Welding; K.I.S.S., plow repair

[KeithT]

The steel was 3/16". I noticed too, penetration did not look so great on the first weld in particular. I was in a hurry, sometimes I will turn it up one additional notch if the weld does not look like it it penetrating. I am not sure on the thickness of the bottom plate, did not think about that.

It is a 220V machine. I will see how it holds. Good point about rewelding if it breaks, more practice and fun.

 

[gerard]

Exactly! Nice set up you have there though. I'd love a 230 mig set up but my shop doesn't have a 230 circuit so I just use a 110 mig there and have a 230 AC buzz box in the garage. Stick doesn't lay as nice of a bead but you get some nice penetration on heavy stuff if you use 6011 rod. I don't use gas on my mig either but you DO get much cleaner welds with it. A great skill to have if you do much tractorin! Awful nice to be able to fix or modify things yourself

 

[ray66v]

I agree with Greard, looks like your getting cold starts, and you could use more heat.

It appears like your welds are penetrating better at the end, because the heat your generating, is preheating the steel.

This can be fixed by either adding more power, moving slower initially, or both.

If you get some scrap, and make the same weld, then put it in a vise and hit it until it breaks, you will see that the beginning part will break first, and it will break fairly clean off of the surface of the metal. The end part will hold on longer, and take some of the base metal with it when it breaks. That is what you want.

Hold the gun in the same spot initially, until you see the base metal melting.

Practice until the whole weld is getting good penetration into the base metal.

Also, sometimes, you need thicker wire to weld thick steel. And sometimes, you may even preheat thick steel a little, with a torch, to help eliminate cold starts.

 

[JB4310]

Nice looking welding set up, including sweet helmet
I don't think those welds will break but it does look like you need more heat and/or slower wire speed.
But never less, not bad for your 4th try, you'll only get better.

What percentage of argon are you using? The only reason I ask is the bottle looks like straight oxygen, around here the argon mixes are silver bottles.

JB.

 

[Ford850]

Love my Miller 180 auto set. i have only used it 4 times, I was looking forward to this all day.

Simply measure the thickness of metal, turn dial to correct thickness, turn on machine and gas, and weld it.

Auto-set... so easy, a caveman could do it.

 

[LD1]

It looks like you are running too much wire speed for the amperage you are set at. It is evident in the second pic of the welds. You have a big pile of weld with not a lot of penitration due to the weld building up too fast, ie wire too fast.

A good looking weld should be a flat 45* angle across to slightly concave. Never a rounded convex bead, which is a sign of lack of penitration.

Dont take this the wrong way. I admire the fact that you got a welder and want to learn to fix your own stuff, just a little constructive criticizm to give you something to practice towards. You'll be laying down very nice welds in no time with a little practice.

 

[KeithT]

Nice looking welding set up, including sweet helmet
I don't think those welds will break but it does look like you need more heat and/or slower wire speed.
But never less, not bad for your 4th try, you'll only get better.

What percentage of argon are you using? The only reason I ask is the bottle looks like straight oxygen, around here the argon mixes are silver bottles.

JB.

I believe it is 85%. I got it filled at amerigas where I got the welder. They madethe same comment there, at fist glance they thought it was on o2 tank. It does have an argon valve though.

 

[KeithT]

It looks like you are running too much wire speed for the amperage you are set at. It is evident in the second pic of the welds. You have a big pile of weld with not a lot of penitration due to the weld building up too fast, ie wire too fast.

A good looking weld should be a flat 45* angle across to slightly concave. Never a rounded convex bead, which is a sign of lack of penitration.

Dont take this the wrong way. I admire the fact that you got a welder and want to learn to fix your own stuff, just a little constructive criticizm to give you something to practice towards. You'll be laying down very nice welds in no time with a little practice.

Thanks. I will try adjusting the wire speed. One problem I run into is the weld builds too fast, and I move quicker to compensate which probably hinders penetration.

Some helpful suggestions. I'll try it.

 

[timswi]

Thanks. I will try adjusting the wire speed. One problem I run into is the weld builds too fast, and I move quicker to compensate which probably hinders penetration.

Some helpful suggestions. I'll try it.

Dude, for just starting out with that, I'd say you did very well. Seems odd, but slower wirespeed does a much better job of penetrating, although I have some bubble gum welds that are still in service from when I first got my mig (not calling your stuff bubble gum, by the way)...The argon is outstanding though eh?

I LOVE those Miller migs..great machine!!!!

FYI, make sure that is the appropriate tank for the argon/co2 mix. A guy at the local welding shop got killed filling the wrong type of bottle. I took mine back and asked about it...They gave me a new tank..No comments and no questions asked.

 

[doc1112]

nice beads, i would make one suggestion, that i dont do often but next time you may wanna grind the area a little bit just to get rid of the paint and rust, and it strengthens the weld....im also a welder, soo pretty good welds