Getting better???

[smoggyrich]

following on from this.....

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=26040

I've had another go today fiddling about with the power and feed settings and here is the results.....

It looks like upping the power a touch has helped the weld flatten out a bit and stop curling under at the edge.

I found resting my arm on the bench has helped steady the torch giving me a bit more control over the weld.

Any opinions guys???

 

[cumbriasteve]

They certainly look strong enough for the material, maybe going a tad slow, hence the slight build up.
Being comfortable is one of the major factors in a nice straight weld when you are learning... I always try to rest my torch hand across my other arm or hand, both wearing good gloves of course.

 

[smoggyrich]

First but weld

Had a go a at a but weld and here's the result....

This method to me seemed a little easier to get the weld flat.

On my first attempt i found i was blowing holes so tried moving along faster with my travel and I was reasonably pleased with the result.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Loads better, did it penetrate ok, if so then that would be spot on for any repair you required...well done

 

[smoggyrich]

Loads better, did it penetrate ok, if so then that would be spot on for any repair you required...well done

The penetration looked good especially at the centre & towards the right of the weld.

I have probably only had about 3 hours in total practicing and I'm pleased with my progress so far.

I'm planning on carrying on practicing for a while until i can achieve consistently good welds before going anywhere near my van.

Thanks for the replies. Any opinions are very appreciated and I'm trying to take everything on board.

 

[cumbriasteve]

For 3 hours you are doing very well, as you yourself realise, to get any better will only come with time and more welding..you will get the 'feel' and know when the power needs adjusted and the resulting welds will show the results.

I have seen cars pass MOT's with welds many times worse than your butt welds and done by so called professional welders...or at least that's what they advertise themselves as.

 

[smoggyrich]

I've had my first attempt on my van at an area which can't be seen and isn't a structural area just to have a go.

here's some pics....

cut out the rot....

then welded over a plate....

With this first attempt i wasn't overly pleased with the result so I ground down the welds and done another pass around turning my power up to HIGH and MAX and wire feed about 3/4 of the range.

Instead of doing one tack then moving to the other side i had a go at doing 3 or 4 in a row and alowing them to melt into each other. I found that after i finished the weld that they were still glowing bright orange for a few seconds after i lifted my mask up. (much brighter and for longer than my first attempt)

They aren't the prettiest of welds or the clearest of photos but here goes.........

I blew through on a couple of occasions but managed to plug the holes with more weld. Was quite tricky but you can see the results here....

I can see from under the wheel arch that there is penitration but it's pretty hard to see from this pic....

[/QUOTE]

What do you guy's think??

 

[keith19]

Hmm!
To be honest I think you perhaps could have cut a bit more of the rot out. Gasless wire is very unforgiving on pitted metal, I've found. When the welds ball up a bit like that, it suggests contamination on or in the metal. If both parent and new metal are good, the gasless welds should lie quite flat and close, providing the settings are correct.
Try grinding or flap-disking it down, and see how it looks then. You will probably have a few more holes to fill, but it may clean up okay enough.

 

[wotwot]

Hi smoggyrich still only an amateur myself but with the initial weld that you were not happy with,I think you should have gone over the weld in a continuous run with the setting you had,with the new weld there you would not have blown through so easily and probably had a better looking weld.It varies from welder to welder but once you get the technique and used to your welder all will come good.Keep going the more you do the better you will get .
The folks on here are great at giving the best advice .

On a side note I am on my 4th camper now and not had one rot in that area.
Wish they had as it makes for an easy repair.
My current bucket of rust is the newest I've had (1978) and is the worst yet .