|
Post by PATMAN on May 9, 2010 14:08:16 GMT -4
So like the title says this is the worst display of welding you have probally ever seen.. So here's the deal, i picked this welder up off a buddy for a trade, got a wicked deal couldnt pass it up at the time. TOday i finally got around to trying to weld, well seeing if i can form a puddle and get that puddle to go in a line. Anyways i have no sweet clue what im doing and this looks like crap, i figured thou with all the welders on here i can atleast get some good tips... So i have tried the power setting on high with slow feed speed, ive tried it on low on fast feed, and ive tried other combo's and nothing worked for me. Mainly cuz i have no sweet clue what im doing right now... Here's the pics, I also expect alot of jaw jackin and hard times so lemmie have it lol... First off is the gear, power mate quick fix gasless arc welder.12 dollar PA welding helmet, and a rigged up handle. Here's my canvas i started with Skid plate for a 750 brute force v twin... first attempt, gettin used to the handle and the feel Heres after about 30 or so mins and bein discouraged So there ya have it, Any tips would be premo, as id like to learn this skill which right now seems outta my reach, but im stubborn so i will make it eventually.
|
|
dan
Jeeper
Membership Co-ord - Valley
Posts: 3,397
|
Post by dan on May 9, 2010 16:37:24 GMT -4
doesn't look like you burned through any, which is good. try slowing down the movements, and make a small zig-zag movement, about 1/8-3/16 wide.
you already said you know you need a puddle, so if you slow things down, you should be able to build up a puddle and work it a bit. try just keeping the nozzle in the same area. do small rotations, in a circular pattern, think of a pig's tail, and see if you can make a button-shaped weld.
control is the biggest thing you need to work on, to find out how fast to move, with the right heat.
|
|
dan
Jeeper
Membership Co-ord - Valley
Posts: 3,397
|
Post by dan on May 9, 2010 16:38:46 GMT -4
another thought would be to get some real metal. that looks awful thin to me. get come 14 ga., or maybe 1/8" steel. it's alot easier to learn on than thin stuff.
|
|
The Garagemahal
Moderator
Build Thread King
Resident Army Ranger , Navy Seal , Super-Warrior , Ninja !!
Posts: 11,518
|
Post by The Garagemahal on May 9, 2010 16:52:13 GMT -4
Whhooooooooooooooa slow down big fella , there is no race , take your time and stay in the puddle
|
|
90bronco
Jeeper
just smitin'
Posts: 3,415
|
Post by 90bronco on May 9, 2010 16:54:38 GMT -4
I'm by no means an expert welder but as Dan said get some thicker metal and grind it up clean and SLOW DOWN... that was and still is a problem for me and it's hard to go slow on thin metal like you are using . Your not welding a couple pieces together your just laying it on top so it's harder to get what your looking for . it's easier to weld thicker stuff . Get a couple pieces of 1/8 as Dan mentioned or a couple of old bed rails you can cut up in pieces and weld back together . the more you do it the better you will get ..... practice . Just go an inch or so at a time ,have a look , change your tip angle and try again . Dan mentioned circles which works well , i like doing in a U pattern as well .....seems to work better for me most times . Theonlybull helped me a bunch ...... he is a good teach . ;D
|
|
|
Post by theonlybull on May 9, 2010 17:01:58 GMT -4
like dan says, start with some 1/8" plate, put the wire speed in the middle of the " normal welding" range on the dial.
try and slow down, weave a tiny bit, try and let it make a little bit of a pool. keep the gun pointed opposite the direction of travel ( either way works, but start with this)
run a couple beads 2-3" long, next try increasing your wire speed, and keep everything else the same. mark #2 next to this.
keep trying it with litte adjustments, and # them, write the setting down on some paper.
post some more pics up, and we'll give more advice.
don't worry, i've seen worse then that from people who claimed they could weld
|
|
|
Post by PATMAN on May 9, 2010 17:03:56 GMT -4
wicked, ill take that all into consideration for sure:) so for a 1st attempt with a welder that is ghetto like it is(you can see the pics) its not too bad? Shit.. i guess im my own worst critic lol
|
|
mrg
Jeeper
Steering Committee - Halifax
Posts: 2,705
|
Post by mrg on May 9, 2010 17:13:12 GMT -4
This is a great thread, I am looking at getting my first welder soon.
|
|
|
Post by PATMAN on May 9, 2010 18:25:37 GMT -4
So for the 1/8th plate,, or even bed rails *as mentioned before* should i have the heat set to high or low? I found on this thin metal low wasnt enuff it caused more splatter than the desired Bacon Sizzle everyone talks about... Im thinking its fairly obvious the thicker it is the more heat id probally need?
