Magnets and IMig don't Mix

I've been working on a big project with my IMig 200 and the welder started acting real funny after a few hours. I took everything apart checked the drive tensions and the gas output to no avail. I gave up for the night and started cleaning up the space and realized that my dad stuck one of my heavy duty magnetic clamps to the back of the piece that I was working on. I popped it off and gave it another shot and everything worked as it should! Sometimes it's the simplest things that cause you to lose the most time. I now know the sound and will be an easy fix in the future. Other than that I just made it through 2 lbs of wire in about three days of working and started my first 10 lb roll. I'm really liking the IMig!

Also do not forget heat will kill your magnets too.

Well I glade you like the welder I am looking at buying one soon, it's back to what I said yesterday it is usually not the welder but I forgot about magnets they do cause a lot of problems in welding mainly in Tig holding steel parts together and welding near them. Good luck on the projects.

So the presence of a big enough magnet caused arc blow? I'd heard of this in SMAW, never thought about it for GMAW.

And did your Dad do it on purpose as a prank? ;-)

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Originally Posted by DaveO

So the presence of a big enough magnet caused arc blow? I'd heard of this in SMAW, never thought about it for GMAW.

And did your Dad do it on purpose as a prank? ;-)

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It *really* messes with TiG welding. Screws up the arc and the puddle flow.