I've been doing some welding lessons and have been taking advantage of the current enforced immobility to practise. I have some items to make up which I will detail in the 'Architectural' section in due course. One possible part of this is a frame of Z-section 3mm plate, welded at the mitred corners. I'm using off-cuts from these pieces here.
I've been using 0.6mm wire as the welder prefers it to 0.8mm. I get a good sound while welding, and I'm getting better at controlling my speed for an even bead. While the weld doesn't project through the material, while welding a bead on the flat, the rear is glowing brightly. My tutor said that is sufficient, and I can't expect more with my smallish welder anyway. The final items will not be structural, and I can turn them over to weld the backs if needed.
The photographs show how I've struggled to get the three sections even - the two flats and the vertical corner. On the more even of the two, I welded the two flats and then turned the whole piece so I could weld the corner horizontally too. I haven't practised external corners before.
I was welding with a small gap between the plates.
Two show a bead laid on the plate, and the heat-sign on the rear. I also laid some beads next to each other to practice following the edge, which is why there is a built-up area on one of the flats.
I'd be glad of comments and advice!
I've been using 0.6mm wire as the welder prefers it to 0.8mm. I get a good sound while welding, and I'm getting better at controlling my speed for an even bead. While the weld doesn't project through the material, while welding a bead on the flat, the rear is glowing brightly. My tutor said that is sufficient, and I can't expect more with my smallish welder anyway. The final items will not be structural, and I can turn them over to weld the backs if needed.
The photographs show how I've struggled to get the three sections even - the two flats and the vertical corner. On the more even of the two, I welded the two flats and then turned the whole piece so I could weld the corner horizontally too. I haven't practised external corners before.
I was welding with a small gap between the plates.
Two show a bead laid on the plate, and the heat-sign on the rear. I also laid some beads next to each other to practice following the edge, which is why there is a built-up area on one of the flats.
I'd be glad of comments and advice!