I have bed rails here from an old bed frame, could i just cut that up? or should i go out and pick up some plate? also where's the cheapest place in the valley to pick it up? Do i just go in asking for some 1/8th inch plate or whaaa?
Sorry i know these questions seems dumb as hell but on this subject i know nothing , im lucky i knew to use the ground clamp on the welder lol..
|
|
|
Post by itsakeeper on May 9, 2010 18:54:48 GMT -4
flux core wire or are you using gas ? and if gas what are you using and at what pressure ?
|
|
90bronco
Jeeper
just smitin'
Posts: 3,415
|
Post by 90bronco on May 9, 2010 18:55:16 GMT -4
He is using flux core. Tell tale is the dirty spatter all over.
The old bed frame will be fine , grind up the edges . the spatter you had before might be from not cleaning the metal or if you hold the tip too far away from your welds it works like crap ,i find with flux keep the tip 1/2"-3/4" away from your work . Having the spot where your ground clamps on cleaned up helps too .
|
|
|
Post by theonlybull on May 9, 2010 19:03:59 GMT -4
a scrap yard, or stop at any fab shop, tell then your looking for small off cuts to pratice welding. most will only have small, odd shaped peices, but they can be welded together, then beat apart. should be able to get them fairly cheap. try a couple of the Ag shops, or heavy equipment repair places too. save up a few bucks, and pick up a cheap (40-50$) auto dark helmet too, their cheatin' by anyone old school. but they really do make it alot easier to learn. if you were closer, i'd offer ya a few min's under the hood instructin'...... even if ya don't like trackers
|
|
dan
Jeeper
Membership Co-ord - Valley
Posts: 3,397
|
Post by dan on May 9, 2010 20:16:03 GMT -4
So for the 1/8th plate,, or even bed rails *as mentioned before* should i have the heat set to high or low? I found on this thin metal low wasnt enuff it caused more splatter than the desired Bacon Sizzle everyone talks about... Im thinking its fairly obvious the thicker it is the more heat id probally need? I have bed rails here from an old bed frame, could i just cut that up? or should i go out and pick up some plate? also where's the cheapest place in the valley to pick it up? Do i just go in asking for some 1/8th inch plate or whaaa? Sorry i know these questions seems dumb as hell but on this subject i know nothing , im lucky i knew to use the ground clamp on the welder lol.. as you assume, the thicker metal will need more heat. I bet you anything, though, if you had the welder on LOW, and the wire speed a little lower than you did, you could have laid a decent bead on that sheet metal you were practicing on. slow and steady. for actual steel, if you are going to buy some good pieces, ask for a few feet of 1/8" by 2" hot-rolled strap or something. it is cheap, and can be cut into pieces 6" long or so, and you can weld on them, and then weld them together. good multi-use practice material. butt welds, fillet welds, etc. and just lat welds on the metal. OR, like they have already stated, go to the New Holland shop in the industrial park, or Green diamond, ask at the service desk, they should have lots of scraps in a bin, the guys out back may even be real nice and give it to you if you are really friendly. Bed rails are absolute garbage. they will NOT weld worth a fawk. they are monkey metal, and more likely than anything, the weld won't penetrate enough to keep the metal from falling apart after welding it.
|
|
Hawkes
Hardcore
Lurker
Posts: 5,404
|
Post by Hawkes on May 9, 2010 20:35:57 GMT -4
I've had good luck welding bedframe, I suppose not all are created equal. Just don't try to drill a hole in it!
If you're out of the wind you can take that shield off, it will help you see better. That looks like a shield for gas anyway, should just unscrew.
|
|
|
Post by 76jeep on May 9, 2010 20:38:26 GMT -4
like the guys say slow down play with the heat and wire speed. do not buy your wire from P.A. pay the money and go to a welding suppler. the wire is 10 times better and you will have less problems.
|
|