Welding Tips and Tricks

dmcnally wrote:I'm senior citizen learning to weld. I have been practicing running stringer beads, but I promoted myself to lap joints this morning. I ran about 50 inches this morning. I was having a really hard time getting the C (or keyhole) puddle shape. I reread the textbook from the intro welding class I took and adjusted the torch angle. After fiddling with the angles a bit I finally started getting the C (or keyhole) shaped puddle. FWIW: 1/8" mild steel, 3/32" 2% lanthanated tungsten, 130amps DCEN controlled with a foot pedal.

Sadly, this is one of my better beads from this morning.

lap-01.jpg

Dave

Sweeping the torch from the top of the fillet to the bottom will give you that c shape that you're after. Just don't neglect to make sure that you tie into the root of the fillet. Sometimes you have to sweep the torch forward to get that to happen if you don't have a little bit of extra amperage on tap. Being able to give the joint a little extra blast as you move across the center will burn it in. Several ways to do it really.
Getting a flex head torch will help you out a lot because you won't have to struggle with holding a proper angle and will be able to focus more on the weld itself.

RamboBaby wrote:Sweeping the torch from the top of the fillet to the bottom will give you that c shape that you're after.

Thanks Ray. Congratulations on the new job.

Dave

dmcnally wrote: Thanks Ray. Congratulations on the new job.

Dave

Thanks brother.

I have been applying Ricks pulse advice for my sanitary welding and I'm enjoying the results. 40A 75% on 25% background at 25% current.

Tube is 1/2" diameter .065 wall 316l stainless.

ScottFc3s wrote:I have been applying Ricks pulse advice for my sanitary welding and I'm enjoying the results. 40A 75% on 25% background at 25% current.

Tube is 1/2" diameter .065 wall 316l stainless.

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Looking good...I just did some 1/2" 316L on Maxstar 150, no pulse % adj set at 50%-50% ran 40amps, 2.5pps. weld fast heat builds up quick...

Rick_H wrote:Looking good...I just did some 1/2" 316L on Maxstar 150, no pulse % adj set at 50%-50% ran 40amps, 2.5pps. weld fast heat builds up quick...

Awesome stuff as always. Ain't that the truth. The little tube can be touchy but at least it's mostly ferrules being welded. It goes in pretty quickly with a little bending.

Otherside header tacked up

missing a cylinder for each side!

Welded in a few mounts for a lift system I designed for a dumper at work....just to prove I'm not a 1 trick pony I sticked the mount with 7108 and 308L. The new upper cross support was stainless, forgot how much fun welding overhead stick 308L stainless was in a tight spot laying on my back, frame against my chest.

The real fun was to fill in the corrosion in the past some one basically spackled in jB weld under the jack mount had to chisel that out before I could weld the new lower mount on.

Even filled the old bolt holes in....

Just starting some headers here. I'm currently at a stand still waiting on Vibrant as they sent me 2 different style race mufflers.








Anyone have any ideas on a better way to hold this steady? Once in a while it moves and causes inconsistency in the weld.



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Nice work...

Make a simple v block with a piece of angle welded to a piece of flat stock or rectangular tubing. Comes in handy for all types of work.

VooDoo wrote:Otherside header tacked up

Can I ask why you put a step like that just after the port?

@ScottFc3S what did you use to bend that 1/2" tubing?

Rick_H wrote:Nice work...

Make a simple v block with a piece of angle welded to a piece of flat stock or rectangular tubing. Comes in handy for all types of work.

And a worm style hose clamp/clamps

rick9345 wrote:

Rick_H wrote:Nice work...

Make a simple v block with a piece of angle welded to a piece of flat stock or rectangular tubing. Comes in handy for all types of work.

And a worm style hose clamp/clamps

I've done that too...works good. I've also used a ratchet strap on the table to hold stuff down, large tank last time.

The "step" (in reality its trumpet style step, no sharp corner) is there to slow the exhaust gas down. as the exhaust gas is comming out of the cyl head, it dosent have the inertia to change direction to flow back to cyl head. ..Thats the theory anyhow.

....and make room for the bolts

Got some gravy bench work for the next few days changing out some steam traps. 1-1/2in sch 80 carbon. First pass was 3/32 70s2 at about 135 amps. Second pass was 1/8 70s2 same amps. Scratch start. Slip on 300# flanges and socket welds.

This thread usually has some examples of great welding. This post is either going to lower the bar or, hopefully, provide a good laugh. Disclaimer: I'm still very much a newbie at welding and specifically TIG welding.

You've heard of Stronghold products, well let me introduce you to Weakhold Products ALLC (Almost LLC). Note: I used a wood table to show better contrast.

I wanted a better clamp to hold my practice pieces (or coupons) and this is what I came up with. It's a C clamp that's cut and tacked to a piece of mild steel. Here's my jig. I learned a valuable lesson today. I have a dual voltage machine and I haven't made the cord to plug the machine into my 220volt dryer socket. This forced me to run the machine at 110volts. What I didn't know then, that I do know now is that my machine will max out at 145 amps when it's running on 110. The mild still plate is 1/4" and 145amps doesn't make a good puddle.

Here's a closeup of my crappy tacks. I'll redo this little project after I get a 220volt pigtail made.

Dave

Josh, nice job!
It feels great to do bench work in a shop for a change doesn't it? The welds suddenly look pretty compared to ammonia contaminated upside down rusty windy rainy jobs we normally do hey?

Made up for the clean work I got this week. Got in on a 18in steam main that blew out an expansion joint in a vault 15 ft below ground. Ankle deep water and about 130 deg F. We were tag teaming it 30 min at a time. Only room for 2 guys in the hole at a time.

Poland308 wrote:Made up for the clean work I got this week. Got in on a 18in steam main that blew out an expansion joint in a vault 15 ft below ground. Ankle deep water and about 130 deg F. We were tag teaming it 30 min at a time. Only room for 2 guys in the hole at a time.

ugh...that sounds awesome. Ive seen videos with 2 guys in the same hole

Rick_H wrote: ugh...that sounds awesome. Ive seen videos with 2 guys in the same hole

Different kind of hole I think. Then again maybe you have a welder fettish?

Depends on whether you like wet feet.

More work on a cart