Ugly beads, critics welcome...

[Lowery]

Hey GManBart! I am a nuclear welder, have been for 10 years, and got another 10 years of "hard money" welding before that and also went to college for welding. The beads aren't bad. From the look of it, you were too fast and too cold. See how the beads have kind of a <<<<< shape to them? That is a sign of too fast. They should be more rounded like ((((((((((. Instead of pointing your rod back at about a 5 degree angle, keep it straight up and down or slightly forward. It'll make the bead more flat. Pointing back will make the bead crown up more. 1/8" 7018, I found, runs good on about 120 amps for general welding. Try some 3/32" 7018's. A lot more forgiving. Try them on about 90 amps with the fine or "dig" turned all the way down.With the dig off, it will be a more "buttery" weld. The dig jets the weld in deeper.1/8" and 5/32 rods take practice. You have to run a lot more heat and your melting and depositing a lot of metal at the same time. not much room for error. The 3/32 rods will be easier on you.

 

[Harry Palmer]

Excellent articles on welding. I'm learning to weld, but very slowly. I haven't done my homework like GManBart, but I will start working on doing the flat plat work. I've learned a lot just by reading the various comments and seeing the work of ShielArc and others. My neighbor helps when he can, but he is always busy so I try not to bother him too much (he keeps shooting the squirrels which came from under my wooden shed (Thanks, neighbor). I used a clip of ammo but was missing by several feet (or more) but he uses a .22 pistol and gets them everytime. For others who are beginners like me, you might read a book by Todd Bridigum titled "How To Weld (Motorbooks Workshop). It talks about equipment and a lot of the exercises discussed in this thread. I've found reading the books helps, but actually doing the work gives better experience. Seeing the pictures and comments by those of you who are very experienced really does help. Kudos to ALL of you. :tractor: :drink:

 

[Shield Arc]

GManBart have you had any time to play with the new PowerArc 200ST?

 

[GManBart]

GManBart have you had any time to play with the new PowerArc 200ST?

Hey SA,

Sorry for the delay...I've been busy lately, but have done some welding with the PowerArc 200ST. So far, I'm very impressed with it. The last couple of pictures have been with the 200ST.

The other day I welded up a makeshift front counterweight for my Massey (only about 100lbs) and did some triple pass fillet welds where I attached the 3/8" angle for hangers and they turned out really nice. I already painted them, but I'll see if a pic would work.

The thing I've noticed about the 200ST is that the arc is really smooth, and I'm able to get a really nice sizzling sound when I dial in the amperage....which leads to slag popping off easily. I'm sure some of that is being better able to dial in the amperage as needed, but still I think the arc is superior to my Hobart. I hope that some of that is also improving technique, but if it's all the machine I'm still happy!

I've been moving dirt and doing landscaping because it finally dried out here, but i have a few small welding projects coming up soon. I put my last welding project to work (the dozer screen) for the first time over the weekend :drink:

 

[Shield Arc]

I own some of the best welding machines ever made! For the cost of these Everlast welding machines, they are very impressive! Very smooth arc!:cool2:

 

[GManBart]

I posted a few pics over on my thread about my new to me Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC and wanted to get this thread back to current. SA mentioned vertical up with 7018, so I ran a quick bead with the Miller, but had some undercut. I had a few minutes for take 2 today....still not great, and a bit wonky at the start, but no undercut

 

[Arc weld]

Looks pretty good!

 

[GManBart]

Looks pretty good!

Thanks! More than anything I need to take the time to cut scrap into pieces I can work with so that when I have a few minutes I can run some beads. I never thought that would be a limiting factor! :laughing:

 

[Shield Arc]

That looks really good!:thumbsup::thumbsup: I've worked with professional welders who can't do vertical up that nice!

 

[GManBart]

That looks really good!:thumbsup::thumbsup: I've worked with professional welders who can't do vertical up that nice!

You guys have been incredibly helpful so I can't take much credit! I will say that welding a little bit at a time gives me a chance to think about what worked, or didn't, each time and it keeps me from getting frustrated. Right now I'm just wishing I had more time to practice!