The Armour Archive

Well, i've been practicing all day and my welds are finally up to a standard where they look decent and can hold some weight. What i want to know is what a good weld should look like. There is penetration as there is the little raised bump on the other side. it looks like coins resting on each other and has no bubbles or holes. The test pieces of 14g i welded end to end bent everywhere but the weld (that shocked me to be honest ). I'll post an image tommorrow for scrutiny when its not 3am

From your description it sounds like you're doing quite well. If your practicing on flat pieces of steel you'll see a good bit ogf warpage. Pieces with more form will tend to warp less. You can minimize warpage by doing multiple short welds rahter than pulling a bead on the seam all at once.

Does sound like a good start.
Try a test piece butted together in thin air, not on the welding table.
The welding table soaks up a lot of heat. Imagine the top seem of a two piece conical. Welding in thin air. I like to weld the inside first.

Cet's idea about skip welds is what tomar says too, It works.
Want to see some welds my welder friend did?

Of course you do.... and I like to show off pics.
This is a high res pic before grinding.
http://home.armourarchive.org/members/h ... deweld.jpg
This is the prototype "Kombat Kit Helm", You can see where my panels need to be adjusted for the next pattern iteration . I just asked him to hurry up and slap it together so I could work on the grill design.

Best of luck,

Hal

Ps: Keep a 5-gallon bucket of water handy.

My welds look similar apart form the fact that mine wobble a little as i dont have a seam to follow. I was welding over my anvil stand, i don't have a welding table as such, which sucks. Pictures later on today, bit busy yesterday.

Thats great Thomas. I have been waiting with anticipation to see some of your pics.
You have armored longer than anyone I know, with out showing us a pic or two.

This is going to be a red letter day on the archive.
Then I can finally say.

"Thanks for the pics".....

Hal

Well, i don't like shwoing off what i wouldnt like to give away f you get what i mean. If i'm going to show it, i want it to be good but most of my pieces turn out crap. if all goes well, it'll be most of a greathelm wiht the backplate welded on. this is to be painted adn given to the neighbours grandson.

Then you must have a big pile of rusty scrap metal like me down in the creek.

Best of luck on your great helm. I got about six of em in my pile.

Hal

Its a big pile. i do try and re-use pieces though. Thinking of making a scrap metal brig

I decided i'm going to practice a bit more on some scrap first. Just in case i trash the helm. Pics in an hour or so when things have cooled down