can some one take a look at these beads please

[richi b]

Hi guys

As a newbie i am hopeing that some one will take a look at this bead please.
I think it is about right as I have been thru about 50 rods practising on 1/4 angle and have gone from something that looks like bird droppings all bloby and lumpy to this

oh the rods are 3.2mm e6013 from tool station

 

[Welderpaul]

Not bad, you've got the hang of it. No slag inclusions which are common on first/practice welds.

Possibly a bit low on current, and a steadier hand required. Were the rods branded? - Murex/Bohler/Oerlikon/Esab etc. Own brands/cheap rods can cause lots of problems.

Have a read around the arc welding section - theres lots of posts on first arc welds and lots of helpful responses from other members on the forum.

 

[richi b]

thanks welderpaul
the welder is a sip merlin 150 and was set on its highest setting with unbranded rods
steady hand will come with practice i think.
Thanks again

 

[Wozzaaah]

Just out of interest, why did you choose 3.2mm rods?
If you're having to run the machine on it's highest setting then 2 things (but both mean the same); the machine isn't man enough for the rods or the rods are too big for the machine.
Basically, if your machine isn't man enough then drop the rod diameter or if you want to run bigger rods then get a bigger machine.
Saying that, a 150A machine is capable of running 3.2s but probably not many before you'd have to stop and let it cool down.
Good start though, well done.

 

[richi b]

Got 3.2mm rods cos i was told they would be easest to learn with And it is on its highest setting as there is a slot on the top of the box with an indecator and at its highest setting sayes 4-6mm with 3.2-3.5 rods. I can use nearly a whole rod till it needs a cool down
hope thatr makes sense

 

[Wozzaaah]

I can use nearly a whole rod till it needs a cool down

Are you saying it hits the thermal cut-out before you've even run a full rod?
If so then there must be something wrong, even the crappiest buzzbox ought to run more than a rod before it needs to cool down.
A decent machine will run rod after rod, some will pretty much run all day, non-stop.
I'd say 2.5s were more suitable really, it must be frustrating even as a learner having to keep stopping to let the machine cool.

 

[richi b]

sorry that should have read whole pack of rods ie the hobby packs that B&Q sell with around 5-10 rods in

 

[Wozzaaah]

Hehe, love it!
That sounds much better!
Treat yourself to a box of decent 2.5s and you'll probably see a big improvement, welding shops often sell what are known as 'white box' ones which are unbranded rods in a plain white box but they're made by major manufacturers. They're often very cheap but are easy to use and normally give great results.

 

[gavuk]

Wozz is right get some decent rods ,i preferred 3.2 rods when learning ,but you will eventually need both ,your welder should easily cope with 3.2 at 100-130amps and practise by welding a pad ..... pad welding ..... a college test which is well worth doing ,trick is to get the overlap right then get a feel for speed and angles etc ...good luck ,are you using a headsheild? i frequently hold ,or run the rod down my index finger of my left hand to steady the rod ,use proper gauntlets and don't burn yourself

 

[decepticon]

i personally would go at around 110amps with my inverter, rod angle 70degrees and a slight left to right weave of 2-3mm as i go. looks reasonable though
would suggest practicing by buying some quality rods (bohler ohv are my fav's) 2.5mm as you will get more in a pack and if you can weld with 2.5's you can weld with any bigger sizes
cheers
neil

 

[PTvor]

150 amps seems like a hell of a lot to have to use for a for a 3.2mm 6013 rod. I also find that 110 amps is fine with my inverter. OK, the current dials on welders aren't that accurate, but even so.

I've used Toolstation 2.0mm rods at 55A and I found they were very nice. A nice looking weld and the slag came off in a single piece. However, with cheap rods you don't have any assurance of consistency. I wouldn't have much confidence that the next box that came from there would be as good.


http://www.toolsbypost.com/product_pp.php?id=60&category=689&tools_session=831ece06d05

quotes the duty cycle of the SIP Merlin 150 as 20% @ 65A - it doesn't give a temperature or time period, so by the sound of things, if you can burn 5 to 10 rods @ 150A before the trip goes, you are doing quite well.

I agree with the suggestion to buy some top brand 2.5mm rods.

 

[richi b]

thanks for the advice guys tis apreacheated

 

[Nijiura]

Hey new to the forum.

Weld is looking good =) Try to practice on restarts allot as its a point of the weld that often will break, and for a PA weld bend the stick downwards some so you end up with a 80 degree angle.

And about the rods you should try the 2.5mm! as its shorter it will be much easier to control (Esab 48.00 48.05 or Elga p48p/p48m are good rods for all positions except PG)

And if you still are going to use 3.25 try at a lower amp then 150A around 115-125, tho haven't try'ed that brand of rods so cant rely tell =)

Have Fun

 

[PTvor]

If you look at the 6013 rods sold by Elga, ESAB etc, they sell several different sorts, each with a detailed data sheet, each with different approvals. One type designed to give welds of high metallurgical quality, another particularly good at vertical down, etc. You can bet they go to some trouble to make sure they're consistent as they want to sell to shipbuilders and others who really know what they are buying and are in a position to check quality.

Toolstation is a discount tool chain which sells a range of stuff from top end (Makita etc) to very cheap. They sell some welding stuff, much of it supplied by SIP, a box shifter/rebrander. They are not specialists in welding. They sell welding rods and about all they say about them is that they are 6013s. They might be good, they might be bad, one box might be excellent, another rubbish. The only assurance you've got is that they are mild steel rods. You don't get the impression that a large part of their business is selling to shipbuilders. So, to call Toolstation welding rods a brand is putting it a bit strong I'd say.

 

[TechnicAl]

If you look at the 6013 rods sold by Elga, ESAB etc, they sell several different sorts, each with a detailed data sheet, each with different approvals. One type designed to give welds of high metallurgical quality, another particularly good at vertical down, etc. You can bet they go to some trouble to make sure they're consistent as they want to sell to shipbuilders and others who really know what they are buying and are in a position to check quality.

Toolstation is a discount tool chain which sells a range of stuff from top end (Makita etc) to very cheap. They sell some welding stuff, much of it supplied by SIP, a box shifter/rebrander. They are not specialists in welding. They sell welding rods and about all they say about them is that they are 6013s. They might be good, they might be bad, one box might be excellent, another rubbish. The only assurance you've got is that they are mild steel rods. You don't get the impression that a large part of their business is selling to shipbuilders. So, to call Toolstation welding rods a brand is putting it a bit strong I'd say.

absolutely spot on PTvor

The box shifters will also usually go for the cheapest so the manufacturer may well change so you could get 2 boxes containing completely different rods.

On another note. If only we had a shipbuilding industry to sell the rods to.....but thats another topic.

 

[negroid]

not bad for starters. is that flat? if it is use a kickback motion or a C motion.(/(/(/( like that