Request for help with wire feed welder

It uses .030 flux core wire. It has four voltage settings and eight wire speed settings. It has a chart showing the recommended voltage settings based on the gauge of metal to be welded.

When I attempt to stike an arc, the wire just disintegrates as soon as I touch the metal to be welded. The melted wire attaches itself to the metal in the form of little balls. The metal that I'm trying to weld seems to be unaffected by the weld except that it now has little balls of melted wire attached to it. I've tried higher and lower voltages and all eight of the wire feed speed settings, but to no avail. I can't maintain a constant arc no matter what I try.

Any advice?

Thanks,

Tom in TN

Thanks for the advice and comments. I checked the wire to verify that it really is flux core. I checked the polarity jumpers and verified that they are set for wire only, not MIG. I have not yet looked into acquiring the MIG stuff. I was hoping that I could by without it.

I'm going to keep messing with it, especially with wire speed as you guys suggested. I hope I can master this thing. I know that they are supposed to be really good for light work. I've seen guys weld exhaust systems up in no time using them.

Thanks again for your help.

Tom in TN

I'm not familuar with that particular machine and only giving general suggestions.

I think your missunderstanding the instructions.

GMAW (Mig) on the Century machine can either be flux core wire (innershield) or solid core wire with a cover gas. Both are the Mig welding process! So set your machine to the Mig mode.

If the machine is set-up correct then post back and I'll give you some items to check that will cause your problem.

T_Bone