First time, tips please!

[DeanH]

Tried to get a bit of practice in on 3mm sheet this afternoon.

Never done anything like this before, don't think I've done too bad personally!

All done gasless, which I know isn't as good as gas and naturally spattery.

Any comments/pointers would be great.

 

[barracuda816]

Welcome Dean,

What Mig set do you have? Is It gas-less only, or do you have the ability to use gas? I have never used gasless but you would be miles better even using Co2.

Im Not really able to comment too much on the welds themselves as im not That good myself but it looks like the speed of travel could be more consistent, are you using a auto darkening mask as that will really help and they can be picked up cheap enough via ebay.

Mainly its just practice, this forum is amazing though, as you will find out there is so much expertise here (not only with welding btw)

 

[DeanH]

Im using a clarke 105en, it can use gas but it came with a roll of flux wire so im going to use that to begin with.

These are literally my first ever welds so my travel speed was massively inconsistent. I started to get the knack of it just as it started to rain!

 

[J.F]

This is a very useful link.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp0pALmMwc6v2ScmEGbvNSpNKcYA8GiGA

 

[cumbriasteve]

Welcome to the forum:

The good thing about your attempts with gasless is how much you will appreciate it when you start using gas.

Nothing wrong with having a go and among that debris field there are actually a couple of decent short runs.

Gasless has a use for some people, for most though especially with thinner steel it is deemed too messy and difficult to produce decent results.

 

[DeanH]

Ha, debris field.

I did feel pretty proud of the few runs i managed.

Im fully aware that the majority were pigeon ****-like spatter

 

[DeanH]

Done a bit more reading and i think im set up electrode positive so that would explain the spatter.

 

[Kent]

Done a bit more reading and i think im set up electrode positive so that would explain the spatter.

Ha great I hate telling people how way off the mark they are
Truthfully - get it on gas as soon as you can!

 

[DeanH]

Don't be shy, i dont mind the truth! Know what you mean though.

Gas is on the list but its just a hobby for me so flux will do until I've reached its limitations.

 

[Paul G]

you have

 

[DeanH]

Swapped polarity and its still rubbish. Going to get swapped over to gas when this reel is done i think.

Anyone near west yorkshire got an empty cylinder they'd part with?

 

[cumbriasteve]

Do you not know anyone in the pub trade who could give you a bottle of Co2?

Having an empty bottle often gets you no further, not many places will fill or exchange them.

 

[optima21]

Ive got a co2 cylinder from Beer Gas Express in Elland which I no longer use as Im now using a BOC cylinder of Argoshield light.

 

[DeanH]

Not really, i suppose i could pay for a pub gas bottle.

Theres a welding supplies store near me that will fill cylinders. They're probably not meant to though..

Edit: optima do you know how much they charge for a fill? They're a bit closer to me than weldac, im in Huddersfield.