Ugly beads, critics welcome...

[GManBart]

so this is the powerarc 160? why are you already getting a new welder?

I'm still using my Hobart Champion Elite welder/generator. Since some of the stuff I'm working on is fairly large, I decided to go with a PowerArc 200ST, and it's supposed to be here on Thursday. I can't wait!

 

[Shield Arc]

it's supposed to be here on Thursday. I can't wait!

When you get it. Plug it in, turn it on and let it idle for at least 2-hours before welding with it!

 

[GManBart]

When you get it. Plug it in, turn it on and let it idle for at least 2-hours before welding with it!

I saw that in another thread as well, so that's the plan...can't hurt!

 

[GManBart]

First attempt at a vertical up weld 7018 pad of beads. I ran two or three rods of single beads prior to starting this pad, so I really have no idea what I'm doing with this vertical stuff!

I started on the left, and worked my way to the right, cooling the plate in a bucket of water every third bead. I think I started out too cold, so for the last 6 or so beads I bumped up the heat about 10 amps, give or take. That seemed to help widen the bead a little bit and make it look more like it was flowing. I tried to keep a fairly level rod, with just a bit of push angle, and a slight back and forth movement with sort of a hesitation on each side, then faster across the center. My sense is I could have gone even a touch hotter, but I'll let you experts chime in. You can ignore to the right of the chalk...those were prior horizontal beads.

The good thing is my new PowerArc 200ST is supposed to be here tomorrow so I'll be able to better judge amperage settings going forward.

 

[Shield Arc]

Not bad at all! Personally I would forget pad welding vertical up hill. Go right into fillet welds, or lap joints. Running vertical up hill on a flat plate is hard for anybody to do!

 

[joefromga]

Do you start at the top and go down or bottom up? Also, what angle?

 

[GManBart]

Not bad at all! Personally I would forget pad welding vertical up hill. Go right into fillet welds, or lap joints. Running vertical up hill on a flat plate is hard for anybody to do!

Thanks! I watched one of the Welding Tips and Tricks videos and Jody suggested running a pad as something to try...figured it couldn't hurt. I'm going to try fillet or lap joints next for sure.

I'm guessing they'll instantly look just like your example :laughing:

 

[GManBart]

Do you start at the top and go down or bottom up? Also, what angle?

Start at the bottom and move upwards. There seems to be several schools of thought on it, but the one I used was to try having the rod level, and that usually means you really have it angled slightly upwards to help push the bead uphill.

The big difference I noted is that the rod gets in the way of seeing what the puddle is really doing, and the slag is running downhill, which makes it even harder to see. It also seemed like the arc length was more critical compared with horizontal. There were times when I just barely increased the arc length by accident (mostly not being smooth) and I could see the arc get really bright and start to dance around, which isn't good. Take all of this with a grain of salt...I'm just reporting what I'm seeing, and guessing at the causes

 

[Shield Arc]

I'm guessing they'll instantly look just like your example :laughing:

Well it should, I've only been welding a few weeks longer than you.
Some people do a timing method. They will hold on the side for a count of two or three. Then move to the other side, and hold there. That will only get you so far with vertical up hill welding. You have to learn how to read the puddle. I watch the side, and bottom of the puddle. The side of the puddle tells me how wide the puddle will be. The bottom of the puddle tells me how the puddle is flowing, and laying. If I don't like the way the puddle is laying, I change the rod angle a little bit. Until the puddle lays right. Problem is, as you climb up hill the rod angle has to change all the time. Most people forget to raise their shoulder as they move up hill.

 

[GManBart]

First four vertical up 1/8th 7018 fillet joints are in the books....this was #4. Some undercut, some slag that I didn't get off, and poor lighting (inside at night). I used the new PowerArc 200ST so I'm still figuring out amperage settings. This was at 78amps...seemed awfully low, but hotter than that and it seemed like it was really cutting deep.

Needless to say, this is going to take a lot of practice :shocked: