Welding Tips and Tricks

Just started welding this semester (about 3 weeks now, twice a week) the machine I'm using is a Miller 22S connected to a inverter (I think) settings are gas on 30 (86/14 argon/Co2) wire speed on 3, volts on 19.5 and another knob on 30 I cant remember what that is right now. Here is a butt joint, lap joint and fillet welds.

The bottom one is a butt joint, I went to slow on it, the edges was 90 degrees, the shadows in the middle bead looks like holes, but those aren't holes (fillet weld) the top one is a T joint fillet weld


Close up on the middle weld in the middle of the top picture



Two lap joint fillet welds


And here's the tip after welding for awhile, I know it needs cleaned, but does it tell ya anything that might help me? The stick out is a little longer than it usually is when I'm welding



Any advice/critiques would be helpful and appreciated. BTW I'm left-handed if that makes a difference.

Thank you

I can see your running beads left-to-right, and right-to-left. A wise instructor telling you to do it that way.
I see Excellant consistency in the beads, which tells me you've had quite a bit of through the helmet time.
But, I'm not a critic, others here will be here soon.
Great work, and keep practicing.

~John

Thanks, I try to get as much hood time as possible at school

brow_tines,
First I will say you are doing a great job! The bottom weld in the last picture looks especially good. I think you are on the right track. If you want really picky in the first pic, top weld, looks like it has a little roll over. Adjust your gun angle and you will be fine.
As far as your nozzle it just shows that you were welding in the same angle and direction for a while. I would use some spat spray or nozzle gel and it will be easy to clean . I would suggest cleaning your nozzle more often. Getting that much spatter on your nozzle will do several things. One it will impede your gas flow, causing porosity. Second when spatter touches your tip, you will arc out through the nozzle and ruin it.
I would suggest changing gas as well. In my opinion C25 would be your best gas for this application. It will allow for more penetration and less spatter on everything. Although if it is in school you might just be stuck with the gas they have.
-Jonathan

Superiorwelding wrote:brow_tines,
First I will say you are doing a great job! The bottom weld in the last picture looks especially good. I think you are on the right track. If you want really picky in the first pic, top weld, looks like it has a little roll over. Adjust your gun angle and you will be fine.
As far as your nozzle it just shows that you were welding in the same angle and direction for a while. I would use some spat spray or nozzle gel and it will be easy to clean . I would suggest cleaning your nozzle more often. Getting that much spatter on your nozzle will do several things. One it will impede your gas flow, causing porosity. Second when spatter touches your tip, you will arc out through the nozzle and ruin it.
I would suggest changing gas as well. In my opinion C25 would be your best gas for this application. It will allow for more penetration and less spatter on everything. Although if it is in school you might just be stuck with the gas they have.
-Jonathan

More angle or less? We can't use nozzle gel or anything like that, I'm buying a pair of welpers of my own this week and I'm just stuck with that gas, the instructor said something about needing that mixture for when we start spray. And thank you for the help.

Aim your gun more toward the bottom, not much just a little.
I find it odd they won't let you use nozzle gel. They must want to save a buck. Nozzles are more expensive that gel. Oh well rules are rules.
Is that a Bernard Centerfire nozzle?

I'll second the praise... Much of that looks excellent.

As for "more angle or less", don't sweat it. The angle will be dictated by the weld, and you'll find what works for you. The crap in your nozzle actually looks good. Yes it should be cleaned, and if they won't let you use duck butter (nozzle dip), the Welpers will be fine. I don't see spatter. I see spray. That's likely a result of the gas choice, which I also don't object to (though I think your teacher should show you c25, as you'll experience it in your career). I also think you should weld at least once with tri-mix (90% He, 7.5% Ar, 2.5% CO2) as you will encounter this as well.

I think you're off to a fine start.

Steve S

Steve,
Can't say I have ever heard the term "duck butter".
On the spray vs spatter, I am having a blonde moment, are you referring to my wording. It has been a long day.
-Jonathan

Superiorwelding wrote:Aim your gun more toward the bottom, not much just a little.
I find it odd they won't let you use nozzle gel. They must want to save a buck. Nozzles are more expensive that gel. Oh well rules are rules.
Is that a Bernard Centerfire nozzle?

I'm new I don't have a clue lol it's a brass nozzle is all I know lol

Superiorwelding wrote:Steve,
Can't say I have ever heard the term "duck butter".
On the spray vs spatter, I am having a blonde moment, are you referring to my wording. It has been a long day.
-Jonathan

"Duck Butter" is a regional, redneck slang term.

As for spray vs. spatter, look at the nozzle. The material on the nozzle looks like "fuzz", rather than balls of spatter.

Steve S

Steve,
So that's one of those "You might be a redneck if..." kinda things
I think we were looking at two different things. Or I was leading you astray. I don't know. I was referring to the spatter on the plate, not the nozzle. Oh well, I am getting the shop ready for big wigs and am a little stressed out. Don't mind me everyone

I was, in fact, talking about the fluff on the nozzle. The nozzle dip idea and accumulated crap on the nozzle was the question I thought I was seeing at the moment...

Steve S

Brow_tines is going to be a good welder.

Good comments here, helpful, and I like the "duck-butter" local lingo.

I think its looking good. As far as cleaning the gun,use the welpers and don't smack it on the table like most do.