Hello, like many beginners I have been reading this forum for a while, and I must say it is great. I have recently bought my first welder, an old Sealey 150/1 for £122. I have replaced the liner, earth clamp, tip and nozzle to try and give myself a good start. It came with a pub bottle which when it runs out I am planning to replace with a CO2 argon mix. Here is one of my attempts to join two bits of box section. I would like to hear your comments on how I am doing and what I need to do to improve.
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GeorgiePorgie
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I'm no expert but...its best practicing on sheet metal first because you need to see if your penetration is good.
From what I can see of the pics the edge of the weld have not penetrated the metal? could be the light or camera angle?
From what I can see of the pics the edge of the weld have not penetrated the metal? could be the light or camera angle?
Thanks GeorgiePorgie for the feedback, I will do some more on some sheet.
The penertration looks a bit hit and miss, I have cut through to take a look, sorry the photos are not great but hopefully you can see. Do I need to leave a gap between the two parts?
The penertration looks a bit hit and miss, I have cut through to take a look, sorry the photos are not great but hopefully you can see. Do I need to leave a gap between the two parts?
cumbriasteve
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Don't think it's too bad and would probably hold up to anything you wanted to use it for, a small gap will help and perhaps a little faster moving along with a little more power to flatten the surface welds.
The corner weld looks decent.
As you realise yourself, the penetration is a bit hit and miss, but practice will sort that out...Good attempts
The corner weld looks decent.
As you realise yourself, the penetration is a bit hit and miss, but practice will sort that out...Good attempts
GeorgiePorgie
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What thickness is that box section 3mm or 4mm?
Get a wire cup brush for the drill if you have one? and really clean that metals area where it going to be welded.
I got some info of a welder locally and he informed me to chamfer the edges of the box section that lies on top the other piece and to gap weld the two pieces this will then minimise the distortion in the metal.
I intend to be working with 50x25x3mm soon as I have become familair with the right settings for said thickness.
Get a wire cup brush for the drill if you have one? and really clean that metals area where it going to be welded.
I got some info of a welder locally and he informed me to chamfer the edges of the box section that lies on top the other piece and to gap weld the two pieces this will then minimise the distortion in the metal.
I intend to be working with 50x25x3mm soon as I have become familair with the right settings for said thickness.
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Chamfering the edge of the box section and leaving a gap aids penetration of the weld. It doesnt minimise distortion.
If anything, leaving gaps between material allows them to 'pull' or distort during welding.
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I needed to do a few mitred joints in 100x60x3mm box today, so took a few pics of how i do it.
I grind the edges down to about 1mm, so a 2mm chamfer or so.
The comner where it would have come to a point, grind back square to the sides, so i have a nice 3x3 outside corner joint.
Set it up so a slight gap. approx 0.5mm, and tack it. Too much gap and the joint may well move out of line more than is ideal.
I grind the edges down to about 1mm, so a 2mm chamfer or so.
The comner where it would have come to a point, grind back square to the sides, so i have a nice 3x3 outside corner joint.
Set it up so a slight gap. approx 0.5mm, and tack it. Too much gap and the joint may well move out of line more than is ideal.
Thank you all for you great advice, and your time to show me how it is meant to be done properly; I have so much to learn 
I have had another go, grinding down the edges and I also reduced the wire speed a bit to see if it would reduce the hight of the weld a bit.
Although the welds are not very neat I think they are a little better.
I am going to buy a auto darkening helmet as I am finding a bit hard not moving and trying to lower my mask
I have had another go, grinding down the edges and I also reduced the wire speed a bit to see if it would reduce the hight of the weld a bit.
Although the welds are not very neat I think they are a little better.
I am going to buy a auto darkening helmet as I am finding a bit hard not moving and trying to lower my mask
octo0072000
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i think i would go up a bit on the power and down a bit on wire speed
see how you go if no better go back to how you was doing it before
welds look ok but a bit high try moving a torch a bit quicker as well it's all a learning curve
a auto helmet will help as well make life a lot easier
have fun
see how you go if no better go back to how you was doing it before
welds look ok but a bit high try moving a torch a bit quicker as well it's all a learning curve
a auto helmet will help as well make life a lot easier
have fun
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Id go with up on the power a notch, but leave the wire speed ass your upping power.
Are you holding the torch with one or two hands? If you have a dark headshield, undo the adjusting screws, so it barely stays up, then a slight nod of the head and down comes the mask.
Are you holding the torch with one or two hands? If you have a dark headshield, undo the adjusting screws, so it barely stays up, then a slight nod of the head and down comes the mask.
Thanks for the continued advice, I had another go this morning. I am now on max power, and I am trying to move faster which I am finding hard at the moment, but I guess it will get better with a lot more practice.
The penetration is better than before.
The penetration is better than before.
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Your improving fast Peter, just a case of practice now i think, do a few more, they will get better. Keep the torch moving smoothly at a constant speed.
And try and get the weld right to the corners, looks like where you started on the bottom picture, move back nearer the edge so you get full coverage.
Its good when people listen to the advice they are given, and comeback with better results.
And try and get the weld right to the corners, looks like where you started on the bottom picture, move back nearer the edge so you get full coverage.
Its good when people listen to the advice they are given, and comeback with better results.
GeorgiePorgie
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Practice makes perfect,they seem to be better than the first lot but a bit high.
hope your jotting down the settings for the mig?
do yourself a favour and use plate metal for practicing on,it helps you understand the speed you should work at and also gets you to adhere to straight lines weld.
the box section is not wide enoungh to practice continuous welds
hope your jotting down the settings for the mig?
do yourself a favour and use plate metal for practicing on,it helps you understand the speed you should work at and also gets you to adhere to straight lines weld.
the box section is not wide enoungh to practice continuous welds
I have had a quick go on some flat steel this afternoon, the steel isn't very wide about 20mm but that is all I could find in bother and query's ( B&Q ) I need to find a proper local metal supplier.
GeorgiePorgie
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Local scrapyard or car breakers?
octo0072000
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looks better
looking good much better welding
if you are on max power for 140/150 amp welder are you on the correct settings on max i would have thought it would blow holes in 2mm box i cant remember how the setting work on yours have you got a handbook or could anybody help here power just seems a bit low to me
looking good much better welding
if you are on max power for 140/150 amp welder are you on the correct settings on max i would have thought it would blow holes in 2mm box i cant remember how the setting work on yours have you got a handbook or could anybody help here power just seems a bit low to me
Hello, I have changed over to .8 wire. Wow what a difference to start with I was blowing holes through the flat 2mm steel I have been using. After a lot of twiddling of the wire speed and two tips later here is what it looks like.
