru-Butt for Assistance

For the best results, it is best to have a professional handle maintenance and repairs for you. If you would like to know more about how our team here at Tru-Butt can assist with welding machine repairs be sure to contact us today, or visit our website for details on our offers.

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