Welding Rods for beginners

[square1]

I can't count the number of welds I did that seemed pretty nice but I missed the seam totally. Big puddles are my friend.

LOL, so it's NOT just me!

 

[daugen]

one of the areas that still needs some attention is the bottom right corner, where the two square holes are. There is an attachment/option that plugs into those two plastic grommeted holes. Maybe a flag or corner indicator like big trucks have up on their front?? Two prongs push in from the front and hold it in. Need to look at the parts diagram and see what goes there. Otherwise it looks pretty unfinished. I had no desire to try to cut square holes in metal. Round ones are in my pay grade... Little hold down clip goes in those holes, will cover top part but bottom probably could use a little piece of metal.

Going to likely give it a rest today, will start again tomorrow early and first make a bigger patch. The more I looked at that little square patch the more I had visions of one side disappearing when I welded it on to the deck. Bigger patch is uglier but...

 

[daugen]

I keep finding more things in those pictures to "educate" me. Like making sure paper towels aren't lying underfoot to catch sparks and
scare the heck out of me. And certainly a need to have an non flammable work surface. I thought these welding blankets worked a lot
better than they do. Having worn a fire company approach suit once in training, for sure the blankets are not made by the same company..
But it truly gets into the what do you expect for thirty bucks, much less ten bucks for a HF blanket. Maybe less...I guess they expect you to layer six of them on top of each other... however my bad for having plywood under there.

This mower deck is way too big for my folding welding table which of course is all metal and I had to elevate it to work on. Very bad arthritis with fused neck, recent neck operation, not too flexible shall we say so had to get the work surface up to where I could work on it.
I should search welding tables on this site and bet a lot of you have something pretty neat and much larger. I needed metal beams...I could always wrap the two by fours in Reynolds Wrap...though that would melt from a nice slobbering blob that I seemed to develop.

 

[daugen]

The idea just came to me to put the deck on the forks of my FEL and raise it up to any height I wanted. Hmmmm.

 

[lilranch2001]

Be careful....
Welding on equipment can cause all kinds of issues, between burning electrical and arcing across bearings

 

[k0ua]

Be careful....
Welding on equipment can cause all kinds of issues, between burning electrical and arcing across bearings

There won't be any problem with him welding the bush hog with it being held up by his forks. Just put the ground clamp near the weldment area. No current will flow into his tractor.

 

[daugen]

thanks, hadn't thought of that. My L has more than a few electronic circuits, sure don't want to fry them.
This is a 40" wing finish mower that gets dragged alongside a Gravely garden tractor that is either a 50 or a 60 deck.
102 heat index out and climbing, sat in front a fan in the barn and looked at the mower deck while the fan air felt warm not cold
and easily came to the conclusion another day. We have nice dry weather coming up; look forward to continue finish this welding.
I have a piece for the front and then that square patch. And then I turn it upside down; that's where I thought the tractor forks might
come in handy. Plus I have the big mower frame, a separate piece, to weld/fix.
Job security :thumbsup:

 

[dragoneggs]

Oh, man ... I'll definitely remember that one, Terry. :thumbsup:

Me too... not sure it will pass the savvy eyes here but worth a try. :laughing:

The idea just came to me to put the deck on the forks of my FEL and raise it up to any height I wanted. Hmmmm.

I have done this several times now... a new big steel table that I restored, a rack for my wife's greenhouse, and cutting down a 6ft back blade to size for my BX. Sure beats working on the garage floor with old knees and lousy pads!

 

[daugen]

I finally had to lay down a bead I couldn't grind off, and it didn't do too badly.
Hard to see, far corner of deck internal shrouding had rusted into almost nothing; I just so happened to have
a piece of metal cut that fit in just perfectly. Scraped the surface junk and crud out, air blasted it, and
then did fine with a 7014 1/4 at 90 amps.
Not sure why, likely the speed I go (like a bad golf swing which I don't know how to play) seems to make the larger rod at 90 amps go
a lot easier than the 3/16 at 75 amps. Seemed to have less burn through problems, was putting down more material quickly enough.

Filling holes is sure hard. Plus the material often still has a hole in it after I've ground it. Likely why most folks just weld and don't grind...

Saved the best for last. Heavy metal to heavy metal. Two thick pieces need to get welded, then I'm done welding on this deck. Have to buttress one piece with angle iron; on both decks the wheel support either ripped out there or was repaired previously by welding so it seems that the factory did not make the wheel mount strong enough. Plus wing mowers tend to run into things...
Well, it will be strong when I'm done. More pics to come.

 

[LD1]

I finally had to lay down a bead I couldn't grind off, and it didn't do too badly.
Hard to see, far corner of deck internal shrouding had rusted into almost nothing; I just so happened to have
a piece of metal cut that fit in just perfectly. Scraped the surface junk and crud out, air blasted it, and
then did fine with a 7014 1/4 at 90 amps.
Not sure why, likely the speed I go (like a bad golf swing which I don't know how to play) seems to make the larger rod at 90 amps go
a lot easier than the 3/16 at 75 amps. Seemed to have less burn through problems, was putting down more material quickly enough.

Filling holes is sure hard. Plus the material often still has a hole in it after I've ground it. Likely why most folks just weld and don't grind...

Saved the best for last. Heavy metal to heavy metal. Two thick pieces need to get welded, then I'm done welding on this deck. Have to buttress one piece with angle iron; on both decks the wheel support either ripped out there or was repaired previously by welding so it seems that the factory did not make the wheel mount strong enough. Plus wing mowers tend to run into things...
Well, it will be strong when I'm done. More pics to come.

1/4" rod @ 90A on sheetmetal:confused2: