Newbie question on setting........

[NOTV8]

Probably dumb question... what will you set your welder if you have two different size metal welding on "T"? Let's say 3/16 angle and 5/16 plate or 1/8 to 1/4. Should you do it for the thinner one or it does not matter? I did on the thicker one but just wondering if I should have than it the opposite. This 252 makes me a natural welder :drink:
Here's the pic...

 

[Inkomodius]

Set the setting for the thicker material generally ( use your discretion) and keep most of the heat on the thicker material. Because the puddle will want to go where the heat is, the thinner material will heat up more because the thicker material has more material to act as a heat sink. Welding 1/8 to 1/4 isnt bad you can just weld it similar to 2 pieces of 1/4" and travel a little faster. It is when you get into really dissimilar sizes that this becomes more of an issue, like when you start welding 1/4" brackets on 1.5" plate.

Looking good!!:thumbsup:

 

[Shield Arc]

Either with Mig / wire feed or stick if I have to weld material that are so different in thickness I run a "J" motion. Running the long side of the "J" on the thicker material.

 

[gauthier]

I never set the heat for the thickness of what I'm welding,I set it for what size wire or rod[electrode] I'm using...postion has something to do with it too[gravity],,,,course I never have went into welding something saying I was going to weld it in one pass either.

Rule of thumb is you weld to the thinner[as to fillit size] if your welding 1/8 inch thick stuff to 1/2 inch thick stuff,you don't need a 1/2 inch fillit.

 

[ptexer]

Preheating the thicker metal may help you also. If it is real important always do a practice on scrap first.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I second what Gauthier says. You generally set your machine to the wire or rod that you are using so that you get a stable arc. Then you concentrate the most heat toward the thicker section. You may have to run somewhat colder that optimal on really thin sections, but on 1/8" material to any other thicker section, you should be able to weld it without any burn thru by setting the machine to burn the rod or wire. Only on really thin sections do you have to adjust the machine to run cold and then only if you have too large diameter of rod or wire. That is why they make so many different sizes. You may not have the correct size rod available, therefore, some machine adjustment may be called for on a one of instance. If you have a lot of welding to do with thin sections, it may be justifiable to by smaller diameter wire or electrode.

 

[LD1]

I never set the heat for the thickness of what I'm welding,I set it for what size wire or rod[electrode] I'm using...postion has something to do with it too[gravity],,,,course I never have went into welding something saying I was going to weld it in one pass either.

Rule of thumb is you weld to the thinner[as to fillit size] if your welding 1/8 inch thick stuff to 1/2 inch thick stuff,you don't need a 1/2 inch fillit.

I second what Gauthier says. You generally set your machine to the wire or rod that you are using so that you get a stable arc. Then you concentrate the most heat toward the thicker section. You may have to run somewhat colder that optimal on really thin sections, but on 1/8" material to any other thicker section, you should be able to weld it without any burn thru by setting the machine to burn the rod or wire. Only on really thin sections do you have to adjust the machine to run cold and then only if you have too large diameter of rod or wire. That is why they make so many different sizes. You may not have the correct size rod available, therefore, some machine adjustment may be called for on a one of instance. If you have a lot of welding to do with thin sections, it may be justifiable to by smaller diameter wire or electrode.

I know the post is old, but I agree with these two.

I never set the welder to the thicker material. It just doesnt make sense. But I am no professional either.

What the op is talking about isnt much difference. But lets say you are wanting to weld a peice of 14 or 16 guage to a 1" thick plate.

Are you going to use a setting for 1" material??? If you are, WHY??? What is the point of having that much penetration into the 1" thick plate when you are only trying to stick a peice of sheet metal to it?? It will do you no good at all.