General Welding Questions & Answers / Hints & Tips
- Thread starter rdinatal
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Nope. Gound one side and start making sparks. Once you make a couple of tac welds they are "one" piece of metal anyway.
*im not a certified welder nor did I stay in a holiday inn express last night.
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*im not a certified welder nor did I stay in a holiday inn express last night.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Most require a grind to get good penetration. The square groove weld shown below, has the material far enough apart to fill the joint with weld. Be careful to watch the puddle and not have the molten weld fall out the bottom.
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Hp468 nailed it, but I'll add that that when welding two different gauges of metal I always ground the thicker material when possible. Most of my welding is done on one of my 1" thick welding tables so i simply ground the table itself to keep the cord out of the way.
OP
Ah, that's another piece of info! Thanks.
I don't have a permanent table so I'll need to clamp the pieces in position using a thick steel bar and C-clamps. Then clamp the bar to my table to keep all from moving.
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Something else that might help is try to keep the ground close to the material you are working on. I have a 110 wire feed that I use flux core wire in, and it works a lot better with the ground very close. My stick machine isn’t as critical, but if you have a small machine it might help some.
OP
Ok, I've been practicing. Started out really bad but then slowed down. Played with wire speed but kept the voltage the same. Only need one variable at a time.. I see how it's best to let the wire do its job and feed into the work.
Still think I need to slow down further but I'm having a difficult time seeing the puddle. There was once or twice that I thought I saw it and those were the best welds. The helmet seems too dark.
Is the puddle that difficult to see once it forms?
Still think I need to slow down further but I'm having a difficult time seeing the puddle. There was once or twice that I thought I saw it and those were the best welds. The helmet seems too dark.
Is the puddle that difficult to see once it forms?
You need to be able to see the puddle.
In addition to the great advice thus far, I would add that not only is it best to ground as close as possible to where you are welding, you also need to figure out what the electrode's path to ground will be. For instance, if you are welding on something with electronics or bearings (such as a vehicle), you don't want the current flowing through either one.
In addition to the great advice thus far, I would add that not only is it best to ground as close as possible to where you are welding, you also need to figure out what the electrode's path to ground will be. For instance, if you are welding on something with electronics or bearings (such as a vehicle), you don't want the current flowing through either one.
OP
Supposed to be adjustable. Delay, sensitivity and another. I need to check it out.
Good clean ground close to the work area. The joint is clean too. Just sticking pieces of steel together right now.
Good clean ground close to the work area. The joint is clean too. Just sticking pieces of steel together right now.
Start with thicker metal to learn on. It's more forgiving, and much easier to weld than the thin stuff.
The shade value, 10 is a good starting level.
Your eyes are always protected from UV by the lens, the shading helps you see the what you are welding.
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Also play with pulling the wire down the joint and pushing it up (into) the joint.
You will get a difference in penetration.
You will get a difference in penetration.
Obviously you've already got your wire and gas, but when you run out, it would benefit you to get a roll of flux core wire and an appropriate shielding gas to run with it....they call it dual-sheilding and its very forgiving when it comes to porosity....its easy for a noob to get frustrated when the welds look like garbage due to incorrect gun angle and this helps but at the cost of not learning proper technique from the start.
OP
Did you just assume my gender? Oh, wrong thread...
I'm running flux core with correct polarity. I've read a lot of books, also watched videos from actual welders (not the U-Tube wannabes). I have scrap that I've picked up (free) in various sizes from 1/16 to 3/16. I now have some good tracks (penetration on both pieces) for a short length but then loose it. Just trying to get the wire speed and power understood.
I know I was going too fast at first (the sparks, oh the sparks!
). Once I slowed down I'm more consistent but do need improvement. After each try I clean off the slag for inspection, learn and go back to the books. I know it would be faster to have some instruction...
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practice running beads on a piece of plate laid flat...get that down and move onto joining pieces while you can still weld in the same position. save the vertical stuff until you've got a grip on the basics. seeing the puddle is a necessity. its not always easy to see the puddle AND the joint as that (for me anyway) requires so light of a shade that the arc hurts my eyes.....I like to cheat and use a bright flashlight aimed at the joint to allow me to run a darker shade and still see/follow the joint.
Theories and methods aside, the ONLY way to learn is to jump in and go for it.
Theories and methods aside, the ONLY way to learn is to jump in and go for it.
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OP
It might help to find someone that has an idea what’s going on to help you a bit. My cousin let me write my name on a scrap with his machine and I was hooked. When I bought my stick machine I took it to him for the basics. Everything after that I’ve learned myself, especially how to grind out the bad ones. When I get a shop built eventually I will teach myself tig. Last piece of advice I have for now is that I think the puddle looks like flowing lava in a way. You can see the orange of the hot metal under the blackish looking slag on top.
