Ugly beads, critics welcome...

[Cord]

Back when I was taking a class in high skool, we had a rig where we'd bend our welds. It was interesting because you'd have the perfect looking weld, but it would crack when bent. The test piece was two 1/4x2" bars with a butt weld. You'd put the weld, facing up over a bottle jack that had two rollers a couple of inches apart. You work the jack and it would bend the bar into a U between the rollers. I referred to it as the "torture rack".

 

[Shield Arc]

We use to call them the heart break machine. :laughing:

 

[jack707]

Polished those up nice

 

[GManBart]

Back when I was taking a class in high skool, we had a rig where we'd bend our welds. It was interesting because you'd have the perfect looking weld, but it would crack when bent. The test piece was two 1/4x2" bars with a butt weld. You'd put the weld, facing up over a bottle jack that had two rollers a couple of inches apart. You work the jack and it would bend the bar into a U between the rollers. I referred to it as the "torture rack".

I'm going to buy or build a shop press, and plan to do some torture testing of my own!

 

[GManBart]

Polished those up nice

Thanks! That was with about 15 minutes more practice, but I was able to stop by the steel supply place and buy 65lbs of drops (only $10) yesterday, so I can get back to practicing soon!

 

[Shield Arc]

I'm going to buy or build a shop press, and plan to do some torture testing of my own!

If you want to build a coupon bender, here is a print.

 

[GManBart]

So, I'm finally reasonably comfortable with vertical up, and decided it was time to work on overhead welding with 7018.

I read a short description by Jody at Welding Tips and Tricks and jumped right into it. I spent about half an hour and the pic below was my last, and best, bead. I played around with the heat a bit and felt okay with that, but really need practice getting into a comfortable, stable position. Lots of work needed, but I think this would stick together reasonably well.

 

[Shield Arc]

Not bad at all!:thumbsup: What you need to work on with over head. Take a flat plate and pad weld it. Go left to right. Right to left. Weld towards you, And weld away from you.
Welding away from you is a little hard to do, because the puddle blocks your view. So you really have to pay attention to your travel speed.

 

[k0ua]

So, I'm finally reasonably comfortable with vertical up, and decided it was time to work on overhead welding with 7018.

I read a short description by Jody at Welding Tips and Tricks and jumped right into it. I spent about half an hour and the pic below was my last, and best, bead. I played around with the heat a bit and felt okay with that, but really need practice getting into a comfortable, stable position. Lots of work needed, but I think this would stick together reasonably well.

I would be very proud of that.

 

[4570Man]

That's overhead? I wouldn't be ashamed of that even if it was in ideal conditions.