eastcoastcam
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Is it time to go wheeling yet??
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Post by eastcoastcam on Jan 27, 2012 9:50:25 GMT -4
Yesterday I finally used my brand new 5 year old welder for the first time. This is my welder... Bought it in 2006, with the intent to learn. Better late than never. Only used once (not by me) last March to weld some bolts together to make a longer ones to extend my front bumpstops ;D Since then it has sat on a shelf in the garage waiting for me. After a bunch of pissing around, finally got something that held. First actual bead... The other side... Not pretty, but it wouldn't come apart, after beating it with a hammer, throwing it up in the air and letting it land on the pavement, etc. Butt join two pieces... Close up... Same with this one; not pretty, but took some abuse and didn't come apart That's my start... got to find me some more metal to play with!! ;D I definately need practice, but please tell me what's wrong or right and what I can do to correct. Please remember, before telling me to leave the welding to someone else, that this was my FIRST attempts ever; and YOU too started somewhere and were not perfect.
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Roy & Charlene
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Post by Roy & Charlene on Jan 27, 2012 10:05:22 GMT -4
This would be awesome to hear from the guys that weld so awesome. After all this stuff we weld is getting put to the test when we take it off road or even on the road. Come on guys give us some hints. Pictures or even a video
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Creepy
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Post by Creepy on Jan 27, 2012 12:34:45 GMT -4
beads are sitting really high.
-can be due to not enough heat (low amperage) ,too high a wire speed setting, or too far away from puddle.
poor puddle control - bead is all over the place. need finer control, get closer and look right at the puddle. get your elbows down on something to steady your hands. think about the control needed to pencil in a 1/4" circle. That's what you are trying to do in terms of puddle control. stick your face right in it, until the mask is almost hitting your gloves, then you are close enough to see good.
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justajeep
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Bear River, NS
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Post by justajeep on Jan 27, 2012 12:51:18 GMT -4
When you've been welding for years, you don't even think about it, makes it harder to tell someone else what to do!
I agree with what Jan said about your welds though. Not bad for a first try though.
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eastcoastcam
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Is it time to go wheeling yet??
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Post by eastcoastcam on Jan 27, 2012 13:29:00 GMT -4
beads are sitting really high. -can be due to not enough heat (low amperage) ,too high a wire speed setting, or too far away from puddle. poor puddle control - bead is all over the place. need finer control, get closer and look right at the puddle. get your elbows down on something to steady your hands. think about the control needed to pencil in a 1/4" circle. That's what you are trying to do in terms of puddle control. stick your face right in it, until the mask is almost hitting your gloves, then you are close enough to see good. Thanks for the critique Jan & Alan. I'll take some pics of my next tries to see if any improvement.
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The Garagemahal
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Post by The Garagemahal on Jan 27, 2012 17:17:02 GMT -4
Learning to weld with flux core is really difficult . Its way easier to learn with mig gas , and with someone standing over your shoulder , who can tell you as you go what to do
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Hawkes
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Post by Hawkes on Jan 27, 2012 17:47:31 GMT -4
As a fellow amateur all I can add to Creepy's suggestion of getting as close as you can is put lots of light on the work. I use a 150W halogen work light.
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Creepy
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Post by Creepy on Jan 27, 2012 18:19:25 GMT -4
Was looking again - since you didn't whine at first critique - ( yay! i hate when peolpe ask for help, then whine at the answer)
Look at that last pic..the lower half. it is distinct that you were trying to 'do the weave'. You can see the 'S' pattern there. Now the problem is the bead is not filled out to cover your tracks. Going too fast.
You need to slow down, tighten up that weave. Don't go so far side-to side. The heat is getting out of the puddle, and its just piling up melted wire. You need to be in the puddle more, and roll it around to melt into the base metal more. localize the arc heat in a tighter weave, go slower.
Its a bit difficult to write how to control the puddle. Its the molten area right at the tip. focus on the molten area the whole time.
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Post by theonlybull on Jan 27, 2012 18:23:44 GMT -4
turn you heat down, untill the arc starts burning back up the wire, then up it a little.
alan's right, it's really hard to tell someone how to do things when you kinda do it without thinking.
flux cored is really hard to get a nice bead. IMHO
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Post by 76jeep on Jan 27, 2012 18:44:19 GMT -4
I hate using flux core. It is easer to use gas and non flux core wire.
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eastcoastcam
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Is it time to go wheeling yet??
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Post by eastcoastcam on Jan 27, 2012 20:12:01 GMT -4
Here is my next question... Everything I have read and video I have watched says that machine setup is key to a good flux bead. But none of them show it, they just go ahead and demonstrate a picture perfect bead . So my question relates to temp. setting and wire speed. Higher temp, faster wire?? I have some 3/16 plate that I am playing with here, so should I be using higher temps?
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Hawkes
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Post by Hawkes on Jan 27, 2012 21:27:56 GMT -4
Here is my next question... Everything I have read and video I have watched says that machine setup is key to a good flux bead. But none of them show it, they just go ahead and demonstrate a picture perfect bead . So my question relates to temp. setting and wire speed. Higher temp, faster wire?? I have some 3/16 plate that I am playing with here, so should I be using higher temps? You won't likely burn through it so turn up the heat then dial down until it looks better. You don't need the 2 pieces to weld together, you can practice running a bead on the flat.
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eastcoastcam
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Is it time to go wheeling yet??
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Post by eastcoastcam on Jan 28, 2012 0:05:17 GMT -4
You won't likely burn through it so turn up the heat then dial down until it looks better. You don't need the 2 pieces to weld together, you can practice running a bead on the flat. That's what I will try. Thanks.
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justajeep
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Post by justajeep on Jan 28, 2012 8:39:26 GMT -4
How many amps is that mig? 3/16 is probably it's max rated thickness, so you'd want it turned up full power, then adjust your wire speed to get good results.
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Post by Dieselfan on Jan 28, 2012 10:04:43 GMT -4
As for a tip from an amature........ventelation ventelation and ventelation. I place a fan behind me when in a tight spot. Keeps the fumes moving. Also be aware of coatings on the back side of what you are welding. Galvanized metal will give off poisonous gas. Be consious of things and your lungs will thank you later in life. Also...clean solid metal welds better. Rusty pitted dimples will splatter instead of letting you get a clean puddle. Just my 2 cents.
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