Welding Tips and Tricks

I've been working on my 3G stick with 7018 and been doing a little bit of everything. I watched Jodys video and talked to the instructor and they agree that there is still both in practice for vertical stick. Which is more common in what fields? I know guys like icweld and repair work run weaves but what is the difference. I've heard weaving puts in more heat and produces differences in the grain.-Jody

Learn both, but focus more on stringers/weaves, do both in a test?

Also any tips for 3G on 3/8" plate. I've been putting a root in with 1/8" Excalibur at around 115-129 amps with 2-3 fills with 3/32" on a weave or stringer at around 75 amps and then a weave cap with 1/8"around 120 amps.

The tests I've taken on pipe all specified stringers. I make my stringers with a very slight weave. On field work I do either. Especially on sch 40 pipe or on socket welds I'll weave the cover but that's because after the root I only have room for a hot pas and then the cover. Or if it's low pressure stuff i.e. Under 100 psi (but not if it's steam or any kind of gas) sometimes it's just weave a cover after the root.

Poland308 wrote:The tests I've taken on pipe all specified stringers. I make my stringers with a very slight weave. On field work I do either. Especially on sch 40 pipe or on socket welds I'll weave the cover but that's because after the root I only have room for a hot pas and then the cover. Or if it's low pressure stuff i.e. Under 100 psi (but not if it's steam or any kind of gas) sometimes it's just weave a cover after the root.

What's the cut off point of running stringers with a slight weave say on a root pass vs a full weave? Size like 1/4" and above is a weave?

Not a specific width. But a weave would have the tell tale signs in the trail that the puddle had totally cooled on one side while you were swinging over to the other side. There's a visible side to side pattern. I'll run a few sticks tomorrow and post a pic or two of the diferances.

A "stringer" lets you oscillate the thickness of the rod. For a 1/8" rod you can "weave" 1/8" and still call it a stringer.

Steve

An old wise welder once told me "when taking a welding test take every advantage they will allow you. Use the smallest rods allowed for control even if its on 1" plate. Grind smooth between passes even if you don't think it needs it. Always use stringers. Take your time and do it right. There is nothing worse than being the guy sweeping floors in the shop while everyone else is out welding because you were trying to do it fast and failed the test."

You should also always check the WPS sheet and/or ask who ever is administering the test what the requirement is.

PeteM wrote:You should also always check the WPS sheet and/or ask who ever is administering the test what the requirement is.

There is no WPS in this case-hell I don't have any papers like the rest of the students. The instructor invited me up to come burn rod when I could for free so he told me what to do with what and I did it. Learned a lot-7018s in general, horizontal, vertical techniques, job totes and what to look for, prepping plates, doing a bend test, what to look for when doing bend tests, fixing undercut, etc. He said do whichever for now because he knows I'll be back to officially take the class and pay for the credit so I will learn to do both regardless. I may want to get a thing with repairs on machinery so weaving may be helpful but I'll run stringers later or after I try to do a bend test on my 3G. Or maybe I'll try to run some overhead on a fillet just to get my foot wet. Right now my mind is on burning rod and getting some stuff down so I don't have to later.

Farmwelding wrote: Right now my mind is on burning rod and getting some stuff down so I don't have to later.

That is a good place for it. Then when you have to do one for the money it won't matter if its stringer or weave, you'll just be able to hit it without hesitation.

PeteM wrote:

Farmwelding wrote: Right now my mind is on burning rod and getting some stuff down so I don't have to later.

That is a good place for it. Then when you have to do one for the money it won't matter if its stringer or weave, you'll just be able to hit it without hesitation.

Doer of all master of none right. Find a sweet spot for everything but don't do only one and be limited to it. Especially if your like me and have no idea where you want to work(only have 1.5 years till I can start full time). I'm not wasting my time up there either. First one down last one up and bribing rod if I have to wait for something or talking shop with the instructors or another student. Trying to set up on a different machine every once in awhile to figure set up, settings, arc characeristics, features. Basically I'm dining what everyone has told me. Engage yourself. Don't just do what you have to do and then stand around drinking and eating. Hopefully with doing all this extra stuff I'll have time to hopefully do some pipe and more fab work.

I'm using my "welding bible" as a reference on this one.

Basically it says welding stringers are easier to lay down and CAN be as strong as weave beads. Weaves being done correctly, the bead should not exceed more than two times the rod diameter.

