Bad starts with flux core Hobart 190

[Mr Earl]

My new HH190 refuses to start an arc cleanly. There's always lots of drama, like a chunk of wire stuck to the work, popping, etc. After the 1st 1-2 seconds it welds very well. I've tried cleaning the metal, holding the wire tip above the work surface, touching the wire to the surface, improving the ground. Sometimes the start is OK, but mostly it's poor. This is all with flux core, haven't run gas yet. Thoughts?

[danielplace]

Flux maybe is covering the end like it does on stick.

Cut a fresh end see if it improves at all.

Or get some gas and solid wire and that will go probably go away.

[CEP]

Turn the wire speed down a bit. Or turn up the voltage. With T-11 wire, I run about 3/8 of an inch stick out.

[farmersammm]

Hobarts will do this. I'm on my second Hobart,, and it's the same as the first.

It's probably the contactor circuit, or whatever they call it.

Like said...….turn the voltage up (this works sometimes). Make sure the metal is squeaky clean (usually the best solution). Or hit the trigger to advance the wire OFF THE METAL, STOP, THEN WITHOUT PULLING THE TRIGGER, CONTACT THE METAL WITH THE WIRE...…..YOU'LL SEE A TINY SPARK. Then squeeze the trigger, and she'll likely strike an arc. Just a weird thing with Hobart wire welders (shrug)

[farmersammm]

They're great machines, but like all things, have some quirks. Only wire welder I own that's flawless, is my LN-25

[Mr Earl]

Thanks very much. Interesting about Hobarts. I sold a Lincoln Pro-Mig 175 that had no problem with starts to buy the Hobart, oh well.

I've never run as short a stick-out as 3/8", will give that a try, and the trick with the wire advance and spark.

[CEP]

I've never run as short a stick-out as 3/8", will give that a try,

With T-11 wire, it just a matter of how you set the voltage and wire speed.
NOW T-8 wire is a different beast all together! If it says to run 3/4 to 1-inch, best do it!

Remember now, I’m just a hobby welder!

[Mr Earl]

With T-11 wire, it just a matter of how you set the voltage and wire speed.
NOW T-8 wire is a different beast all together! If it says to run 3/4 to 1-inch, best do it!

Remember now, I’m just a hobby welder!

Yes it's T-11. I've tried lots of combinations of voltage and wire speed, but always with a longer stick-out.

And yes, I've read about your lack of professional experience. Keep at it, dreams can come true!

[Mr Earl]

CEP, the 3/8" stickout did the trick! Very clean starts with .035 T-11 on some 1/8" mild steel today. I actually am a hobby welder, so looking forward to trying this when different projects come along. Thanks!

[CEP]

I love helping other hobby welders!

[pat h]

Thanks very much. Interesting about Hobarts. I sold a Lincoln Pro-Mig 175 that had no problem with starts to buy the Hobart, oh well.

I've never run as short a stick-out as 3/8", will give that a try, and the trick with the wire advance and spark.

That was your first mistake hahaha ( I prefer lincoln) but later you said you were using. 035 that mosheen ain't got it in it, I was never much of a migger but I've used a bunch and under a 250 machine usually .030 is the go to wire