Here's mine

[sapperb]

When i first saw my buddy welding, he made it look easy. He is an off Road fabricator. So i bought my own welder and found out really fast how hard it really is. I recently upgrade to gas and i believe I am getting the hang of it, but i know I need more practice, practice and more practice.

 

[volition82]

Looking good, looks like your weaving slightly which you don't need to do on fillet weld like that. Also your starts are a little off line, what type of helmet are you using? If your using a standard one and pulling it down try leaving it up around 45% and nodding it down with a flick of the head that will help with the starting position.

 

[Sparkey]

Hehe...that's not weaving slightly!
But it looks good, and you sure are getting the hang of it!
Like Dave says get rid of the weave for now, you can always try that out later!
I'm sure if you don't weave the welds will be straighter too, make sure you're in a comfy position, use your left hand too guide the torch (or right hand if you're a lefty) and it will work a treat...

 

[CTB]

Your tip seems to be prodruding about 2mm past the end of the shroud. Is there any reason for that? The reason I ask is that mine is buried about 3mm behind the shroud. Have you cut off the end of your shroud and if so for what reason?

 

[JayRS4]

Looks from the bead like your pulling instead of pushing. Theres a lot of spatter all over the place too, i`m guessing not just from that weld, but if your using that bench often it might help to clean it off (hammer and chisel job) to get a better/more consistant earth. I`ve heard (although never used them myself) that those magnets can cause problems when welding, try taking each end to hold the pieces instead of using the magnet.


When alls said and done, the actual weld doesnt look too bad. Certainly very good if its an early one.


Is that bench your using ali?

 

[bigbadbugga]

Your tip seems to be prodruding about 2mm past the end of the shroud. Is there any reason for that? The reason I ask is that mine is buried about 3mm behind the shroud. Have you cut off the end of your shroud and if so for what reason?

It helps when getting into tight corners like the situation above to have the tip protrude from the shroud like that.

You can just cut an old shroud back and keep it for just for tight spots. You may need to turn the flow up on the gas a little to compensate for the slight loss of sheilding that might occur from the shroud being further back.

 

[Sparkey]

Your tip seems to be prodruding about 2mm past the end of the shroud. Is there any reason for that? The reason I ask is that mine is buried about 3mm behind the shroud. Have you cut off the end of your shroud and if so for what reason?

nicely spotted! i didn't see it yet!

For getting into small spaces you can also use a tapered shroud or simply weld with a bit more stick out....please mind that your contact tip is much more vulnerable like this!

 

[sapperb]

Looking good, looks like your weaving slightly which you don't need to do on fillet weld like that. Also your starts are a little off line, what type of helmet are you using? If your using a standard one and pulling it down try leaving it up around 45% and nodding it down with a flick of the head that will help with the starting position.

Thanks so much for the response. Ya agree it looks weavy. I came off of a long day at work, really tired and thought i would fire up the welder, probably a bad idea. But I do need to steady my hand more and stay on line. I am hyper by nature, so i need to slow down a bit.

 

[sapperb]

Your tip seems to be prodruding about 2mm past the end of the shroud. Is there any reason for that? The reason I ask is that mine is buried about 3mm behind the shroud. Have you cut off the end of your shroud and if so for what reason?

Ya my buddy said trim the shroud back, but i think I trimmed it too much. You guys are correct. I make off road bumpers and there are tight spots to get into. i was doing great with flux core because all you have is the tips, but very dirty, then when I started to learn with gas, i am like holy cow how can i get this big a$$ thing into tight spots.

 

[sapperb]

nicely spotted! i didn't see it yet!

For getting into small spaces you can also use a tapered shroud or simply weld with a bit more stick out....please mind that your contact tip is much more vulnerable like this!

YUP, I agree fully. The table i am using has left over flux core splatter on it, that is why there is splatter all over. I will fire it up tonight with a regular shroud on it and see what happens. Stay tuned for pics.

 

[sapperb]

Looks from the bead like your pulling instead of pushing. Theres a lot of spatter all over the place too, i`m guessing not just from that weld, but if your using that bench often it might help to clean it off (hammer and chisel job) to get a better/more consistant earth. I`ve heard (although never used them myself) that those magnets can cause problems when welding, try taking each end to hold the pieces instead of using the magnet.


When alls said and done, the actual weld doesnt look too bad. Certainly very good if its an early one.


Is that bench your using ali?

I will take a die grinder with a wrapper wheel over it tonight. I didn't think about the earth, that makes perfect sense. Thank you so much

 

[Sparkey]

No probs! you're doing great!
Would love to see more pics!

 

[sapperb]

Ok well I fired it back up again last night and i believe i did alot better. My plans are to upgrade to 220, but as of right now i have to live with my 110.

 

[shenion]

Excellent. That little Lincoln does well.

 

[sapperb]

ya it really does, but i really want to upgrade to 220 before i start my roll cage for my dezert truck. i am just gonna keep practicing my a$$ off.

 

[shenion]

Yes, I started with a Clarke 130EN. Worked well, but I did want more.

I got a big industrial MIG and sold the CLarke. I do miss the small one as it was portable. With the price of copper, buying welding leads to reach out to the drive would cost near what I paid for the Clarke My Miller MIG is not portable at 450lbs

 

[sapperb]

K, Thanks.

 

[Sparkey]

One little thinghy tho....are you welding continuously on those beads or "spotwelding"???
Either that or you still have a 'ell of a weave!

 

[sapperb]

Conitinuous

 

[cookie munsta]

One little thinghy tho....are you welding continuously on those beads or "spotwelding"???
Either that or you still have a 'ell of a weave!

Yeah is machine needs more oomph or his wire speed could be better too hot not enough wire( for that wire) for the steel i'd be suprised, pleasently however if you had any peno, it not your fault but you will want over 200 amp to weld over 5mm with out effort.