Poppy starts

[Cowboy]

On my mm251 using M-25 mig gun I can't seem to get away from having poppy starts. I don't get them everytime but way to often. Running .030 solid wire and 75ar 25o2. Run in set at 100%, just welding mild steel. When it starts doing it I let go of trigger then start again and this sometimes stops it.
Have any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

[Hotrod]

Hi Brother... That thing still doing that. Hope someone can answer you with a solution.

[Cowboy]

Hey Hotrod
Good to see you on here. This is a Good forum, alot of good ideas and info.

COWBOY.............I WILL GET MARIE TO ANSWER YOU SHE WORKS ON THAT SIDE OF THE BUSINESS OR DOUG HE ALSO WORKS THAT SIDE OF THE BUSINESS..............QUESTION IS HOW LARGE IS THE BALL ON THE END OF THE WIRE WHEN YOU GET THE POPPY START......................WHAT WIRE (SIZE)..............GAS PRESSURE IS????..........ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS WILL NEED ANSWERED.............THANKS...............WE WILL GET YOU DIALED IN HANG IN THERE.............ROCK...SSCOTT@MILLERWELDS.COM

HOT ROD................WELCOME ABOARD..........MY BROTHERS AND I OWN 2 690 D TRACK HOE'S......................I LIKE THAT IMAGE................................ROCK........SSCOTT@MILLERWELDS.COM

[Cowboy]

HOW LARGE IS THE BALL ON THE END OF THE WIRE WHEN YOU GET THE POPPY START......................WHAT WIRE (SIZE)..............GAS PRESSURE IS????..........ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS WILL NEED ANSWERED.............THANKS...............WE WILL GET YOU DIALED IN HANG IN THERE.............ROCK...SSCOTT@MILLERWELDS.COM

Rock

Freshly cut wire and .o30 solid. Gas pressure is approx 20 cf and I have tried adjusting it both up and down, made no differance. Like I said it is sporatic, sometimes it welds fine from the get go. It must be something I'm doing, althought my brother noticed it also. Any help would be appreciated and I'll keep playing with it.
Thanks

[R. Nelson]

Originally posted by Cowboy
On my mm251 using M-25 mig gun I can't seem to get away from having poppy starts. I don't get them everytime but way to often. Running .030 solid wire and 75ar 25o2. Run in set at 100%, just welding mild steel. When it starts doing it I let go of trigger then start again and this sometimes stops it.
Have any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Hey COWBOY, I was just wondering, is this plate? The reason I ask is, perhaps the mill scale is preventing a good current flow untill you have established condition that allows the current to flow un-impeded,.....any thoughts on this my friends?

[Scott V]

I would say that very true,about the mill scale,try a little angle to the gun when starting.It might help some.

[Cowboy]

Would adjusting the run-in help with bad starts on steel or is it better to leave it at 100%.
R. Nelson, I grind pretty good where I'm going to weld.
I'll check to see if starting at a angle helps Scott V.
Thanks for your input guys.

[MikeG]

Cowboy,

Try turning the adjustable runin down. If you are only having the problem sporadically, just turn the runin down a little. By doing this it will give you a hotter start. The other thing that may help is your tip-to-work distance. Keep the tip to work distance 1/4" to 3/8" at most. The runin is there so that each person can adjust it for thier welding style. One setting does not always work for everyone, even on the same conditions. I myself like the runin set lower than 100%.

MikeG.

[Cowboy]

MikeG
Thanks for the reply. What do you suggest for a starting point?
What do you like for run-in setting? 90%-85%...Sorry for all the questions, just trying to learn.
Thanks

Hey site moderators ,how come we don't have a smiley with a helmet?

COWBOY.........THIS IS ALL WERE PUTTING UP..........BUT LOOK AROUND SOMEONE HAS ONE OUT THERE WITH A COMPUTER OPERATOR BANGING HIS HEAD ON A DESK SETTING IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER..............I LAUGHED WHEN II SEEN THAT ONE........... ..........................ROCKSSCOTT@MILLERWELDS.COM

[Cowboy]

Hey Rock

We need one banging head on welder, right? Although I have more trouble with my computer.


I am getting some good replies and I'm working on my problem, it might just be operator error. No word from Marie or Doug yet though.

I KNOW.............THESE PEOPLE ARE SWAMPED.... I TALKED TO THEM THIS MORNING..............ACTUALLY JUST GIVE ME A CALL AND WE WILL TRY SOMETHING.............WHILE I GOT YOU ON THE PHONE..............SET THE RUN IN ABOUT 65-70.............TRY IT A COUPLE OF TIMES THEN WE CAN TALK,................WHAT GAS, AND WHAT SIZE MATERIAL..............OH BY THE WAY MIKEG ANSWERED AND HE IS ANOTHER SECRET AGENT HERE ON SITE.......... HE'S HELPING........... ...NO ONE ABANDONED YOU..............ROCK.... SSCOTT@MILLERWELDS.COM

[MikeG]

Cowboy,
I usually start out with the runin set at around 75%. If the wire burns back towards your tip increase it, if it starts nice leave it there until you get a negative result at starts. Like I said it's not the same for everyone. I owned a Miller Vintage for many years, and with that being a tapped voltage machine I am used to very soft nice starts, not the harsh start of a solid state machine. I really do like the MM251 though and have sold my Vintage, hopefully in the near future I'll get a MM251. BTW, I do work in service with Rock,right now not in the same location. I let Marie and Doug know I answered you on this. If you have more questions on it or have problems with it, shoot me an email at mgruen@millerwelds.com

MikeG