Mini gantry crane

[4570Man]

I added these teeth which are 1/4 steel welded to 3/8 steel. The bottom ones drag the concrete when you are closing it. They have been bent back at 45%. My mig weld held and I am not a pro welder. I am not arguing that a stick penetrates better. I think if I welded two pieces with my mig and the other one with 7018 the mig would be stronger because I am a way better mig welder than a stick. The big advantage to my stick is it handles oil, rust, and paint better. I also have 100 foot leads and I can weld in the parking lot without dragging the mig around the shop.

 

[Sodo]

I think if I welded two pieces with my mig and the other one with 7018 the mig would be stronger because I am a way better mig welder than a stick.

I've said that before, that a rookie with a MIG may produce a stronger weld than birdpoop with a stick. The stick penetrating more here and there may not help much. And the MIG is better looking. Incidentally those are FINE welds. If those are welded both sides there is no way they will break off, ever.

 

[4570Man]

I've said that before, that a rookie with a MIG may produce a stronger weld than birdpoop with a stick. The stick penetrating more here and there may not help much. And the MIG is better looking. Incidentally those are FINE welds. If those are welded both sides there is no way they will break off, ever.

Yes, they are welded both sides. I'm not a bird poop stick welder, but I can still do better with a mig. I agree that a half way decent mig weld is stronger than a bird crap stick weld. Here is what my stick welds look like.

 

[jack707]

Basically the penetration must be sufficient. With more or less penetration you need to choose the appropriate weld prep, or configuration of your weld joint.

To assert that more penetration is better, or inevitably produces a stronger stronger weld seems like a rookie thing to say/write. It's too simplistic, almost ridiculous sometimes. It probably shouldn't enter the conversation without the specific joint type or joint prep included.

Your right it depends on what type of joint. A 6010 rod gives more penetration so you would use that on a bucket on your tractor or 7018 NOT MIG! with hard wire. A lot of people like the mig because its easy to learn and do not as easy as tig or stick.

 

[Shield Arc]

I worked heavy civil / marine construction all my life. In the early 1980s Lincoln came out with the LN-22 wire feeders, then later the LN-25 wire feeders. I ran an LN-22 in Alaska in 90-MPH wind. I went for years never seeing a stick electrode on a job site. Wire feeders were / are a game changer in construction.

Here's some pictures of penetration!

 

[LD1]

you guys have NO IDEA WHAT they have on a construction site! all you know is book theory no real world experience!.

Hey LD I was not talking you you ? so go sit in the truck and don't touch the radio

So when did you decide to stop talking to me? If you want to be childish and choose that route, I cannot force you to reply. But rest assured, I AM talking to you. And will to continue to call out Ignorant statements until you either educate yourself, or quit posting ridiculous comments for some other reason.

Your right it depends on what type of joint. A 6010 rod gives more penetration so you would use that on a bucket on your tractor or 7018 NOT MIG! with hard wire. A lot of people like the mig because its easy to learn and do not as easy as tig or stick.

Another ignorant comment. What proceess do you think is used at the factory to weld buckets together? I have welded lots of implements and modified buckets with mig. Also built a splitter that has to handle ~18 tons of force. Welded them 1" thick wedge, 1" thick anchor block, and 1" thick pusher all with mig. I am glad I didnt stick weld it. Would have taken a lot longer.

I worked heavy civil / marine construction all my life. In the early 1980s Lincoln came out with the LN-22 wire feeders, then later the LN-25 wire feeders. I ran an LN-22 in Alaska in 90-MPH wind. I went for years never seeing a stick electrode on a job site. Wire feeders were / are a game changer in construction.

Here's some pictures of penetration!

Wondering where you have been. Thanks for giving some real world heavy construction experience.

 

[Shield Arc]

In the 1970s construction got slow here in the Puget Sound area. So I went to work in a Fab shop building nuclear waste tanks. These tanks were 8-feet in diameter, and 8-feet tall. Some of the tanks had 7-inches of lead in the wall, floor, and ceiling. All of the tanks had a 4" X 8" square stock rolled, and welded at the top of the tanks for lifting. The square stock had a 1 7/8" fillet weld top and bottom. For the first 2-years we ran 1/16" Mig wire. The last year I worked there we switched to dual shield.
The NRC required us to retest every 3-months. 1-inch thick V-butt plate side bends.

 

[sandman2234]

I listen to all this good (and some not so good) advise and fondly remember something my welding shop instructor told me when I tired of practicing with a tig welder, and wanted to go try out a mig...
"Get your butt back in that tig booth, I can teach a monkey to run a mig gun"
Still laugh about that when somebody asks me why I don't own a mig...
David from jax

 

[Sodo]

That is funny, and true! But that's no reason to avoid a MIG. The only reason to NOT own a MIG, is to NOT have enough projects for it. And I wouldn't wish that on anybody.:thumbsup:

 

[Shield Arc]

Years ago when there was a lot of manufacturing work going on in this country. They called Mig welders, idiot welders.:laughing: