Who says arc welding can't look nice.

[spaffmonkey]

Got asked to make a set of roof bracket mounts for a lads Nissan nivara so he can mount a large roof cage using existing bolt holes in the roof.
3mm plates with 6mm up stands.
Welded on with 2.4mm rods as didn't have the mig to hand.
Almost look tig welded.

 

[BrokenBiker]

I've always thought good arc welding is one of the most aesthetically pleasing welds on steel

 

[Tangledfeet]

Did the scale just peel away too?

 

[Woody.v8]

Got asked to make a set of roof bracket mounts for a lads Nissan nivara so he can mount a large roof cage using existing bolt holes in the roof.
3mm plates with 6mm up stands.
Welded on with 2.4mm rods as didn't have the mig to hand.
Almost look tig welded.View attachment 512945View attachment 512946View attachment 512947

It will grind up nice

 

[spaffmonkey]

Did the scale just peel away too?

All bar 2 of the runs peels away nicely

 

[roofman]

Stainless rods ???

 

[MattF]

Is the thread title not supposed to say: can't?

 

[spaffmonkey]

I've always thought good arc welding is one of the most aesthetically pleasing welds on steel

i love the simplicity of arc welding and when you can get nice results it's even better.

 

[spaffmonkey]

Is the thread title not supposed to say: can't?

Noted and modified. Auto correct playing games again on my phone.

 

[spaffmonkey]

Stainless rods ???

No bohler phoenix blau mild steel rods

 

[Cobbler]

No bohler phoenix blau mild steel rods

I had some of them, lovely to use, but frighteningly expensive. The local place split boxes, I asked about a full box, I can’t recall how much, but it “rodgered” the wallet.

 

[spaffmonkey]

I had some of them, lovely to use, but frighteningly expensive. The local place split boxes, I asked about a full box, I can’t recall how much, but it “rodgered” the wallet.

They certainly are not cheap at approximately £75 for 5kg. I've not got many of them left now and have started using the bohler aws rods. Still £35 for 5kg but getting nice results with them still

 

[Erie Fred]

Fine ripples look like 7018

 

[spaffmonkey]

Fine ripples look like 7018

Just good quality 6013's

 

[BrokenBiker]

Just good quality 6013's

There is a lot to be said for good quality rods...for general larking about i use whatever is available at the time i need to buy them but I do keep about a kilo of good quality 2.5s handy for stuff that's more critical or wants to look nicer

 

[spaffmonkey]

There is a lot to be said for good quality rods...for general larking about i use whatever is available at the time i need to buy them but I do keep about a kilo of good quality 2.5s handy for stuff that's more critical or wants to look nicer

If still find it surprising just how different the rods can be.
The bohler rods are definitely my go too rods for important things, tend to have a few boxes of parweld rods for general use as pretty cheap and easy for me to get from local shop. I've had decent results from boxes of Aldi/Lidl rods surprisingly but the ones I really struggle with was some super6 rods. I couldn't get them to run a nice bead for love nor money but find there mig wire pretty decent.

 

[spaffmonkey]

Also the welds were done using my rohr 140amp mini arc set. Cracking little welder for the £65 it cost. Shame they went into liquidation a few years ago

 

[BrokenBiker]

If still find it surprising just how different the rods can be.
The bohler rods are definitely my go too rods for important things, tend to have a few boxes of parweld rods for general use as pretty cheap and easy for me to get from local shop. I've had decent results from boxes of Aldi/Lidl rods surprisingly but the ones I really struggle with was some super6 rods. I couldn't get them to run a nice bead for love nor money but find there mig wire pretty decent.

See, now my main stock is a mix of super6 and some unbranded eBay specials and I get these sorts of welds from them

That was a 2.5mm super6 6013, little bit cold was just using it to test the MMA capability of the hitbox tig on some 5mm plate

 

[spaffmonkey]

See, now my main stock is a mix of super6 and some unbranded eBay specials and I get these sorts of welds from them View attachment 512956View attachment 512957

That was a 2.5mm super6 6013, little bit cold was just using it to test the MMA capability of the hitbox tig on some 5mm plate

Hmmm seeing those results I might have to dig the old box of the super6's out the cupboard and give another go. Think they were 3.2's
How do you rate the hotbox tig set? I've been eyeing them up for the home workshop.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Hmmm seeing those results I might have to dig the old box of the super6's out the cupboard and give another go. Think they were 3.2's
How do you rate the hotbox tig set? I've been eyeing them up for the home workshop.

The welder itself is spot on. I've run it at its full 200 amps in Ac and DC quite a few times.

Didn't like the torch that came with it so swapped for a CK copy flex head wp17 that I had.

The pedal is great in DC, but in AC ive noticed tapering off can give a wandering arc, although ive not checked if thats an earthing issue as I ground to a table leg, then have a 10mm plate on the table to weld on so plenty of scope for loss of earthing (new table woll have 10mm plate welded directly to the frame and an earthing lug welded tonthe bottom of the plate)...also, the current adjustment being done at the pedal is weird...but if you are using a torch switch its done at the machine (as is every other setting even with the pedal plugged in)

Mma works well, the pulse works as it should as well. I'm by no means a good welder, but im happy with how it performs

304 stainless

Mild steel

6082 aluminium welded with 4043 filler

And a little stainless cutlery figure walking his nut and bolt dog. I used pulse to weld 2 tablespoons together for the head, no filler...just messing about really before I had the shed to work In and the house was half ripped to bits being worked on.

It has surprised me at how well it runs (touch wood) so much that i am considering changing my 200amp transformer mig for a hitbox 250 inverter mig, and also getting one of their plasma cutters