welds from class tonight

[morpheus]

this first pic is of a ??? weld, not sure what you call it. I call it a horizontal butt joint. not sure how to do it better, the weld kinda gets fat and sags down a bit ... I'm using a Hobart Ironman 250 ... sweet machine

[morpheus]

this pic is of one of my personal best t-joints (not a great pic). perhaps mediocre for some of you fulltime weldors but my consistency on making a good weld is really getting better.

[cope]

That tee joint looks pretty good. All it needs is a handle and you can sell it to RockyD for his persuader collection.

[ZACHV]

Jack, how do you like that class? Seems like you are getting a lot out of it. Did the instructor have any suggestions on either one?

[Guest]

Re: welds from class tonight

Originally posted by morpheus
this first pic is of a ??? weld, not sure what you call it. I call it a horizontal butt joint. not sure how to do it better, the weld kinda gets fat and sags down a bit ... I'm using a Hobart Ironman 250 ... sweet machine

Jack, I see your consistency and steadiness you have good control, now just speed it up. You need to be going about twice as fast. to be rid of the cold lap. Is short...you're trying too hard...but thats ok, we all do at first.
The secret to becoming a valuable employee, is get good at what you do, then become fast at doing good.

[Bobby]

Where are you taking your class at? I took one semester in college that focused on mig/arc & gas welding. was definitely worth the time, but now i'm thinking of taking a more indepth class at the local VoTech.

Just need to come up with the cash to do it.

[morpheus]

Re: Re: welds from class tonight

Originally posted by Rocky D


Jack, I see your consistency and steadiness you have good control, now just speed it up. You need to be going about twice as fast. to be rid of the cold lap.

thanks for the compliment and tip Rocky. Just to be sure you're talking about the butt joint or whatever it's called right ?

the weld in the picture there was made by just butting the two pieces of metal together and welding the seam on the outside. I was looking at a Hobart welding manual I have last night and it showed pics of welding a joint like that with the upper piece beveled at 45. which I didn't do ...

- jack

[morpheus]

Jack, how do you like that class? Seems like you are getting a lot out of it. Did the instructor have any suggestions on either one?

The instructor said my t-joints and butt joints are quite good now. I've also worked alot on vertical down which I've just about mastered consistently. I started working on overhead t-joints last night which I thought I did fairly well at.


I asked the instructor about the weld in question and he said "that was gonna happen" ... which didn't make me real happy to hear that since I knew I was doing something wrong. A few weeks ago I wanted him to show me how to get the machine (Hobart Ironman 250) up to spray arc. He said gruffly that he didn't know what I was talking about. he's a good guy though, alot of welding experience.


I need to work on vertical up some. I need to read some but I'm not sure in what case you'd use vertical up over vertical down or vice/versa ???

I feel I've gotten a good handle on making good welds consistently what I need help with now is how to put things together correctly. I've heard Rocky and others mention "wrapping the corners" on welds and stuff like that, that's the kind of stuff I feel I don't know. I'm also bad about burning off the end of a piece if I weld up to the very end when I'm welding things together. This happens real bad whenever I try to wrap around the corner of a weld to finish it up.

I'm getting alot out of the class though, just the consistent practice is the best overall thing. Then to have someone stop by you workstation every now and then and critique what you're doing really makes a difference over time. For what I'm paying for the class the practice alone is well worth the cost considering how much gas/steel/wire/electricity I've used up. Not to mention, some advice on top of that. I spent a couple of weeks trying my hand at tig welding. I've learned all kinds of stuff.

Where are you taking your class at? I took one semester in college that focused on mig/arc & gas welding. was definitely worth the time, but now i'm thinking of taking a more indepth class at the local VoTech.

I'm taking this class at a continuing educational type place at night. I guess it's a Vocational Tech school. It's got all kind of classes going on(computers, cooking, body shop, machine shop, house bldg,etc). This welding class is great in my opinion.
The class meets for 3 hours a night once a week for 15 weeks and it only cost $100. They've got all kind of welders in class.

There are:

3 - Hobart Ironman 250's
2 - Miller Syncrowave 300's
1 - Miller Syncrowave 250
10 - Miller big dc stick machines (quit old it appears, they weld nice and smooth though)
? - a couple of other TIG machines I can't identify by name (all Miller)
1 - another dc stick machine of the red brand
? - another couple of odd Miller machines with remote wire feeders or aluminum push/pull guns or some attachment I'm not familiar with.

It's fun, really laid back learn by doing at your own pace kind of class. I went into the class being a decent weldor. This has really helped me become alot better, alot more confident in my welds and abilities in all kinds of positions.

- jack

[matts427]

I totally agree with Rocky! Your consistancy is looking good. My suggestion would be to try pushing the puddle, not pulling like it looks like you're doing. Pushing would be pointing the gun in the direction of travel, pulling is pointing the gun at the weld you've allready put down. Pushing will give you better penetration and a flatter bead. It doesn't take much, but I think you'll notice a big difference, especially if you speed up. If you feel uncomfortable going much faster, then don't. Instead, play with your settings until it works for you. Welders are not only adjustable so you can weld different materials, they're adjustable so you can tailor the machine to how you weld. I've noticed VAST differences in settings for different people on the same material.... and not one of them was wrong! Personal preference plays a big role in your welding.

Also, what works for me when you're wrapping the end of a weld, when you get to the very end of the joint, apply filler to the base metal, and wash UP onto the other piece. That way it won't want to undercut (I can't think of the right word here)... it won't try to pull as much material from the second piece. Make sense? I didn't think so....

[morpheus]

I was pushing that weld matt. I think it's just the way the pic looks that makes it looks like I was pulling it. Looking at the pic I welded from right to left pushing the weld. After Rocky mentioned it a few months ago I push almost all my welds now, so much more control.

I might turn the wire speed down just a bit and try that some more next week.

I'll give that a try wrapping the ends, maybe i can do that without burning the end/corner off like usual. thanks.

- jack

[Dan]

Originally posted by morpheus
this pic is of one of my personal best t-joints (not a great pic). perhaps mediocre for some of you fulltime weldors but my consistency on making a good weld is really getting better.

Jack

looks like a nice consistent rate of travel, however the weld bead looks like it has a lot of cold lap. First suggestion would be to try an increase the voltage so that the weld bead will wet out for you. However, since the Ironman 250 is a tapped voltage selection going up one setting may be to much of a jump. So you might just have to incorporate a slight side to side weave into you travel. If these still don t help start reducing the wire some.

[morpheus]

are you talking about the tjoint dan ?

I've tried and tried to weavea bit on tjoints but I always get undercut on the upright piece of metal when I do. the tjoint in the pic was made by me traveling in circles pushing the weld. I'd really like some tips on being able to weave without undercutting it.

thanks.

- jack

[ZACHV]

A slight pause at each edge of the weld puddle has helped me from under cutting.

[Guest]

Maybe this will help, Jack. The red dots are slight hesitations. As you swing down, keep it moving till you reach the next red dot. Hesitate too long, and you will under cut. Practice, etc.

[morpheus]

I'll give that a try guys, but to be honest pausing up on the topside of the joint sure doesn't seem like it would stop making
the undercut. I'll try it though. thanks for the tips.

- jack