1st time Migger

[piet louwrens]

Hi to all and thanx for having me on this verrrry informative forum. I live in South Africa, and the machines you use are not available here. I bought a Thermadyne 175, local machine, and it seems upto the job. I have made some test welds and would like to hear from you.I built the trolley with arc welding before I got the machine and I hope that was the last arc project.

 

[crayefish]

thought the post title said something else when i first saw it! whoops!

im no pro, but that welding looks pretty damn good for a first time mig to me. i assume you've done quite a lot of arc welding previously?

 

[piet louwrens]

Thanx for the oops, I thought I was the only member

 

[fingers99]

Looks like a nice set. The weld on the pipe is pretty damn impressive, can't say much about the rest as I can't see the back.

 

[piet louwrens]

Looks like a nice set. The weld on the pipe is pretty damn impressive, can't say much about the rest as I can't see the back.

Thanx Fingers, the other welds are on 5mm & 10mm flatbar. I will do some welds on 1mm steel and post it. Thanx again

 

[shenion]

Very nice work. The arc experience helps you know what to look for.

Don't you feel you are cheating with MIG ?

1mm will be a bit trickier. But you get up to speed quick.

 

[piet louwrens]

Mig is completely in a different league, and as you say, it feels like cheating.
My machine is only 130A max, but as seen on the photos, on the 10mm flat-bar it covers up in 2 passes. Seems okay. I will try the 1mm sheet tomorrow...

 

[piet louwrens]

This morning I did a 1mm sheet and a 2mm sheet weld. The first pic is a 1mm top view, 2nd is the 1mm bottom view. The 3rd pic is a 2mm top view, and the 4th pic is the 2mm bottom view. Please comment on the welds and don't worry about hurting feelings, I'm too far to be heard crying.

 

[fingers99]

I think you've done this before! Time to do some overhead or more complicated joints. Either that or pick up a TIG set.

 

[piet louwrens]

Thanx, its really my first, I think the arc welding experience helps a lot. Now has anyone got a job for me...

 

[crayefish]

im sorry to say, but i think that first weld on the 1mm sheet isnt very straight... remember, whiskey and welding dont go together!

na really... im jealous!

 

[piet louwrens]

I use a piece of aluminum-angle iron as a guide to weld straight is it legal

 

[crayefish]

good plan. hummm ive got some magnesium angle iron... might try that!

 

[gavuk]

i always use chalk lines ,especially when stitching cos i'm hopeless at getting even spacing or straight lines without a reference.......great welding Piet......and welcome

 

[piet louwrens]

Thanks to people like you for this forum. I studied the tutorial section intensively to get my results and it payed off. My initial plan was to build window frames for low cost housing here, so it seems I am ready for it.
Thanx again
Piet