very first 5 mins of welding

[jakebullet]

hi there, further to my thread this am. heres my first attempts.
the metal i was using was a piece of scrap out my garage, i didnt clean it up first as i wanted to get the welder going.

the settings were, 0.8mm flux cored gasless, speed on 3-4. swiches on A,2 min.


this is my very first go,

these are my subsequent goes. i thought, right i cant do a line, lets do spots and join them up

i really cant see through the mask, i'm going to have to get right up close i think/ any advice it appeciated

 

[SwissTony]

3.3mm steel will probably need more power to get penetration and you probably need to up the wire speed as well.

Check the video on this page to see if you have the wire speed right.

 

[the snooper]

you will get bad results if you dont clean up the steel due to contamination are you using gasless ?

 

[arceyered]

If you can,t see through your mask you will have no chance as a new welder?
get yourself a mask with the right grade filter lense to suit you.if it's to bright when welding get a higher number filter lense, to dark a lower one.

It doesn't have to be a singing dancing reactalite a handheld will do to start with, It will also get you out of the habit of holding the gun wiyh both hands

 

[pedrobedro]

It doesn't have to be a singing dancing reactalite a handheld will do to start with, It will also get you out of the habit of holding the gun with both hands

I've been welding 40 years and still steady the gun with both hands, what's the problem with that ? The head mounted shield is your best bet with a number 9 green glass and a good spatter resistant front glass. Get nearer to the metal with your tip and don't let it drift away, turn it up full for the 3mm stuff you have there.

 

[arceyered]

I've been welding 40 years and still steady the gun with both hands, what's the problem with that ? The head mounted shield is your best bet with a number 9 green glass and a good spatter resistant front glass. Get nearer to the metal with your tip and don't let it drift away, turn it up full for the 3mm stuff you have there.

Nothing wrong with steadying the gun with both hands, when you have both hands free ,ie not tacking up components,or welding in postions where you can't get both hands in, it is also usefull to be able to weld with both hands as in some restricted positions you may have to weld left handed or vicky verky. When I first started welding I used a number 13 lense but now I also use a number 9, snap 40 years + also
Regards Paul

 

[Chickenjohn]

I've been welding 40 years and still steady the gun with both hands, what's the problem with that ? The head mounted shield is your best bet with a number 9 green glass and a good spatter resistant front glass. Get nearer to the metal with your tip and don't let it drift away, turn it up full for the 3mm stuff you have there.

Agreed, I like to hold the torch with my right hand and steady with my left, a bit like pinstriping with a brush. Helps to get a steadier straighter weld bead.
I would like to add that as a beginner- investing in a reactive mask was a good idea- you can clearly see where you are aiming the torch and distance from workpiece etc- before pulling the trigger, helps with the technique.

As for those pics- looks like gasless with all that spatter. Why do so many new welders use gasless?? Cheapness?? If you are doing your own welding on a car restoration project you are already saving £1,000's of pounds, possibly tens of thousands in labour. Buying decent kit- i.e. a decent budget welder like a Clark, spending on a regulator and gas rental and a decent reactive mask is just good common sense investments that will pay off in better quality workmanship!

I also agree with the above comment- for a 3-4mm plate you need to set power and wire speed up higher to get penetration, it also looks like on the first pics the torch was moved far too quickly.

 

[jakebullet]

cheers for the advice guys. its all good. i'll have a mess with the settings.

ive watched the wire speed vid, so i'll have a play today. i'm aiming for bacon sizzle sound, lol.

i couldnt get back on it last night as i went to a+e after chopping my hand with my grinder (note to self, wear gloves!)

bin to my scrappie this am and got some angle iron to play with.


have a good un
see you later
jake

 

[Coo]

celan clean clean the metal, you'll notice a big difference

 

[Chickenjohn]

-snip-

i couldnt get back on it last night as i went to a+e after chopping my hand with my grinder (note to self, wear gloves!)

-snip-

OUCH! I did a bit of grinding four years ago on a Morris Minor door, forgot to put the gloves on (usually I wear every item of safety gear imaginable) and the flap wheel slipped, nearly went down to the bone in a second on one of my fingers. Oddly it didn't hurt at all but I couldn't have stiches as too much skin was gone and it had to grow back from the edges and join up. Took months to heal fully and I still have the scar as a reminder to always wear the safety gear.

 

[richard s]

that hand chopping statement has me grinding my teeth and tensing up through nearly getting bitten by a grinder myself thats why i do all my cleaning with a wire wheel on a drill as i had a go with a wire wheel on a grinder and it dragged me all over the place and kept banging my fingers into the edge of the holes i had cut and made me feel i was going to lose a digit very soon

 

[chunkolini]

Hmm
Accidents, if they dont hurt you have damaged yourself, generally if they hurt like hell it is only a flesh wound.
I had myself with a flap wheel once, they do a great job, slicing and shredding flesh.
Sorry for digressing from original thread.

Keep your metal clean, and mind not fngers on the job.

A Clarke 151 welder should leave a raised bead on 3.3mm steel, but it is stretching it a bit (lot) try thinner sheet, power up and a gentle weaving motion, very slow and about 3-4mm wide, and move the torch along slower.

Try and get hold of some 2mm sheet, not so thin as to melt away but easier than what you are using.

Chunko'.

 

[Chickenjohn]

Hmm
Accidents, if they dont hurt you have damaged yourself, generally if they hurt like hell it is only a flesh wound.
I had myself with a flap wheel once, they do a great job, slicing and shredding flesh.
Sorry for digressing from original thread.

Keep your metal clean, and mind not fngers on the job.

A Clarke 151 welder should leave a raised bead on 3.3mm steel, but it is stretching it a bit (lot) try thinner sheet, power up and a gentle weaving motion, very slow and about 3-4mm wide, and move the torch along slower.

Try and get hold of some 2mm sheet, not so thin as to melt away but easier than what you are using.

Chunko'.

No need to apologise for digressing onto the subject of personal safety! Having had a close encounter with a flap wheel myself that also did not hurt ( and still have the scar) I agree it is vital to emphasise to learner welders the importance of personal safety. I just spent £20 with a well known online DIY supplier and it was all safety items. We are born with only one set of eyes, teeth, fingers and ears, look after them!

 

[Stewart]

No need to apologise for digressing onto the subject of personal safety! Having had a close encounter with a flap wheel myself that also did not hurt ( and still have the scar) I agree it is vital to emphasise to learner welders the importance of personal safety. I just spent £20 with a well known online DIY supplier and it was all safety items. We are born with only one set of eyes, teeth, fingers and ears, look after them!

I agree regarding safety equipment as i have just spend two days in hospital getting metal removed from my eye due to grinding. Even though I was wearing safety goggles bits managed to get in.