Penetration judgement pls

[Spot the welders dog]

Really bored on Sunday and kept tripping over a Rage saw I bought four years ago, so I thought it time to open the box and give it a whirl....

Merriliy annoying the neighbours I thought I use the test pieces for 'something', so part assembled some 'wheel stools' from some 30x30x3 box.
Before I get too carried away:

Will I kill myself if I get under the car with these welds? ->




Should I really being seeing 'some' sign of penetration? ->


Deep throat shot..



And a cheeky one to end - Would you recomend that I add additional braces 'all around'.
Am still unsure whether to use these glav poles as tyre wedges, or add some inverted angle?

Ta muchly

 

[bpcoryton]

'deep throat shot' iam sure? ive seen that film years ago!

 

[Spot the welders dog]

Pause at 23:32 seconds in - Spot that dude: yours truely - Feel free to watch the finale after my debut finishes at 23.34

 

[Caledonian]

I'm interested in the original questions too, not Spot's Blue Movie career
I'm gonna be welding some box soon and am curious to how you know what is good and strong when you can't see the back of the weld.

Jack

 

[Spot the welders dog]

Caledonian,
I used a Clark 150amp welder - 3 min - wire sp 6 - 0.6 wire - Argon/Co2 @10lpm; outside no shelter.
Using a combination of push\pull. No gap between joints.
2max seemed to evaporate the steel - totally forgot about 1max, so 3min was a good compromise: I thought!
Perhaps I should have used 0.8 wire. Again lack of planning.

Not too happy with the resulting penetration - or lack of - so thought I'd get a second opinion.

See you project uses 4mm stock - Lets hope for some intervention before we end up as squashed memories

 

[gavuk]

Spot ,I'm not really familiar with the settings on your welder,as you have probably read here it is entirely possible to produce a good looking weld without penetration,I would do a test weld,a butt weld from same material and see what the penetration is like...
Without gaps in the joints I would probably select a setting higher than a well penetrated butt weld,but thats a judgement call
Should really try and blend the welds into each other at start and finish and avoid the gaps...The welds look good,but without destructive tests (big hammer) ....or lack of a test piece ,personally I would be reluctant to say they are ok .....in case a car lands on yer head...

 

[tux]

I have no idea what "state" those welds are in, I don't have enough experience yet, but as gavuk says, I would weld a couple of bits of box together, find my biggest hammer and whack the living daylights out of it. If it doesn't break then the chances are it will be OK!
Just my theory and I'm sure someone will be along shortly with something more scientific.

 

[Drains]

Just my theory and I'm sure someone will be along shortly with something more scientific.

Aye, count how many times you have to hit it before it breaks

 

[Spot the welders dog]

Checked the welding calculator this AM to see that I should be up around 2/3 max on my rig.
So taking Gav's advice, and knowing Caledonians biting his nails, I thought I'd linish flat the welds.
Donned the white coat - cheers Tux, and started to wack the be-jesus out of it - Not good news...



Caught slightly in places, but overall - very poor.

Redone the lot on 3 Max, Had to adjust my welding speed alot to compensate for the relative ease in which the metal would burn though.
(150amp-ish, 50ft extension lead), wire Sp.6. Wire changed to 0.8

I think I need to pick up some 3/4mm flat and practice alot more. Hard to judge when using box

 

[gavuk]

Glad you found out sooner ,rather than later......its a fine line between blowing through and well penetrated welds,welders skill and speed being the deciding factor...

 

[tux]

OOPS! As above, better to find out now rather than when you have a car 12" above you!

 

[shenion]

With 0.6mm wire you would need to have the Clarke on the highest setting and wire speed high.

Try some 0.8mm wire you'll get much more heat. I only use 0.6mm on 1mm or less steel.

 

[Caledonian]

Thanks Spot, I think I'll get my cut list sorted then weld all the off cuts. Maybe a sculpture? Then beat as you did.
As all have said, better to find out sooner rather than later.

 

[Spot the welders dog]

Thanks all.

Shenion, I had forgot I'd still had 0.6 in the machine : corrected now. Thx

Thought I'd post my practice attempts as it's been pi55ing down and I can't get near the shed for the proper stuff.

Much better penetration




Alot of weave required. This is the part that threw me initally.
Having not welded anything over 1.2mm in the last 25 years I had to adopt a different techique.



This is my favorite weld...


Don't look much, to you anyways, but to me - I could have continued this weld the whole lenght if it wasn't for my left hand roasting



Just for the Essex boys' - Deep throat II (The return of the itch)


Caledonian, I've got the scuptures all ready covered my friend, though I'm not sure all the grief I'm getting from the Tate is worth the bother

I call it "Oi you Pikey, leave that alone"

Finally: Tux, you the man - Drains had the audacity to poo-poo you, but now I have gathered some proof.
Have a look at the Turin Taperstry - look closer and you'd find cryptic clues on how they used calculations to determine strenght of joints.

Not sure I should post this - Goverment secrets and all that, but hey - you're worth it.....

 

[Sparkey]

I could have continued this weld the whole length if it wasn't for my left hand roasting

Don't worry! You'll get used to that! Your hands will get heat-proof after a while!