Im sorry for another rate my beads thread

[Craig-S]

not looking too bad, arc length might be a tad long in places but overall looks like you are making progress

Yeah i did wander a bit in places, might need to play with shade settings for a better view as i dont really see it in 4k

 

[voipio]

Yeah i did wander a bit in places, might need to play with shade settings for a better view as i dont really see it in 4k

More light on the weld area will help. Something like a floodlight about 1 metre away, should help. A 500W halogen, or 50W LED floodlight. Even a bright head torch stuck to the welding helmet can help.

 

[Craig-S]

More light on the weld area will help. Something like a floodlight about 1 metre away, should help. A 500W halogen, or 50W LED floodlight. Even a bright head torch stuck to the welding helmet can help.

I do have a couple of powerful work lights, ill bung one on a tripod and see if it helps, cheers for the tip

 

[BrokenBiker]

I do have a couple of powerful work lights, ill bung one on a tripod and see if it helps, cheers for the tip

i have a 100 watt halogen lamp on my welding bench that is invaluable

 

[Craig-S]

i have a 100 watt halogen lamp on my welding bench that is invaluable

i bet you have a lovely tan! im not sure what i have.....checking

these things https://unilite.co.uk/product/slr-1750/

im guessing that will be ok close up as they are pretty bright

 

[BrokenBiker]

i bet you have a lovely tan! im not sure what i have.....checking

these things https://unilite.co.uk/product/slr-1750/

im guessing that will be ok close up as they are pretty bright

I wish...spend more time sweating from wearing a hoody or welding coat than getting a tan

Any extra light will be a benefit

 

[Craig-S]

heres an oddballl question.

After I have finished playing around, I close the gas bottle valve and then tap the torch to purge anything in the system before turning the welder off, is that correct or am i just wasting gas?

 

[BrokenBiker]

heres an oddballl question.

After I have finished playing around, I close the gas bottle valve and then tap the torch to purge anything in the system before turning the welder off, is that correct or am i just wasting gas?

It's not an issue, but also not necessary really...I have a very minor leak somewhere on my system so if I leave gas in the line it leaks out overnight anyway, I just tap the pedal before welding and let a post flow cycle run then I know it's purged properly again...my mig doesn't seem to leak from anywhere and I just shut the machine off and close the bottle valve

 

[chrismac]

regarding your welds, are you hoovering above the plate, if you are try resting the ceramic lightly on the metal, get the angles all correct before you start, have a dry run to see how you are going to move your wrist hand as you move along the plates, it might help, well its one less thing to think about if your ceramic is steady.

 

[addjunkie]

regarding your welds, are you hoovering above the plate, if you are try resting the ceramic lightly on the metal, get the angles all correct before you start, have a dry run to see how you are going to move your wrist hand as you move along the plates, it might help, well its one less thing to think about if your ceramic is steady.

This is good advice. I find I get best results if I can rest my forearms on something. Helps keep things steady.

 

[Craig-S]

regarding your welds, are you hoovering above the plate, if you are try resting the ceramic lightly on the metal, get the angles all correct before you start, have a dry run to see how you are going to move your wrist hand as you move along the plates, it might help, well its one less thing to think about if your ceramic is steady.

sadly not, I sit at the bench, i do find it tricky getting a good angle though, ill do some experimenting tomorrow. I do rest my arms now after realising i wont electrocute myself

 

[chrismac]

sadly not, I sit at the bench, i do find it tricky getting a good angle though, ill do some experimenting tomorrow. I do rest my arms now after realising i wont electrocute myself

I am glad your not hoovering!!!! hovering, you'll get there in time, your off to a decent start.

 

[Craig-S]

I am glad your not hoovering!!!! hovering, you'll get there in time, your off to a decent start.

I didn't even think about resting the ceramic, I'll give that a go today, might improve arc length.

 

[Craig-S]

another question, can anyone recommend good suppliers of all things welding related? it seems pricing can be all over the place, kind of looking for a one stop shop with a decent range and isnt overpriced.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

another question, can anyone recommend good suppliers of all things welding related? it seems pricing can be all over the place, kind of looking for a one stop shop with a decent range and isnt overpriced.

Good luck in this country. Most welding shops seem to be a scabby service counter, a pack of mystery 6013s and a bloke who seems to know nothing about welding staffing it nowadays.

The site sponsor- welding supplies direct are decent though

 

[Craig-S]

So heres todays problems, thanks all I imagine this is a bit painful to watch.

Heres the butt weld from yesterday, on the underside its not joined.

Today I tried attaching a vertical, for a fillet.....it didnt go well. im struggling to get a puddle where the 2 pieces meet, although there seems to be a lot more problems than that

I finished up with running a bead just to see if ive made any progress on that off the hoof, it came out quite flat but pushed through the underside

I did try having an extra light close but it played havoc with the mask, I also tried resting the ceramic but that changed the angle somewhat.

Thoughts?

...and thanks for all the help

 

[Craig-S]

Good luck in this country. Most welding shops seem to be a scabby service counter, a pack of mystery 6013s and a bloke who seems to know nothing about welding staffing it nowadays.

The site sponsor- welding supplies direct are decent though

Thats pretty much the same for anything these days. I also love a toolshop and would much prefer to go hold and buy than order from the internet, but thats difficult these days also.

 

[tom2207]

remember some folk spend 3 or 4 years learning the basics of welding .... dont expect to have it mastered in two weeks

Im at it well over forty years and still practicing , still leaning , and still messing with settings . Ill get it right soon , of that Im sure .

Patience and Practice is all it takes.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Focus on one joint, probably the t fillet until it’s right, don’t bounce between them all. Your butt joint wants about a 1.6mm root gap to start seeing penetrstion

 

[Craig-S]

remember some folk spend 3 or 4 years learning the basics of welding .... dont expect to have it mastered in two weeks

Im at it well over forty years and still practicing , still leaning , and still messing with settings . Ill get it right soon , of that Im sure .

Patience and Practice is all it takes.

Oh I have no doubt its going to take a decent amount of time, im really asking for advice on the glaring mistakes I can address so that i dont keep making them, or at least aware they are there.