Improving your welding?

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Improving your welding?

Welding...WeLding? I thought this was about weDdings, now I have to go back to post one and start reading all over again!

 

[timster2]

I welcome the opinions of the experienced! When I first tried MIG I used a 110 volt machine and soon gave up, did not like what I was seeing compared to my stick welds. Since that time long ago I picked up a Lincoln 180c. Here is one of my projects with the 180 http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/284176-bucket-hooks-reciever.html?highlight= I wouldn't mind if SA and AW and others took a look and gave me some pointers. Been welding since I was twelve or so but never hired as a weldor, however, many of my jobs did require welding skills.

 

[Shield Arc]

I wouldn't mind if SA and AW took a look and gave me some pointers.

timster2 some of them look cold. Now that could also be too slow of travel speed! You could either turn up the voltage, or turn down the wire speed just a touch. You need to fill the craters more before stopping. I try to never leave a crater on the end, I like to leave the craters in the middle of a run if I can. Remember with Mig on anything structural, you want to run as hot as you can handle it!
Other wise very nice job. :thumbsup:

 

[timster2]

timster2 some of them look cold. Now that could also be too slow of travel speed! You could either turn up the voltage, or turn down the wire speed just a touch. You need to fill the craters more before stopping. I try to never leave a crater on the end, I like to leave the craters in the middle of a run if I can. Remember with Mig on anything structural, you want to run as hot as you can handle it!
Other wise very nice job. :thumbsup:

The welder was set at max, I would suspect slow travel speed as I was going for max penetration. I realized leaving the craters at the end of the weld was not the best after I finished. Still revising my technique. Thanks for the once over :thumbsup:

 

[Shield Arc]

It must be to slow of travel speed. A couple of the welds look really good.:thumbsup:
I'm all for Mig, self shielded flux core, and dual shield. Majority of my welding was done with wire feed.
Here is a couple threads I did, Mig break test, and 7018 break test. The Mig results floored me!:shocked:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/212146-mig-break-test.html?highlight=
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/211904-7018-break-test.html?highlight=

 

[Happy Gilmore]

SA, what is the gauge you used in the above link?

 

[Arc weld]

SA, what is the gauge you used in the above link?

That's a fillet weld gauge. There's other types as well. You measure the size of the weld by the lines on it not the size of the curved cut out. The curve is bigger to allow it to fit over the weld and have clearance in case the weld is bigger than the desired size.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Ok, thank you Arc weld :thumbsup:

 

[newbury]

SA - When I go to beat some chips apart with a 5lb sledge what's a good number to stop at and give up?
10 blows, 20 blows? Or do you just beat it into submission?

 

[Shield Arc]

I'd beat on it until it breaks. Try to keep the same force / swing each time. Remember this isn't a very scientific test! It's actually to see the penetration of the weld, not the strength of the weld. If you put it in a shop press where you can accurately measure the pressure it takes to break the weld you would get better results.