OP
That seems to be the key. When I thought I saw the puddle, worked that at it's own pace the welds were good. Too fast and they were spotty.
OP
So, with the CFF Collective's knowledge (had to go back to the manual, dang!) I adjusted the shading of my helmet. I needed a bit more background light so I moved the work into the sunlight. I could see the puddle if I let it form (ha!!). I think I was in too much of a hurry before.
Did a bit more practice today on 1/8". While this is a weld I would say still needs more practice, I think it's good for my experience. I do need to get it a bit smoother and consistant. That's what learning is, right?
Here's the first run on a lap joint. I was a bit fast and over ran the puddle... Lots of splatter but I can't seem to get it less. Is this 'normal' for flux core wire?
Next, I slowed down but I needed to shift position every once and a while. When that happened I lost it, then gained a good weld for a while, then lost it again when I needed to shift.
Third is another try. Still need to smooth the transition between holds.
What do you do when you need to move? Stop or know how to move along with the weld?
Is (hope) the result good so far? Not too good? I can improve with more practice (only 3 times so far). Yes, a welding course would help but I'm not able to attend due to my work schedule. My full time job is priority over a hobby and it's very demanding.
I'm read, set, go.
Did a bit more practice today on 1/8". While this is a weld I would say still needs more practice, I think it's good for my experience. I do need to get it a bit smoother and consistant. That's what learning is, right?
Here's the first run on a lap joint. I was a bit fast and over ran the puddle... Lots of splatter but I can't seem to get it less. Is this 'normal' for flux core wire?
Next, I slowed down but I needed to shift position every once and a while. When that happened I lost it, then gained a good weld for a while, then lost it again when I needed to shift.
Third is another try. Still need to smooth the transition between holds.
What do you do when you need to move? Stop or know how to move along with the weld?
Is (hope) the result good so far? Not too good? I can improve with more practice (only 3 times so far). Yes, a welding course would help but I'm not able to attend due to my work schedule. My full time job is priority over a hobby and it's very demanding.
I'm read, set, go.
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You're outrunning the puddle. Slow down and maintain the puddle to shape the weld.
You don't "need to move". You never stop moving, the motion is constant from when you start the arc till the weld is finished.
Practice, practice, practice.
You don't "need to move". You never stop moving, the motion is constant from when you start the arc till the weld is finished.
Practice, practice, practice.
OP
Your welds look too cold. In answer to your question, yes flux core makes more spatter.
Personally I prefer hard wire and gas over flux core. In some situations I will use dual shield for heavy mig welding, but in your application solid wire would be better, imo.
Personally I prefer hard wire and gas over flux core. In some situations I will use dual shield for heavy mig welding, but in your application solid wire would be better, imo.
You can't really plant your hands anywhere. Gotta maintain the torch angle but be able to move the length of the weld without obstruction or stopping. Practice every weld by going through the motions first without pulling the trigger until you feel confident in it. Being comfortable is a huge part of welding.
Well stated and spot on.
Dry runs will help, make sure you are comfortable and steady before actually pulling the trigger. Consistency is the key, and being steady helps with that. Sometimes you can prop on your elbows to help.
Try this:
Get your angle, then hang a finger down on the table or other part of the work, out of the way. Then slide the whole mess down the joint keeping contact and angle while welding.
Get your angle, then hang a finger down on the table or other part of the work, out of the way. Then slide the whole mess down the joint keeping contact and angle while welding.
Double check you are set to use DC Negative for flux core and adjust your speed and voltage by using the chart inside the door of the welder or in the manual.
Try a few runs w/o powering up the welder, this will help you get used to the motion,
when you feel good then power it up and try it.
Good info here
https://www.millerwelds.com/resources/article-library/flux-cored-welding-the-basics-for-mild-steel
This video shows you how to keep your puddle pushed. Good instruction here.
Try a few runs w/o powering up the welder, this will help you get used to the motion,
when you feel good then power it up and try it.
Good info here
https://www.millerwelds.com/resources/article-library/flux-cored-welding-the-basics-for-mild-steel
This video shows you how to keep your puddle pushed. Good instruction here.
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OP
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Flux core spatters a lot. When the work gets important, spray the area with nozzle/spatter shield spray. Makes clean up easier of the hell balls.
Also as someone earlier has said, let your hands slide with the weld.I hold the torch in my right hand and cup my left hand under and slide along the table on my pinkie. Sounds strange, but it comes natural after a while. Slow your speed down a little and lit it puddle some more. I usually tell guys learning to make "smiley faces" in the puddle. Looks good!
Also as someone earlier has said, let your hands slide with the weld.I hold the torch in my right hand and cup my left hand under and slide along the table on my pinkie. Sounds strange, but it comes natural after a while. Slow your speed down a little and lit it puddle some more. I usually tell guys learning to make "smiley faces" in the puddle. Looks good!
Don't rest your hand on the table.