Another weld critique thread :)

[B33fy]

Just starting out trying to weld, using an ESAB Caddy 200 set at 2mm, Amps approx 90, wire speed 6m/m gas 8l/m 40mm square box 2mm thick. I tacked the corners then did the fillets then the butt welds. corners messy probably due to the oversize tacks. Struggling with welding speed/penetration (I think..) All feedback greatfully received

 

[Windy Miller]

No picture!

 

[B33fy]

Its there now...

 

[BrokenBiker]

they don't look too bad. you are right about the speed though, its not consistent by the looks of it. this will come with time. I usually look more at how wide the puddle is becoming more than anything else than move at a speed that lets it stay the same width all the way down the weld

 

[Windy Miller]

A pretty good start by the looks of it. Echo the comments about the speed, but certainly not the worst I've ever seen by a long shot!

Whereabouts in Kent are you?

 

[doubleboost]

They will not fall apart
May be a bit fast on the fillet weld and a bit slow on the butt weld
Practice makes perfect

 

[lshigham]

Consistency is key, it's not far off just a little inconsistent

 

[B33fy]

A pretty good start by the looks of it. Echo the comments about the speed, but certainly not the worst I've ever seen by a long shot!

Whereabouts in Kent are you?

Thanks all, more practice tomorrow. I'm in West Kent, Maidstone area

 

[Windy Miller]

Thanks all, more practice tomorrow. I'm in West Kent, Maidstone area

Not a million miles from me then - I'm near Rochester

 

[norlander]

were you pushing or pulling the torch? I'm just getting back to mig (gasless) but had a quick play with a disposable gas can on the same material-pushing torch. The tube is bashed about due to me testing the weld afterwards btw.
Gys Smartmig 162: can't give you settings as the Gys has a chart and switch system, and I have no gauges on the dispo set up, reckon your welds will hold though-give the test piece a belting to see.You can neaten up by tacking, welding a run on a clean side then grinding off the tack on the next run -don't grind all the tacks off at the same time though or the piece might pull out of square as its welded.

 

[B33fy]

Welds look great I was pushing the torch find it easier to see what I'm doing.

 

[Badger1bear]

practice practice practice, it will come to you

your not far from me im in tunbridge wells

 

[Jan]

If I understand this arcane art correctly the trick to the push Vs pull question (apart from the obligatory sacrificing of an occasional virgin to the Horned One) is the angle of the torch tip. If it's 900 to the puddle there's little to choose. However if you stray significantly away from perpendicular it's far better to pull the weld so that the shielding gas flows over the molten metal for longer allowing it to solidify before being exposed to the atmosphere.

 

[B33fy]

A bit more welding practice tonight, with new spectacles and chamfered edges. Still awaiting a new helmet, but not sure it'll make that much difference

 

[Jan]

I can only impart one tip for that type of weld: Try to start & finish somewhere along the sides so that you don't leave a weak point at the corners. That's where the main stresses will be concentrated occasionally resulting in stress fractures that can migrate along the weld.

 

[backpurge]

If I understand this arcane art correctly the trick to the push Vs pull question (apart from the obligatory sacrificing of an occasional virgin to the Horned One) is the angle of the torch tip. If it's 900 to the puddle there's little to choose. However if you stray significantly away from perpendicular it's far better to pull the weld so that the shielding gas flows over the molten metal for longer allowing it to solidify before being exposed to the atmosphere.

You want be pushing it not pulling

 

[gaz1]

try having a look at these may help you

extra info on welding

square tubing

[flash(425,350)]

thin steel
[flash(425,350)]

[flash(425,350)]

[flash(425,350)]

take note of this one

[flash(425,350)]

flux core

[flash(425,350)]http://www.youtube.com/v/KzSNpsLT40Q[/flash]

for thin stuff

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/lap-joint-3mm-on-8mm.44630/#post-494457

 

[B33fy]

Thanks for the video clips, helpful. Some more practice below:

Same piece from different angles below.

Hoping its good enough to start welding my chassis for my project.

 

[Jan]

Regardless of the push/pull debate you should still practice starting and ending each weld like that somewhere along the sides as corners are high stress points and a stop/start there can leave some pre-stress due to heating/cooling/reheating of the parent metal.

 

[B33fy]

Thanks Jan the video clips seem to suggest otherwise and to do opposite sides to minimise distortion, others have advised me to do the samewhat do others think on this?