Underdog57
Veteran Member
I trust the experts, nothing beats experience, and getting free lessons from some great teachers is priceless. I also like seeing everyones projects no matter how they did it, such great ideas here!! 
Improving your welding?
- Thread starter Arc weld
- Start date
- Views: 42633
dragoneggs
Super Star Member
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- Jun 9, 2013
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- 13,627
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- Seabeck, Washington
- Tractor
- Kubota BX-25D, Kubota Z122RKW-42
Hey Arc, with all due respect I am not sure I understand the intent of your post. Why do I have to choose? To me the answer is obvious and it isn't just one or the other of your two stated options.
FTG-05
Elite Member
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- TN
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- Kubota L4330 GST w/FEL, Kubota RTV-XG850, Kubota ZD326S
Gee, let me think about this question:
- Should I listen to the hack/hobbiest who declares that his 120 VAC welded ATV welds "are solid"
OR
- the guy that gets paid to weld structures that if they fail will a) kill at least a couple people since they are lifting multi-tons on his welds alone or b) possibly hundreds if not thousands of people if his welds fail on a structure containing high level nuclear waste.
Hmmmm, I'm gonna have to get back to you on that.
NOT!
- Should I listen to the hack/hobbiest who declares that his 120 VAC welded ATV welds "are solid"
OR
- the guy that gets paid to weld structures that if they fail will a) kill at least a couple people since they are lifting multi-tons on his welds alone or b) possibly hundreds if not thousands of people if his welds fail on a structure containing high level nuclear waste.
Hmmmm, I'm gonna have to get back to you on that.
NOT!
This post seems to me the as the author needs some positive reinforcement. Seriously what kind of question is that?There seems to be a debate going on so I thought I would ask what the members on here think. This will help me decide if I can offer any help or not. Would you prefer advice from experienced professionals who weld(ed) for a living or would you prefer advice from people who are hobbyists with no formal training? Doesn't matter to me one way or the other but since this is member forum, I'd like see what the members prefer.
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Walkin Horse
Platinum Member
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- Sep 6, 2011
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- Chesterfield Va
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- Shibuara Ford New Holland 555D NH Workmaster 55
It's a wonder the OP can get his head in a hardhat. I have been welding for 35 years. I'm a level 1 cwi. I run the pipe fab shop for a large mechanical contractor. There's times when guys come in to test that I really have a hard time shooting their welds down. I can't see inside it so I send it to the guy that has the ultimate sayso. Let him turn it down after he bends it or X-rays. So how could one guys advice on the internet be so good or right without shining a lite on it or sticking a mirror on it or running his fingernails around it to feel the undercut. I guess because somebody on the internet said its so. So believe it.
Reference these statements......................
The question in post 1 of this thread, I believe, was asked as a result of many threads that have been going for the last 2+ weeks.
Taking the question out of context of those other threads does tend to mislead the readers of the first post in this thread unless they are aware of all that has been going on.
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I don't know if this was directed at me or not?
Shield Arc, myself and others have been saying all along that you can't always judge a welds quality just by visual inspection, especially with MIG and even more so with a 120 volt MIG on 3/16" and 1/4" plate. We've done test plates/pipes to get certified and some "hobby welder"(his words) comes along saying test plates aren't real world welding and a waste of time for hobby welders. He can offer better advice because he has to design and build all his projects and us "pro"(his words again) welders have all the designing, engineering and fitting done for us so all we have to do is weld.You have a lot of experience Walking Horse. What would your advice be for someone wanted to get set up to do their own welding on a variety projects and repairs? Would you recommend a 120 volt MIG for 3/16" and 1/4" material? Would you trust someone that says, "My welds look good therefore they must be good"?
I had a picky inspector one time that made me run another pass on a 3/4" fillet weld, on a slip-on flange, because he said there was undercut. I took my fingernail and flicked it right off... it was mill scale on the pipe but I still had to run a small pass with 1/8" to satisfy him. People on here don't have to be that picky but I think should be made aware that pushing the limits of a small machine or trusting the "look" of a weld may not produce the desired weld quality/strength. If members here don't want to hear this, we don't really need to respond. I guess I'm asking if the members on here want to know this? :confused3:
Dragoneggs is right! No one has to choose and take one side against the other. That is just causing division on here.
Everyone has the right to post. Even ones you disagree with have a right to post their pictures and say what they like about their own projects, without your rapping them on the knuckles, telling them they need to better themselves.
As far as you saying "there's lots of other places we can hang out". That's true and several on here are also members of other welding boards, and give good advice on here. This is a welding forum on a "tractor" website where most everything is tied into the ownership of tractors and everything related to tractors. So it's not a 100% welding website, like Hobart, Miller, Welding Web, AWS, etc.
As far as I know, the only other forum that I've seen your posts on is another tractor forum website that doesn't have a welding forum. But every time someone posts a question about welding on their "Tools" forum, you jump on it like a duck on a June Bug. Sometimes you're helpful and sometimes you're rude. I've seen you make people mad by telling them the same things you say here about their AC machines. Or answering their questions in a condescending way.
Telling them their AC welding machines are only good for door stops or boat anchors, and only belong in the scrap bin is disrespectful and UN-professional. Some people on these forums don't have much money to spend on welding machines, so what they have may be all they can afford.
You have a lot of knowledge and can be very helpful and it is appreciated. There are other welding pro's on this site that are very respectful and by their advice, they are invaluable to this forum. The non-pro's and hobbyists also have and can give good down to earth advice with hands on experience.
Now, lets all join hands and sing. :laughing:
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