Please have a look at this newbie's welding

[wavestarved]

I'd really appreciate some help, advice or feedback on this; I've been practicing on some 2.4mm plate and other bits of steel of aprox the same. I've practiced laying beads and joining a couple of bits at right angles etc. I'm a bit concerned that I'm not getting any penetration, even on the highest settings unless I'm very close to the edge when I'm just burning through. I'm using fire extinguisher Co2 and a clarke 151en.
Please have a look and tell me what you think.
The other thing I'd like to know is why I'm getting such awful headaches after welding????? Does this pass when you get used to it?

Thanks all.

 

[Country Joe]

Hi there,
It'd be easier to see the penetration from the other side of the welds, but they look pretty good from the top sides - way better than many first attempts.
The brown sooty marks would maybe suggest not quite enough gas coverage, but there's hardly any spatter, especially for co2.
Keen on windsurfing, by any chance, wavestarved?
Telford's quite far from the sea, I guess - hence wave-starved.
Do you have any shots from the other side?
All the Best,
CJ

PS - Can't see from the photo, but how do you plumb in your extinguisher?

 

[rich74310]

That is a good effort.id be really happy with that.maybe could do with alittle more amps.

Man of many talents,surf board maker as well?

Keep it up

good luck

Rich

 

[tombardier]

are you welding galvanised metal? That'll cause headaches. Just try not to breathe any of the smoke in anyway. I have a fan pointed at my helmet (not pointing near the workpiece), and that keeps me cool so my visor doesn't steam up, and I don't breathe in any smoke either

 

[Country Joe]

Oh yes,
When I use a mask that doesn't work properly, I get a pain behind the eyes.
I'd suspect the helmet.
CJ

 

[wavestarved]

Sorry, a couple more pics of the same kinda thing, you can see how much penetration I'm not getting from this pic...and my guages encased in ice; why's that appen? Oh and that black charred area on my bench is where I set fire to it just...

 

[wavestarved]

Oh yes,
When I use a mask that doesn't work properly, I get a pain behind the eyes.
I'd suspect the helmet.
CJ

Thanks Joe, it is a brand new one. Reckon it might be faulty?? The pain is right behind my left eye.

 

[wavestarved]

That is a good effort.id be really happy with that.maybe could do with alittle more amps.

Man of many talents,surf board maker as well?

Keep it up

good luck

Rich

Ah yes, my main love in life. I've now run out of room in the garage for any more surfboards and have had to start keeping them in my van as well.
Thanks for the comments, I've tried it on full whack and still getting no penetration unless I hover in the same place for a looong time.

 

[Country Joe]

Nah,
they look okay. with the ones on the left, you can see it just starting to melt through, and on a couple of others too. Much more and you'll be through!
Co2 does tend to freeze the regulator, it's normal. Used to hear of heaters for them, I think.
All the Best,
CJ

Saying that, it should do it quite easily, that thickness. I would expect hanging around in one place on full power with co2 to burn through.

 

[barrygibson]

Looks pretty good to me,definitely going in the right direction anyway.

ps/that practise piece looks like you have some OCD going down lol,what with the perfect symmetrical welding patterns

 

[wavestarved]

are you welding galvanised metal? That'll cause headaches. Just try not to breathe any of the smoke in anyway. I have a fan pointed at my helmet (not pointing near the workpiece), and that keeps me cool so my visor doesn't steam up, and I don't breathe in any smoke either

God, I hope not that stuff's nasty. Not sure I need anything to keep me cool at the minute; it's brrrrrrrrass monkeys out there.

 

[wavestarved]

Looks pretty good to me,definitely going in the right direction anyway.

ps/that practise piece looks like you have some OCD going down lol,what with the perfect symmetrical welding patterns

Lol, mate; OCD I aint, have you seen the state of my garage?

 

[Country Joe]

It doesn't look very galvy, to me.
CJ

 

[wavestarved]

Hey Joe, the fire extinguisher is a direct fit onto the regulator, just take the horn off it and screw the reg on. Someone advised using it upside down as it has a dip tube and fetches up liquid Co2 if used the right way up.

 

[Country Joe]

Hey Joe, the fire extinguisher is a direct fit onto the regulator, just take the horn off it and screw the reg on. Someone advised using it upside down as it has a dip tube and fetches up liquid Co2 if used the right way up.

Yeah,
I think you're right about the dip-tube. I did look at the shot of it earlier, and thought it looked a bit professionally done! Didn't realise you could just do that.
Is it just a normal reg, then - or one for a disposable cylinder?

CJ

Did you see how I sneakily turned it all around, and now we're all going to start asking you questions!

 

[Country Joe]

Hi,
What I really mean is - what is the long brass stalky looking adaptor tube thing, between the reg and the extinguisher?
CJ

 

[craig8661]

hmmmm looking at the co2 how long would one of them bottles last also what size is it.

 

[wavestarved]

Joe, the long stalky thing is part of the normal standard common all garden Co2 regulator. Yeah man, nice turnaround.
Craig it's 2kg.

 

[Lewis Medlock]

The other thing I'd like to know is why I'm getting such awful headaches after welding????? Does this pass when you get used to it?

Thanks all.

No it's not!!! Something's wrong 'elf and safety wise, whatever it is needs fixing pronto

Jim

 

[Country Joe]

Something's wrong 'elf and safety wise
Jim

Hang on, didn't you just try to burn your hand off at the galvanisers?

Tis true what he's saying, though!

CJ