First time welder, new machine

[Daniel Wilkinson]

Must admit I've only done a bit of mig welding but the old saying like frying bacon in a hot pan once you hit the right setting you know it. Lol

Think on my first practise we spent about and hour prepping a few work peices and setting the welder up to my speed of welding and the actual welding was only a few mins so I agree with addjunkie on the cleaning side and prep.

 

[1animal1]

I'll do that tomorrow, cut a few more pieces and have a go at those, concentrating on the mitres. If I can get those right I'll be able to do the end to side bar easily I reckon

 

[Daniel Wilkinson]

Thanks Dan, very helpful... I've tried to step back a bit, after seeing the splatter. Then get drawn back in as the metal gets pushed apart, then I end up with bigger holes to fill - I'm going to follow the tacking suggestion about to try and solve that... So your saying go for the joint side on at an angle?

That's how I was shown slight angle not too much and sort of push the wire into the v and the direction your going, hard to explain I had a good teacher watch me do a few giving pointers as I was welding ie speed up slow down more angle less etc.

I know a lot of people weld slightly different etc different ways of holding the torch speed so all I can say is practise.
If I can find a few photos I'll upload them got a few practise welds in different directions etc might help.

 

[1animal1]

I'd appreciate that, thanks mate...

Do you push or pull the weld, and zig zag or attack straight?

 

[Daniel Wilkinson]

I have only done straight haven't needed to weave/zigzag and I push sort of see where I'm going style lol
Welds below we're first time welding properly apart from some practise welds on a Clarke 151en on sheet steel.
Both are from right to left push style. Both straight into the weld ie on the right weld was at a 90 degree to the work peice with a slight angle in the direction of travel and the left hand one was 45 degree again slight angle.

 

[Daniel Wilkinson]

this one again right to left, my teacher so to speak adjusted the wire speed slightly just after the first part as you can see it was to much for my weld speed he knew by the sound went down then up to adjust, really helps having someone who knows what they're doing watching over your shoulder if you have any one who can do that you'd get on quite well quickly.

 

[1animal1]

Definitely a huge difference there.... I feel I'm a bit behind your first weld... Not made easier by 20mm box ... I have seen to tack the corners then fill the gap, which I was going to go tomorrow.

Mine are pull welds so will give push a go. I know zig zag is supposed to cover up bad technique so I'll continue down the line you've taken and do straights. Also going to chamfer the edges, to create a dip for the weld to sink into... Might neaten it up a bit.

I do have someone but he's not available until next weekend. I really need to get moving on my masterpiece unfortunately. Crash course

What were your settings?

 

[Daniel Wilkinson]

Definitely a huge difference there.... I feel I'm a bit behind your first weld... Not made easier by 20mm box ... I have seen to tack the corners then fill the gap, which I was going to go tomorrow.

Mine are pull welds so will give push a go. I know zig zag is supposed to cover up bad technique so I'll continue down the line you've taken and do straights. Also going to chamfer the edges, to create a dip for the weld to sink into... Might neaten it up a bit.

I do have someone but he's not available until next weekend. I really need to get moving on my masterpiece unfortunately. Crash course

What were your settings?

I had a good welder to practise learn on for a few hours was a migatronic 335 I believe. Was very buttery smooth in power delivery and wire feed in comparison to the Clarke welder I had and that did ok welds when hooked up to the gas. I know my wire feed was fairly low and amps I couldn't tell you unless I still have the photo of the welder as the settings are on that haha.

 

[angellonewolf]

cut up the metal you need for the job looks like its 45 outside and inside corners so cut up the rest of the scrap with the same corners and put a bit of metal down untill they are fair then transfer over to your real work
thay way you can have a play and not damage the work untill ity looks fair

as its only a dog cage its going to be hard to get it that wrong that it will fall apart

 

[1animal1]

Haha no worries Dan, suppose it being a different brand to mine, might not help. I've strayed a bit upwards from the manufacturer suggestions, they just didn't las flat enough welds... Or enough metal.

Angelwolf, I have tried breaking up what I've done already, it's certainly strong enough so far... Just needs neatening up. I'll cut that up as you suggest... I keep thinking I ought to increase the power and feed but half speed feels too much given the 20mm weld...

 

[Daniel Wilkinson]

Haha no worries Dan, suppose it being a different brand to mine, might not help. I've strayed a bit upwards from the manufacturer suggestions, they just didn't las flat enough welds... Or enough metal.

Angelwolf, I have tried breaking up what I've done already, it's certainly strong enough so far... Just needs neatening up. I'll cut that up as you suggest... I keep thinking I ought to increase the power and feed but half speed feels too much given the 20mm weld...

I know what you mean, as I mentioned looking at purchasing a mig but going from the 335 to a 180 will be a bit different so Il probably be in the same boat soon enough haha, good luck I'm keep an eye out see how you get on.

 

[1animal1]

Mine should be up for sale in 3 weeks, depending on how I get on.

I'll keep posting as I can only improve, and with your expert guidance . Only been at it an hour. This weekend will be intense, learn and get some frames together. 3 frames to build and hit my first minor complication, the narrowing of the van near the roof... The joys.

 

[addjunkie]

Mine should be up for sale in 3 weeks, depending on how I get on.

I'll keep posting as I can only improve, and with your expert guidance . Only been at it an hour. This weekend will be intense, learn and get some frames together. 3 frames to build and hit my first minor complication, the narrowing of the van near the roof... The joys.

Building your cages, will help you understand why bespoke cages made to fit your van are so expensive!

 

[1animal1]

Ooh I get it now, lots of cutting prepping and finishing....

Latest welds using push method. Gonna rig a light up as think main problem is I can't see where I am going and have light behind me in garage door area

 

[addjunkie]

Do you wear reading glasses for reading? If you do, wear them for welding.

Are your joints straight cut, or do you chamfer them, id chamfer slightly with 2mm.

I tend to keep the door closed as wind can blow the shielding gas away

 

[dcocks]

Ooh I get it now, lots of cutting prepping and finishing....

Latest welds using push method. Gonna rig a light up as think main problem is I can't see where I am going and have light behind me in garage door area

As I have got older I now find it hard to see where I'm welding even in glasses

 

[1animal1]

I've only got one bad eye, but that's hardly noticeable compared to most. Driving only usually....

I am chamfering them with the flap disc...

The wind is hardly noticeable here, is it still likely to affect?

Just done my first actual weld for the cage. Best one of done by far! Flattened it... And realised I've pulled the wrong pieces together haha. Onwards and upwards!

 

[Daniel Wilkinson]

Have you got a auto darkening mask? I must admit i toned mine down slightly (less dark) so the glow sort of highlighted the join ahead of the weld.

 

[1animal1]

Unfortunately not, it's an old school mask, very dark but I can just make out the joint. Keep moving further back to reduce light pollution.

 

[1animal1]

Flap discs will rescue me