Welding Tips and Tricks

Tomorrow I will be taking a 2g and 3g test on a 1 inch plate (V-groove with backing strip) using Dual-Shield. In my class we only ever ran MIG. Please help

1.)I'm looking for some tips regarding parameters, travel speed, letting the plate cool, size of stringers from first to last and so forth. Should I be changing any parameters for the last stringers? How may stringers usually run in a 1inch groove test?
2.)Is dual-shield always ran with spray arc transfer? What positions can you use dual-shield in?
3.)Since its a 1inch plate, does that mean I let it cool more between stringers? How long between?

Sorry so many questions, I just finished a 6 month welding trade coarse, but am still a newbie to so many technicalities. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Lo

C'mon, guys, cough up!

It's been 20 years since I regularly welded dual-shield, and I've not taken a 1" plate test, so I'm reluctant to comment at all.

One question I WILL answer... Dual-shield can be used in all positions. A 6G XXL heavy-wall pipe test is not uncommon.

Steve S

I would think you'd have a wps of some sort, telling you weld size and stuff

John

I welded dual shield on carbon and stainless for many years! The only thing I could help you with is with gmaw you can actually see the beads cooling and turnout as your welding! The dual shield usually will look like its about to run over almost like its too hot and so some people tend to not keep going (this is with carbon). This is even more when its stainless! Yes stainless dual shield! The same way the slag hangs on a stick vertical test! If you do a couple of practice runs to set machine and chip and make your adjustments you should relax and go for it! Also let it cool a bit, thats your test and your piece so take your time! You should nt hurry to ruin a weld on a job so why do that on a test! I have live and learn good luck!

Welcome to the forum Lo.Partsch.

GregOrtiz wrote:I welded dual shield on carbon and stainless for many years! The only thing I could help you with is with gmaw you can actually see the beads cooling and turnout as your welding! The dual shield usually will look like its about to run over almost like its too hot and so some people tend to not keep going (this is with carbon). This is even more when its stainless! Yes stainless dual shield! The same way the slag hangs on a stick vertical test! If you do a couple of practice runs to set machine and chip and make your adjustments you should relax and go for it! Also let it cool a bit, thats your test and your piece so take your time! You should nt hurry to ruin a weld on a job so why do that on a test! I have live and learn good luck!

Greg,

That's the way I remember it. When I was doing it right, it always looked like I was overstuffing it, because it's so hard to see the line between the puddle and the red-hot slag.

Steve S

I personally have hot taken a test with dual shield but I friend of mine did and he failed his first because of slag inclusions. Clean, clean, clean is the only advice I can give. I have a habit of running a wire wheel on a grinder to each weld, but they might only allow a hand held wire brush. Good luck!