Another question for the welders out there

[Padrig]

Something that's been bugging me for a while.

About a year ago I posted pics of a defective weld that was obviously "cold" with not enough penetration. Pre heating helped a lot. Somebody also suggested a higher wire speed saying that the wire would penetrate deeper. Well it did not work. If you don’t want a big bulbous weld you have to increase your welding speed as well and just don’t spend enough time on the same spot to let the puddle melt deep enough. Slowing down wire speed allowed me to slow down welding speed and get more heat to penetrate deeper.

So what am I missing here? Was this person just mistaken or am I in the dark about welding principles?

Pad

[Destichado]

That person was right -to a point.

Wire speed=Amperage on a MIG(GMAW) welder. To get more heat, yes, you will have to increase the amps. You will *also* have to adjust the volts to adjust -otherwise, ironicly enough, you'll run out of heat and the wire will just sit there. But when you do that you'll have to increase your travel speed, too, because you've essentialy set your machine to weld thicker materiel. Confused yet?

What the person meant was, when you have your welder properly adjusted -and you'll know it is when the weld makes a sound liks sizzeling bacon- turn your wire speed up just a *tiny* bit. It's a welder's trick to get just a little more penetration at very little cost. If that doesn't work, you'll have to get the penetration through other means -preheating and surface preparation.

Okay?

[Padrig]

Thanks a lot for making it crystal clear.



Kidding, I will reread this a couple of times but I think I understand.

Thanks again.

Pad

[HammerHand]

Another way to get better penatration is to put a slight bevel on your plates. NOT a knife edge! If its too sharp you can have burn through VERY quick. You wont have to run quite as hot with a bevel, nor fast, but practice on a couple scraps. I don't know if you are very skilled with welding, but you can always test your heat, travel time, and wire speed( considering you are using GMAW), as with any welding process. But I agree with Destichado, also. Either way, you'll come out with a better weld.

[Padrig]

Hammerhand, sorry I dont know why I did not reply to this?

I am not sure what you mean about testing my welds?

I am most un-skilled when it comes to welding. I never took any courses. Nothing I can take close enough to me. I learn by trial and error.

Thanks again for your help.

Pad

[HammerHand]

Padrig- Trial & error is good way to learn anything- as long as you do it safely!What I mean by testing your welds is you can play with different variables. Get a couple of pieces of scrap carbon and stainless; different thicknesses-3/32, 1/4, 1/16,etc. Adjust your heat and wire speed as your welding. Observe your travel time- is it too fast, too slow? Dont just look at the bead you're producing, watch your terrain, also. Develop your eye as you would with armouring. There is alot more to discuss than I can write,but look on the internet on the Miller welding Co. page for something they could send you in the mail, like a ' teach yourself ' guide. Your local library will have self-education books also. If there is a local welding shop around, you could ask them if they could let you take an apprenticeship. I believe I still have some of my notes and hand-outs from when I took my class; I could collect them and send them to you if you like, via postal service or e-mail. I love welding and someone can ALWAYS help you learn, but you'll never weld exactly like someone else. Everyone develops their own style and techniques, whether its simpler or harder to another person. Everyone has their own preference on style, products, technique,etc. Just let me know if I can help you. I hope this helps instead of confusing you. It seems like alot, but with time and practice, you'll be able to weld anything, and be looking to weld whatever you can get your hands on!

[Jim McCoin]

I always say this, and will continue to say this, take a class at a junior college or a trade school. There are techniques you probably will not learn on your own. There is a ton of expertise on this forum to draw from, but until someone actuly walks you through it, your just guessing, and wasting gas and wire.
My $.02 worth

Jim, a very long time welder.

[Padrig]

Jim, colleges around here dont offer welding classes or even shop. It would have to be a trade school and this is not possible.

Hammerhand, email sent. Thanks.
Pad

[Jim McCoin]

Maybe you can try a local weld shop and see if you can buy an hour of their time. most of the welders I know like to pass on information to serious students, especialy if you show up with the right gear.

Just a thought.

Jim

[Tarquin Bjornsson]

for maximum peneteration use a lot of amps and a fairly heave wire feed,

to prep your plates put a nice big chamfer (37.5 degrees is the textbook perfect angle) on them with a grinder.

then weave the welder as you travel along the groove

[Raeven]

Your best bet is to practice on your scrap peices remaining after cutting your patterns out. That way, you can get your wire speed and heat to the right levels and you know your settings will work with the metals you'll be welding. As others have said, the truly best way to get penetration is to bevel your seam.

Rae

[Halberds]

Good post Pad.

I will be getting into welding soon and the posters replys are read and reread by me too.

I got a new on for ya. I was at the welders shop and he used a new plus ark wire welder and it did not have the frying bacon sound "Adjust sound to American bacon"..It had the sound of a model gas engine airplane.

Darnedest welder sound I ever herd....

Hal

Ps: I am getting a Miller Econo-Tig and a small 220V plasma cutter.
Plus all the other stuff that goes with it, that I don't know what I need.
I do not want to spend no $300.00 for a hood I will only use about an hour a week.