MIG welding produces some of the cleanest and most consistent welds available, making them a popular choice for many welding applications. One key factor in achieving good welds is using a clean MIG welder liner.
What’s that? Your MIG Welder isn’t working? It’s more than likely your MIG welder liner is clogged. You may be wondering if you really need to replace your liner or whether you can clean it.
Don’t worry, you won’t have to replace it. The easiest way to clean a MIG welder liner would be to apply some lubricant and use an air blower to push all the debris out.
In this post, I’ll show you how to clean your MIG welder liner and tips for maintaining optimal performance.
How to clean MIG welder liner
By far the most convenient way to clean the liner is to blow air through the liner using an air blower to clean out the debris.
You can also knock off some of the metal from the liner, but it will definitely not clean the liner fully through.
There are some steps to how the cleaning through blowing air is done.
STEP 1: Unplug and unscrew
First of all, no brainer, disconnect your welder. Then unscrew all the accessories. Firstly take the lid off, then disassemble the gun head, the contact tip, and finally the holder.
STEP 2: Pull out the liner
Pull out the liner through the other end. If your torch is bent, you might have to straighten it out before pulling out the liner.
STEP 3: Remove the wire
Next, you need to pull the wire out of the liner. If the liner is too dirty, the wire is going to have some metals or other dirt with it.
STEP 4: Check your liner
It is vital now to run your hands through your entire liner to make sure that there are no kinks or dents. Otherwise, not only will you not be able to clean it, you will even have to replace it.
STEP 5: Blow air into the liner
Grab some oil-based lubricant now and lubricate the end of the liner enough so that some of that fluid passes into the liner. Now using an air blower or a can of compressed air, blow the liner through its end. The smaller the hole of the blower or can is, the easier it will be for you to make sure all the air passes through the liner and not out.
If your liner has a coiled spring-like end, you can slightly bend that part so that the coiled spring opens and then you can blow air transversally.
For even better cleaning, you can knock the liner end to loosen up the debris and then blow it out again.
STEP 6: Feed the liner into the lead
Now that you are done, gently get your liner into the lead all the way through. This should not be a difficult job if there are not any bends or kinks.
STEP 7: Reassemble
Get everything in its own place and reassemble every part including the torch head and the lead.
STEP 8: Run the wire through your liner
Just bring your wire up to the torch head. This usually takes some time for the wire to run up to the very front. Voila! You are ready to weld again!
Should You Replace a MIG Welder Liner
What will not be saved by the cleaning however is a liner with kinks. So whatever you do, make sure you do not bend the liner too much to make a kink in it and especially do not place something heavy on the liner or run it over with any weight.
Although the cleaning process is a little tedious and time-consuming, it is worth it. You will feel the difference in your welding. Yes, the liner needs replacing after a while, but if you follow the steps properly and carefully, you will have increased the life of your liner and saved yourself some money each time.
A kinked liner needs to be replaced as soon as possible. A newly replaced liner would have a lifespan of 6 to 12 months if it doesn’t get clogged up again.
How Do I Know If My MIG Liner Is Bad?
If you’re having trouble with your MIG welder, it might be time to replace the liner. But how can you tell if the liner is the problem? There are a few signs of a bad liner:
First, check for any cracking or damage to the liner itself. If there is visible damage, it’s likely that replacing the liner will solve the problem.
Second, check to see if the wire feed is smooth and consistent. If the wire is jamming or skipping, that’s another sign that the liner needs to be replaced. Poor or erratic feed is an indicator that you should change the Mig welder liner.
Finally, listen for any strange noises coming from the welder. If you hear anything unusual, it’s a good idea to replace the liner. By keeping an eye out for these signs, you can ensure that your MIG welder is always in top condition.
One extra tip from me, see if you face any burnback on the gun’s contact tip.
If you see any such symptoms, please act soon.
Final words
So, there you have it. A few tips on how to clean your mig welder liner and keep your welding machine running in top condition. If you follow these simple steps, you’ll be able to weld with peace of mind, knowing that your equipment is free from dirt, dust, and other contaminants.
