dan

[hobbyweldor230]

I wanted to manfacture B B Q pits out of gas pipe but how do you make those fish scale beads with mig and what type of method and wire would you use?.....the material is about a 1/4 to 3/8 and for the legs like sch 40 2 inch o.d. I seen some awesome mig welding down where i live at...the beads look flawless with perfect even scales and I asked them what they use to weld that so good and they said mig.Could you give me a brief instruction.I already know how to mig but i have trouble setting the wire speed/voltage and all the other goodies....A few simple rules perhaps?....thanks for your time man!

[Dan]

For 1/4" - 3/8" I would use an .035 E70S-6. If your using C-25 as your shielding gas you want your load voltage to be beween 18 and 19 volts. For CO2 20 to 21 volts. On most conventional all in one machines a wire speed setting of 36% to 40% generally puts you were you need to be for the wire speed. Your looking at somewhere between 240 and 280 IPM of wire being fed. If your right handed and pushing the weld puddle, the oscillation is a clock wise elliptical motion. Right handed and pulling the weld use a counter clockwise elliptical motion.

Im attaching a picture that i attempted to draw the motion on for you. The red dots indicate a pause. Also, the elliptical motions should be a little closer together then i am able to draw them.

[Hobbyweldor23O]

Dan, I just get a chill up my spine every time I see a weld with that appearance!

[Goat]

Dan,
Would you recommend the same weave when butt welding in the flat position?

[Dan]

Originally posted by Goat
Dan,
Would you recommend the same weave when butt welding in the flat position?

No.


On a flat position butt joint just travel straight or use a slight side to side weave if neccessary.

However, depending on the material thickness, I sometime use this oscillation on horizontal butt joints.

[hobbyweldor230]

Originally posted by Hobbyweldor23O
Dan, I just get a chill up my spine every time I see a weld with that appearance!

That is just cute lol,you are just like my little brother!

[hobbyweldor230]

Dan

Thank you for the pic,I really enjoyed that one.That was exactly what I was looking for! Thanks for the correct settings and voltage.

I could just gawk at that weld all day!

[Charles Sand]

This begs the question...

Is this "fish scale" bead better than a smoother bead?
Does it serve a purpose other than to impress supe..people?
I would think a steady travel speed would be better.

[Dan]

Re: This begs the question...

Originally posted by Charles Sand
Is this "fish scale" bead better than a smoother bead?
Does it serve a purpose other than to impress supe..people?
I would think a steady travel speed would be better.

Charles,

This oscillation gives you better control of the weld puddle on over head fillets and horizontal butt joints then a steady travel that tends to create a weld bead that wants to sag. Remember though were mainly talking about 1/4" - 3/8" mild steel and in the short circuit transfer mode with a solid wire. I would never use this oscillation with a fluxcore wire, because i d be worried about trapping slag.

[echo8287]

Dan's New Adventure

Hey Dan ,why don't you publish a little welding type book with:
1. different type joints,
2. type of travel that is best,
3.with destruction testing,
4.approximate weld setting for different machines(Miller)
5.Pictures of all the above
6. Tips and tricks
7.Different materials and different thicknesses
8.Square tube,round tube,angle,etc.
9.joint preparations
10.wire selection
Then you can sell them and quit your day job! It makes perfect sense to me since your are fanatical in a good way!
David

[realhfd]

Hey yeah, send me a copy and I'll proofread it for ya

[Guest]

Re: This begs the question...

Originally posted by Charles Sand
Is this "fish scale" bead better than a smoother bead?
Does it serve a purpose other than to impress supe..people?
I would think a steady travel speed would be better.

Charles, Dan is right on. If I may add to his comment, the oscillation also will give you root penetration, which is very important in a MIG weld, while a steady straight motion quite often when done by hand, will not, since the metal being deposited will pile up and not penetrate. In a spray arc weld, however, straight and steady is the way to go.

In flux core, I do use the oscillation....sorry Dan.

[Dan]

Re: Re: This begs the question...

Originally posted by Rocky D


Charles, Dan is right on. If I may add to his comment, the oscillation also will give you root penetration, which is very important in a MIG weld, while a steady straight motion quite often when done by hand, will not, since the metal being deposited will pile up and not penetrate. In a spray arc weld, however, straight and steady is the way to go.

In flux core, I do use the oscillation....sorry Dan.

Rocky,

Excellent addition to this topic. I had planned on adding info similar to yours tonight when i got home from work. However I don t have to now.

As far as not using this oscillation with fluxcore this is just my own personal preference.

[Charles Sand]

Fish scales

Dan and Rocky,
thanks for the info.