After reading that, for tests during school I would do stringers as they were easier to control. Instead of doing a decent weave, I made great stringers since it was easier

Brettmm92 wrote:I'm using my "welding bible" as a reference on this one.

Basically it says welding stringers are easier to lay down and CAN be as strong as weave beads. Weaves being done correctly, the bead should not exceed more than two times the rod diameter.

After reading that, for tests during school I would do stringers as they were easier to control. Instead of doing a decent weave, I made great stringers since it was easier

Proof once again that no two welders do it quite the same. I find a weave easier, and have worked jobs where a pipe cap could be four rod diameters wide, or 1/2" for a 1/8" rod. I think I find the weave easier because my hands tend to shake slightly (have for many years, perhaps from a head injury combined with too many years of alcohol...), and when I weave, I give the shake a natural path to follow and wind up with much more consistent beads. When I have to do stringers, the shaking is a bit more random, and I get an inconsistent depth of fill.

I knew a woman who welded for Plass that could lay dead-perfect stringers 10-wide on 24" code steam pipe. I envied that steadiness. She was also the only person who smelled good on the elevator...

Steve

Yeah I'm like Steve my stringers are crap especially compared to my weaves-weaves aren't perfect but still

It seems to be a lot more forgiving in every regard-shakiness included.

Otto Nobedder wrote: I think I find the weave easier because my hands tend to shake slightly

I knew a woman who welded for Plass that could lay dead-perfect stringers 10-wide on 24" code steam pipe. I envied that steadiness. She was also the only person who smelled good on the elevator...

Steve

Of any number of things it could be, one likelihood is manganism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manganism

Also, I'd heard (some studies in psych courses I took) that women generally have better fine motor skill and articulation. I taught my niece to weld, and she picked it up very quickly and demonstrated a great deal of skill (running 3G in a couple of hours, and overhead in a similar time frame). In production she did great too, but has given it up for a while to raise her kids.

I took the 3g test with the wrong plates last night(they were a little short) but they fit into the bender and I passed flawlessly on the root and had just a speck of porosity on the face on one of my restarts. Before I burned 7018, I thought I was never going to be able to stick weld because I sucked, but after passing 1 2g and 3g bend test in about 24 hours total practice time and test time, I think I have a shot at getting good at stick after a good bit of practice which will be all the time. I am kind of sad that yesterday was the last day because I was looking forward to overhead.

Now a question: The other students who are actually taking the class and there more than me said either 3g or 4g was harder. There was no concesus. Is there one that is harder, or is it per person? Is there one that requires more skill?

Its person to person. Once you have a good bit of time on the metal, get comfortable with a good setting and get used to the actual motion- they're pretty much all the same. You can't get complacent (not that you would) and assume that the weld will make itself, but it does get easier.

Just don't get too into what you're listening to on the I pod and use the stinger to crash the cymbal. That makes a mess.

PeteM wrote:Its person to person. Once you have a good bit of time on the metal, get comfortable with a good setting and get used to the actual motion- they're pretty much all the same. You can't get complacent (not that you would) and assume that the weld will make itself, but it does get easier.

Just don't get too into what you're listening to on the I pod and use the stinger to crash the cymbal. That makes a mess.

Yeah I hear you on that. I will rarely listen to music when I weld. Usually tig welding since it usual is a little quieter at least for DC. And I try to wear ear plugs to and even without ear plugs I don't need any more noise. Although it would be pretty funny to watch somebody do a nice cymbal crash.

And I know never to get to comfortable running something. That's when undercut, slag inclusions, and all the other fun stuff happens.

Otto Nobedder wrote:

Brettmm92 wrote:I'm using my "welding bible" as a reference on this one.

Basically it says welding stringers are easier to lay down and CAN be as strong as weave beads. Weaves being done correctly, the bead should not exceed more than two times the rod diameter.

After reading that, for tests during school I would do stringers as they were easier to control. Instead of doing a decent weave, I made great stringers since it was easier

Proof once again that no two welders do it quite the same. I find a weave easier, and have worked jobs where a pipe cap could be four rod diameters wide, or 1/2" for a 1/8" rod. I think I find the weave easier because my hands tend to shake slightly (have for many years, perhaps from a head injury combined with too many years of alcohol...), and when I weave, I give the shake a natural path to follow and wind up with much more consistent beads. When I have to do stringers, the shaking is a bit more random, and I get an inconsistent depth of fill.

