Gate post

[The Buddah]

Hello,

I am after some advice as usual.....lol
My project is to renew a gate post 5mm thick steel and weld some hinge brackets onto it.
As iv'e said the post is 5mm thick, the bracket is 10mm thick 40mm wide.

Using a portamig 185 could anybody tell me the what settings i should use.
I was thinking of caorse power 2 and fine power 4 with 0.8 wire.

As the material is not cheap i don't want to mess it up or blow a hole, but then i gues thats the art of welding.

I'll post somr pics when done.

Thanks.

Mike.

 

[mike os]

would have thought 170-180a with a double V prep on the 10mm section

 

[cumbriasteve]

I think I would up the fine to 5, that should put you in the 170 region, sharing the heat in favour of the 10mm, 0.8 is fine for that.

 

[dannyp]

full power.

just adjust the speed you move the torch at to get the desired quantity of weld

 

[The Buddah]

Post cleats

Thanks guys,

I'll bear your comments/advice in mind when welding on the cleats.

Mike.

 

[chunkolini]

Do you have any spare plate of similar dimensions to practice on.
I hate it when I do the job and have just got the hang of it when I have finished and see the lack of consistency from beginning to end.
Also it can be a good idea in this kind of situation to make a test joint and beat the hell out of it to check it al works.

Chunko'.

 

[The Buddah]

Hi chunko

I'll see what i can do, i've been finding that quite a bit of scrap is needed to get settings right or seem to be right.

Mike.

 

[Hitch]

Id go for flat out, unlikely you'd blow a hole in it honestly.

Is the box capped off yet? Do a few tacks inside the end to get your wire set right if you have nothing else.

 

[mike 109444]

If the brackets or post are galvanized, make sure you grind off the galv because 1) will give crappy weld as the zinc will muddy the weld 2) will give off fumes that are not good for your health (see welders flu). Also use dust mask when grinding off galv as again zinc dust is not good for you

 

[steeo]

I have the 215 and welded 10mm today with the course on 2 and the fine on 1 with 0.8mm wire and had no problems, this is the hightest I have gone with the 215 normally run course 1 and fine 6.