Welding in floor plate .... first 'real' welding..

[robtheplod]

OK, after all the practicing and weeks making odd things out of metal I did my first live welding today - a plate on my mini floor.. Went OK and it's solid, but the welds seem a bit too small??? - if i kept the weld going any longer I blew holes so not sure of best way forward. Any tips appreciated!!

(Have a clarke 160TM wire=.6 using cougar gas and on low - 30amps)

 

[Rusty]

Not a bad effort but looks like a series of tack welds and not continuous welds.

 

[robtheplod]

they are short bursts! - if i welded continuous i'd hole it - hopefully technique will come to me eventually! ;-)

 

[Rusty]

they are short bursts! - if i welded continuous i'd hole it - hopefully technique will come to me eventually! ;-)

Try putting your tacks about 1" apart then ' fill in ' between tacks with continuous weld , either leave a few seconds or so for the area to cool between welds or weld between tacks on opposite sides to keep heat to a minimum , hope this makes sense It is a skill in itself to have the welder setup right for what you are welding but it will come with practice.

 

[robtheplod]

Try putting your tacks about 1" apart then ' fill in ' between tacks with continuous weld , either leave a few seconds or so for the area to cool between welds or weld between tacks on opposite sides to keep heat to a minimum , hope this makes sense It is a skill in itself to have the welder setup right for what you are welding but it will come with practice.

many thanks, will try that!!

 

[Chickenjohn]

It looks well up to MOT standard, you can make the welds look better by painting with seam sealer then paint.

Between the tacks, try the "wiggle" technique to get a continuous weld without burning a hole.