Can't Pool

[rorie]

Hi,
I have been playing about with my welder with mixed success. When doing a run I find I can make it flow smoothly for a few seconds, but then it will start sparking like crazy, then back to smooth etc.

So a friend came over. He used to be a welder in the 80’s! We figured that the main problem was that we just couldn’t get pools!

I started another thread on here asking about thickness of steel etc. So if I am welding on 135 amp on 7mm plate, should I not be getting a 3-4mm deep pool?

If so, why can I not get it to pool?

I have played around with the wire speed so I have a constant arc…. I found resting on my other hand to make it steady made a huge improvement….Any other ideas…

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

7mm plate is a bit abitious with 135A although possible with a good v groove and root gap, not ideal as you will be working the machine to its limit and the duty cycle will be poor

 

[rorie]

Thanks for the reply.

I realise that its outwith the limit for a full pen weld, but that was my question really - should my welder not be able to pool 3-4mm in depth of the 7mm plate? I am just practicing on the plate, running beed welds. But i am struggling to make pools

 

[PSweeney]

i'd say you're underpowered for 7mm plate.

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

at a push but on thicker steel it will sap alot of the heat away from the weld pool, should still be able to get on going though

 

[BrokenBiker]

if you use metal that is way too thick for your welders max rating, then a lot of the heat is going to be dragged away by the metal.

if you use 4mm plate and try again you should find life a bit easier, but as said above, you should still atleast be able to get a good looking bead, even if there is very little penetration

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

It will only really weld nicely and get a good full pen weld at full depth on 2or 3 mm steel to be honest...

 

[AgentWayward]

You need more amps. That is all.

 

[BrokenBiker]

or thinner material...try on some 3mm

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

or 2...