fillet stick welding, help!!!

[bawjaws]

another stick welding help thread when doing a fillet (i think thats what its called, or a t joint?) just normal and flat on the table i get slag inclusions, im using 2.5mm rods at about 90 amps and 3mm sheet, is there a special technique to this (like uphill welding ), i tried weaving up and down and on the other side i just done a streight bead, thanks for the help,

edit - the slag was a ba5t4rd to remove!

pics:

1.weaving method slag - looks fine
2 the weaving method weld - slag inclusions at the start middle and end?
3 streight bead slag - really messy compared to the weaving method
4 streigh bead weld - a messy looking weld and again slag inclusions

 

[madkayaker]

i think Snowcat was saying it very hard not to with a 2.5mm (group test thread) Try more amps and bigger rod?

 

[Archie]

I find 2.5's definitely make life harder work. I wasn't concentrating when I dropped into the supplier last and ended up with 2.5s instead of 3.2s. Took me quite a while to stop myself getting bits like you've got in the second pic on the 2.5s (although things did get easier after I realised I'd plugged the earth lead and electrode holder in the wrong was round ) but moving up to the 3.2s made life a doddle. I'm not sure why but I guess it's because the tips of the 2.5s tend to flick around so controlling the weld is harder.

 

[Paul.]

I know Ive posted this pic before, but 2.5mm E6013 electrode, about 90+ amps, nice tight arc, no weave, no problem,
your fillet is undercut, so i would say either too many amps or to big an arc gap, Its all down to practice.

 

[scarecrow]

Looks like way too long an Ark going by amount of splatter and undercutting keep the rod right down into the corner and just drag it along slowly letting the weld pool fill
one of the main reasons why you get slag inclusions with the smaller rod is the amount of filler compared to slag
nice weld Paul

 

[arcstick]

I know Ive posted this pic before, but 2.5mm E6013 electrode, about 90+ amps, nice tight arc, no weave, no problem,
your fillet is undercut, so i would say either too many amps or to big an arc gap, Its all down to practice.

i agree try not to watch the arc concetrate more on the puddle practice makes perfect a welder with enough practice should be able to weld with any rod no defects just dont give up play with your amps,angle,arc gap,speed of travle they all make a diffrence.

 

[bawjaws]

good news! i went out and had a try with a 3.2mm rod, all went well until i had to change rod

ill needto get some more metal to mess with (and thicker)

 

[bawjaws]

ps ignore the weld below it

thanks for all the suggestions, is it normal to have to weld slower when doing a fillet than a flat? and do i just touch the rod off the workpeice constantly and use the cupping inside the flux affect that tigpaul talked about in another thread? thanks again

pps, paul, your great

 

[aero]

Slag hard to remove and undercut = too many amps. With 2.5s I find 70-80 amps better on AC.

OOOHHH I sound like an expert!

 

[GrahamGKD]

I used to get a problem a bit like this. I was getting flux coming back in front of the direction of travel. I found I could cure it by laying rod at a more acute angle to the direction of travel, even if only at the start of the weld to get things going right. You could try experimenting with that?
Graham.

 

[Weldingartisan]

When possible tilt the workpiece up 5-10 deg in the direction of travel to prevent flux (slag) running ahead. W/A

 

[scarecrow]

I used to get a problem a bit like this. I was getting flux coming back in front of the direction of travel. I found I could cure it by laying rod at a more acute angle to the direction of travel, even if only at the start of the weld to get things going right. You could try experimenting with that?
Graham.

If the flux is getting in front of the rod at the start it usually means there isn't enough heat lenthen the ark and it will disappear shorten the ark again and everything will be fine.I always use a slightly longer ark starting a weld this works a bit like a hot start on some of the fancier machines

 

[Tino]

i agree try not to watch the arc concetrate more on the puddle practice makes perfect a welder with enough practice should be able to weld with any rod no defects just dont give up play with your amps,angle,arc gap,speed of travle they all make a diffrence.

I've been a practising welder for nearly thirty years and I'm still trying for for perfection. Haven't managed it yet, come close a few times.......so how much longer do you think I'll need to practice?

 

[Weldingartisan]

Join the club, I've been doing it 40 years! W/A

 

[scarecrow]

I've been a practising welder for nearly thirty years and I'm still trying for for perfection. Haven't managed it yet, come close a few times.......so how much longer do you think I'll need to practice?

Perfection only comes down in the pub while having a few pints

 

[3Rs]

As tig-Paul, said
turn your juice up and hold a tight arc. It has been know for me to burn a 2.5 at 115 amps
on 4-5 milly plate. tight arc, hold rod at about 45 degree of the vert and have a leaning angle of about 30-40 degree. There other way you can do it is by dragging the arc, hold a very very very tight arc and let the weld do the work.

 

[bawjaws]

had another try today with 2.5s and the only way i can do it is to have the rod pointing opposite to the direction of travel, and just hold it against the edge, the rod burns away itself at its own rate and the welds are perfect underneath, is it ok to do it this way?

 

[simon718]

is it ok to do it this way?

go to your local hospital, slip them a few quid and get them to stick it in the xray machine, you'll soon find out

 

[madkayaker]

you might need to insert it into some one first

 

[simon718]

i dont want to know about your combined welding/bedroom fantasy's mk