My 'new' welding table and first welding project

[dragoneggs]

Thank you very much for your advice, Shield Arc & 4shorts! Much appreciated that you spend some time with a newbie hacker.

I now think my first mistake besides not fussing enough about tight fitment was using .030 wire instead of .023. Never thought of that. Live and learn. I tried speeding up/slowing down, faster feed, different anglesNow I want to run out and get a roll of the thinner wire for the next shelves to be built. I can see that this welding stuff is a practiced art and a long learning curve to master. But I have to say this MIG welding is fun!

 

[Arc weld]

.030 should be fine for 16 gauge. .023 is harder to feed and is used a lot for autobody that's only 22 gauge.

 

[dragoneggs]

.030 should be fine for 16 gauge. .023 is harder to feed and is used a lot for autobody that's only 22 gauge.

Well then... I have even more to learn (aka practice). :confused3:

 

[sixdogs]

One of the biggest problems with Mig welders is guys run them to cold. Cold lap is a big issue with Mig welders. Personally I'd rather see a little undercut than cold lap. At least with undercut you know you have penetration. With cold lap you have no idea how bad it is, because you can't see through the weld. Mig welders are notorious for cold lap welds...

....

I'm an advanced beginner but this is probably the most important thing I have learned. Guys run them too cold thinking they are dialing things in but the penetration isn't what it should be and the weld isn't what it should be either. Just my two cents and I'm a beginner.

Short of that, great find in the bin and good welding table. Mine came from setting my new steel welding plate on a rolling table I had while I thought things out. It looked so good I just left it there and for my occasional projects is just perfect.