Help!

[Parsons014]

Hello, I am new to welding and I'm just starting out on a Hobart Handler 135 mig welder. I recently welded 2 scrap 3/16 plate together with .024 wire and I wanted feedback on my weld. Please keep in mind that I am just starting out.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Well it's far better than a lot of other first attempts we see, the photo appears to show the weld favour the top half of the steel, with possibly little penetration into the other half but that's what happens when you are doing your early runs and getting used to laying welds

Did you clean the steel up well with a grinder or flapwheel, it looks a bit grubby in the picture and you should have it cleaned back to nice and shiny.

and welcome to the forum.

 

[norlander]

The T or fillet is not the easiest joint for a novice, do some butt welds, open corners and lap welds first before going on to fillets.

 

[Richard.]

Are you left handed or did you pull or drag the torch angle when you did this. It's not bad at all for a first attempt. As said above there are easier things to start out with.

 

[Parsons014]

I am right handed and I believe I pushed that weld

 

[norlander]

Try another one pulling the torch, you might get a better view of whats going on, but then move on to trying easier joints.

 

[Rocketman]

Isn't mig welding 5mm plate with 135amp really pushing it? I would have thought 3.5mm was about the max for 135amp?

 

[cumbriasteve]

Isn't mig welding 5mm plate with 135amp really pushing it? I would have thought 3.5mm was about the max for 135amp?

Yep, to weld 5mm correctly without any prep deffo takes more than 135amps
But 135 amps will weld it together, probably strong enough that it can't be parted with a big hammer..it just won't be a perfect weld with the correct penetration.

 

[the snooper]

Well it's far better than a lot of other first attempts we see, the photo appears to show the weld favour the top half of the steel, with possibly little penetration into the other half but that's what happens when you are doing your early runs and getting used to laying welds

Did you clean the steel up well with a grinder or flapwheel, it looks a bit grubby in the picture and you should have it cleaned back to nice and shiny.

and welcome to the forum.

doesn't look like it from the picture

 

[Bill Edwards]

Not a bad first attempt.


Personally I would leave joints, particularly T joints such as this, for the time being.
Get a flat piece of metal and clean it all back to be nice and shiny and just practice running beads, keeping the right torch angle, pushing the torch, and keeping the speed consistent.
Then make a proper bead pad which is excellent practice and quite economical on the metal you get through, then butt joints, lap and T fillets.
Also, have a read through the MIG tutorial on this site, it's pretty good.

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/mig.htm

 

[Parsons014]

Thanks to everyone. I am going to continue to work on it and to get better. I am a senior in High school and I'm going to school for welding so I still have a lot to learn

 

[the snooper]

Thanks to everyone. I am going to continue to work on it and to get better. I am a senior in High school and I'm going to school for welding so I still have a lot to learn

make sure you clean the steel with a grinder before welding it, it makes all the difference

 

[norlander]

make sure you clean the steel with a grinder before welding it, it makes all the difference

+1, get some flap discs for preparing your metal and cleaning off welds-great things, and much nicer to sue than solid grinding discs.

 

[Liquid Metal]

+1, get some flap discs for preparing your metal and cleaning off welds-great things, and much nicer to sue than solid grinding discs.

Nicer to use, yes due to less vibration ive found......... but they dont last very long at all, even top brand 3M ones.
Try 3M "green corps" flexible grinding disks....same cut speed as a grining disk, but much better surface finish, and much much less vibration