Welding Tips and Tricks

Hello all, I'm doing some 100x100x5mm posts on 250x250x10mm bases and wondering if I should grind a slight bevel on the posts. Using 7016's on one run all round at 115 amps. All of these I've ever seen are usually MIGed on one run. This is for myself so no WPS.

If it were my own project, yes, I'd put a bit of bevel, just for the added "connection zone". Hell, just for the practice.

Your mileage may vary.

Steve S

I'd put a slight bevel, not so much that it will require 2 passes to get your required filet leg size, but enough to sink some weld in.

1/8' at 115-135 depending machine, with a 1/8"/3.2mm rods.

Have fun

Otto Nobedder wrote:If it were my own project, yes, I'd put a bit of bevel, just for the added "connection zone". Hell, just for the practice.

Your mileage may vary.

Steve S

Thanks Steve, some guesswork on my part about the penetration re. MIG v Stick. I have limited experience with MIG so assume when these are MIGed one run there is a better penetration and also there would probably be no advantage in doing 3 passes with stick when one part of the parent material is only 5mm.

AKweldshop wrote:I'd put a slight bevel, not so much that it will require 2 passes to get your required filet leg size, but enough to sink some weld in.

1/8' at 115-135 depending machine, with a 1/8"/3.2mm rods.

Have fun

Ah, yes...Rods are 3.2 so fillet is around 7mm. Sorry for imposing the metric. Is that 9/32?

gnabgib wrote:

AKweldshop wrote:I'd put a slight bevel, not so much that it will require 2 passes to get your required filet leg size, but enough to sink some weld in.

I'd run 115-135amps depending on machine, with a 1/8"/3.2mm rods.

Have fun

Ah, yes...Rods are 3.2 so fillet is around 7mm. Sorry for imposing the metric. Is that 9/32?

5mm wall thickness isn't even a 1/4" wall, so actually, forget beveling and just smoke a single pass in all the way around and be done with it.

5mm wall thickness isn't even a 1/4" wall, so actually, forget beveling and just smoke a single pass in all the way around and be done with it.[/quote]

Is it just me overthinking once again.

gnabgib wrote:5mm wall thickness isn't even a 1/4" wall, so actually, forget beveling and just smoke a single pass in all the way around and be done with it.

Is it just me overthinking once again.[/quote]


I do the same sometimes.
Sometimes good enough is better.

If you are welding a tube to a post, I like to leave about a 1/16" gap where I make my first tack. From that point, I am able to move the post around to make sure I am square to the plate. The slight gap also allows penetration.
Gary

Boomer63 wrote:If you are welding a tube to a post, I like to leave about a 1/16" gap where I make my first tack. From that point, I am able to move the post around to make sure I am square to the plate. The slight gap also allows penetration.
Gary

I was taught that a fillet weld from one side needs to be a very close fit but in this case yes you make a good point in that even though you are welding from one side, the post is welded all around. So a gap could be a useful means to full penetration.

The gap allows you to keep the post square!
Gary

AKweldshop wrote:
I do the same sometimes.
Sometimes good enough is better.

Very good but I would need to be mindful enough to use discretion.

Boomer63 wrote:The gap allows you to keep the post square!
Gary

Ok, but I generally start with a square cut on the post and finished work is mounted on structural grout.