Improving your welding?

[muddstopper]

SoDo, I am going to throw you a bone so you have something to chew on. The maufacturers reccommend up to 3/16 thick metal when using a 110v machine. there is a reason for this. It takes AMPS to weld thick steel. 110V machines cant generate enought amps to weld thicker metal. Now you keep asking for tips on how to weld thick metal with a 110v machine so I will throw you the only ones I can think of. 1. you can weld thicker than 3/16 if you are able to run a weld bead on both sides of the metal, that should enable you to weld 3/8 thick metal. 2. you can preheat the metal, using a torch to get the metal hot before trying to weld. I might also add a #3, you can Vee the joint, making the butt thinner than 3/16 and make multiple passes. I dont really subscribe to the theory that making multiple passes without a vee will create a strong weld. It will give you a wider bead, but strike the welded piece with a hammer on the opposite side from the weld and it will break off.

 

[Shield Arc]

muddstopper there is a whole lot that can be done with gas mixes too.

 

[Cherokee140]

Cherokee140 you are more than welcome to PM me. Maybe we can exchange email addresses so we can send each other pictures. I have a whole bag of tricks that may be able to help you.

PM sent:

The only thing I have really ever welded is on my different cars, and that was the only thing I bought the welder for. Years ago they told me that was all I would ever need if that was all I was going to do....weld in patch panels, my own or store bought.

Then the kid was mowing with the brush hog....17 and there is only 1 speed....FAST. I think he hit a tree with the brush hog and broke one of the arms. Nice clean crisp break. I tried to bevel and weld no luck. Then I basically boxed it in and that worked so far....ugly as all get out, but it is holding, but I am wondering if there was a better way. That was the first time I really had issues in the 16 years I have had the welder. I had even done weld in motor mounts and they are still holding up fine....the brush hog really got me wondering....I thought I knew a little about what I was doing.

 

[muddstopper]

muddstopper there is a whole lot that can be done with gas mixes too.

Yea, but not everybody keeps a bottle of helium around. Altho I know of several that like to use plain CO2 instead of the argon/Co2 mixes

 

[Shield Arc]

Yea, but not everybody keeps a bottle of helium around.

Helium?! :confused3:

 

[muddstopper]

Trimix, more commonly used for stainless but can be used for mig mild steel when a little more heat is needed. Actually, I have only read about using the trimix for mild steel, never seen any being used for it.

 

[FredH]

I enjoy reading S.A.'s and Arcwelds comments , posting , experiences and thoughts . While I myself don't ask many questions , I do glean knowledge from what others have asked and " Try " to apply it to things I do . Key word there is TRY !! I myself , would not even consider myself a Hack when I started mig welding a few years back . But through their replies to others , I " Think " I have improved . Others I also like to follow are Mark from Everlast , ( No I don't own any of their products ) and Gary Fowler , as they to provide Great information .

I have never seen any of them " Talk Down " to members , Rather to me They have tried to Assist people . For example , Some one may ask about buying a welder and are looking at a 110/120 volt mig welder with the idea of welding them up a home built trailer to pull down the road . I see them having a issue with that for safety reasons as I would to . No experience welding and using a welder with limited capabilities = likely a failure situation .

Although I don't have the posting numbers that many do , Been a Member to this Board for quite some time , thus am no Johnny come lately .

For Me , S.A. , Arc , Gary , Mark , Keep Doing what You Guys do here at this board I enjoy reading your posts and try to learn from them as much as I can :thumbsup:

Fred H.

 

[pmsmechanic]

For Me , S.A. , Arc , Gary , Mark , Keep Doing what You Guys do here at this board I enjoy reading your posts and try to learn from them as much as I can :thumbsup:

I am with you on that. I'm fairly new here and don't have a lot of history with this forum but I enjoy what I can learn. Every once in a while when someone gets a bit growly with their posts I just tell myself that it's just that time of the month for them and . Man even I can get growly.

I have kind of a raw, dry sense of humour so I named my business "Peter's Mechanical Services" or PMS for short. I'm sure most know what those initials stand for in life so I don't need go there. And then I like to add one more and some guys can get this real bad. Poor Me Syndrome. There three different meanings for the initials pms. Have a good day guys.

 

[pmsmechanic]

For Me , S.A. , Arc , Gary , Mark , Keep Doing what You Guys do here at this board I enjoy reading your posts and try to learn from them as much as I can :thumbsup:

I am with you on that. I'm fairly new here and don't have a lot of history with this forum but I enjoy what I can learn. Every once in a while when someone gets a bit growly with their posts I just tell myself that it's just that time of the month for them and . Man even I can get growly.

I have kind of a raw, dry sense of humour so I named my business "Peter's Mechanical Services" or PMS for short. I'm sure most know what those initials stand for in life so I don't need go there. And then I like to add one more and some guys can get this real bad. Poor Me Syndrome. There, three different meanings for the initials pms. Have a good day guys.

 

[amberg]

I enjoy reading S.A.'s and Arcwelds comments , posting , experiences and thoughts . While I myself don't ask many questions , I do glean knowledge from what others have asked and " Try " to apply it to things I do . Key word there is TRY !! I myself , would not even consider myself a Hack when I started mig welding a few years back . But through their replies to others , I " Think " I have improved . Others I also like to follow are Mark from Everlast , ( No I don't own any of their products ) and Gary Fowler , as they to provide Great information .

I have never seen any of them " Talk Down " to members , Rather to me They have tried to Assist people . For example , Some one may ask about buying a welder and are looking at a 110/120 volt mig welder with the idea of welding them up a home built trailer to pull down the road . I see them having a issue with that for safety reasons as I would to . No experience welding and using a welder with limited capabilities = likely a failure situation .

Although I don't have the posting numbers that many do , Been a Member to this Board for quite some time , thus am no Johnny come lately .

For Me , S.A. , Arc , Gary , Mark , Keep Doing what You Guys do here at this board I enjoy reading your posts and try to learn from them as much as I can :thumbsup:

Fred H.

same here FredH