I knew a woman who welded for Plass that could lay dead-perfect stringers 10-wide on 24" code steam pipe. I envied that steadiness. She was also the only person who smelled good on the elevator...

Steve

I agree that any small repetitive motion helps (me) to keep the arm forearm etc relax. For whatever reason.

Now anyway I want the puddle to tell me if I need to accelerste or slow, if the angle need to be corrected, so moving relax butg not managing the puddle at the same time is probably not the way to go.

I noticed that I obtained the best "cooking" when making small circles (2 rod thickness diameter)
The covering just goes out immediately. I wish I can obtain the same with stringers
.
So small circles mean less heat (but well distributed) .? That is why I was said these are better used on thin materials...

Regards

4G SHOULD be harder .
My friend who welded pipes some time ago say 3g is "easy" because we are guided (making beads or stingers vertical on a flat surface is more difficult, while with a corner or a 60 deg angle the walls are used to mount the beads.)

@farmwelding, if you may want to keep some "bible" all the guides and posters on the Lincoln web site can be obtained "free" just pass an "order" for what you'd like to receive ( very good pocket guides for different processes all those can be downloaded too)

here you can download the 'stick welding guide' it is a really good reference. If you do not have it yet ..http://lincolnelectric.com/assets/globa ... /c2410.pdf

Farmwelding wrote: Now a question: The other students who are actually taking the class and there more than me said either 3g or 4g was harder. There was no concesus. Is there one that is harder, or is it per person? Is there one that requires more skill?

Pipe 6G small bore 2 inch sch 40 open root 6010. 7018 cap stringers only.

Otto Nobedder wrote:A "stringer" lets you oscillate the thickness of the rod. For a 1/8" rod you can "weave" 1/8" and still call it a stringer.

Steve

Can you please tell me what mean the guy in that 7018 text from Lincoln where he state :
"When welding the second pass, use a weaving motion or stringer technique. If you opt to weave, think of the number 8 sideways and move from left to right. Also, pay close attention to the bead width when using the weaving technique. Try to keep it at ¾" or smaller for the maximum width overall after multiple passes. For the stringer motion, create the letter “I” and follow in a straight motion "

(That mean a stringer then another next to it ? It is not a "ladder" )
As I don't know the direction of the weld, I thought that for the 8 this is a normal 8 may be a little pinched that goes from left to right recovering itself (?)

Thanks if you have a little time for that. I do not get well the restart explanations, too (I do not understand what is particular in his description of restarts)

http://m.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/supp ... egory.aspx

Regards

Farmwelding wrote:

PeteM wrote:Its person to person. Once you have a good bit of time on the metal, get comfortable with a good setting and get used to the actual motion- they're pretty much all the same. You can't get complacent (not that you would) and assume that the weld will make itself, but it does get easier.

Just don't get too into what you're listening to on the I pod and use the stinger to crash the cymbal. That makes a mess.

Yeah I hear you on that. I will rarely listen to music when I weld. Usually tig welding since it usual is a little quieter at least for DC. And I try to wear ear plugs to and even without ear plugs I don't need any more noise. Although it would be pretty funny to watch somebody do a nice cymbal crash.

And I know never to get to comfortable running something. That's when undercut, slag inclusions, and all the other fun stuff happens.

Farm weld, I may admit I have no idea of the type of training you did attend. Was in a welding school, a "camp" ?
(Just curious)
As I was stressing too much at the beginning I used to listen to music I like , could be salsa, reggae, rock, it helped me to move more supple. I stopped after a while and concentrated more on the sound of the weld and welder machine.

Regards

Well next year I'll be a senior in high school but this last year and next year I got/get to take classes at my local tech school, but in this instance I was not taking an actual welding class the last semester because of a dumb pointless class...either way a welding instructor that teaches there came down with a box of 3/32" 7018s that were crap we found out but I saw him a week later and told him and he said to come up and he'd show me some stuff and then threw me into the fire...literally and figuratively. So it was a lucky shot that I happened to see him and he liked me and I can at least make it seem like I know what I'm talking about

This is an example of stringers.

Thanks, Farmwelding, you have been lucky I suppose it is normal sometime best of luck for the next year .!

The stringer : no manipulation or very little there ? Is the upper weld 3 times the diameter of the rod.

No way to test those types with penetrating dye I suppose. ?

What 'tricks' are possible to repair or correct undercut ? Farmwelding seem to say something about...

Thank you