High School Welding Competition Help

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Ok so here is what I have to do .1)3F uphill SMAW 7018 1/8 6 stringers Tee joint must be tacked 90 degrees 2) 3F uphill SMAW 7018 1/8 3 pass weave Tee joint must be tacked 90 degrees 3) 2F SMAW 7018 3/32 6 beads stringers What a good amperage for these? I'm welding on 1/4 steel and 1/8 steelLast edited by rockcrawler97; 12-31-2014 at 01:27 AM.Lincoln 140 Pak MIG Everlast powerarc 140 STLincoln Tombstone
Reply:Depends what you can handle with the rods you use. 1/8" 7018 Excalibur, I usually try and run 115-125 amps DC+ and if it's a good day I can go a bit higher on 1/4 to 3/8" plate. 3/32" I don't run often so I'll guess at about 90-95 amps off the top of my head. I see way too many guys try and run vertical too cold and it looks like crap. heat is your friend as long as you can control it. Too cold and you have issues, too hot and it starts to get away from you as you go higher and higher. I'm going to guess the 1/8" plate is done using the 3/32" rods and the 1/4" plate, the 1/8" rods. If you are welding 1/8" plate with 1/8" rods, your amp range may need to be lower than I'd normally use and your window to get it right will be narrower.I set my amps typically by running a few test pieces and determining what works best for me that particular day.Thing I see right away you might want to check is if they are looking for this to be "tacked" at 90 deg, or "welded" at 90 deg. Fit up may be as or more important than your beads. Setting things up and getting them tacked at exactly 90 deg isn't all that hard if you know what you are doing and plan your tacks right, say on the ends vs on the flats. That way you can tweak the plates after they are tacked to exactly 90 deg and not break a tack if you do it right. Welded at 90 deg becomes a bit tougher. Then you may have to do your tacks at a bit over 90 deg, say 95-100 deg, so when you weld, the joint pulls straight to 90 deg. Check with who ever is doing the contest as to what exactly they want. It wouldn't surprise me if they look to see the final welded joint at 90 vs just the tacks. It shows the person knows how to do layout and prep better as it takes more skill to pull this off then simply bending the plate to 90 deg after you tack it up.Keep in mind consistency, consistency, consistency... If you want really nice looking joints you need to do everything the same every time, all the time..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWDepends what you can handle with the rods you use. 1/8" 7018 Excalibur, I usually try and run 115-125 amps DC+ and if it's a good day I can go a bit higher on 1/4 to 3/8" plate. 3/32" I don't run often so I'll guess at about 90-95 amps off the top of my head. I see way too many guys try and run vertical too cold and it looks like crap. heat is your friend as long as you can control it. Too cold and you have issues, too hot and it starts to get away from you as you go higher and higher. I'm going to guess the 1/8" plate is done using the 3/32" rods and the 1/4" plate, the 1/8" rods. If you are welding 1/8" plate with 1/8" rods, your amp range may need to be lower than I'd normally use and your window to get it right will be narrower.I set my amps typically by running a few test pieces and determining what works best for me that particular day.Thing I see right away you might want to check is if they are looking for this to be "tacked" at 90 deg, or "welded" at 90 deg. Fit up may be as or more important than your beads. Setting things up and getting them tacked at exactly 90 deg isn't all that hard if you know what you are doing and plan your tacks right, say on the ends vs on the flats. That way you can tweak the plates after they are tacked to exactly 90 deg and not break a tack if you do it right. Welded at 90 deg becomes a bit tougher. Then you may have to do your tacks at a bit over 90 deg, say 95-100 deg, so when you weld, the joint pulls straight to 90 deg. Check with who ever is doing the contest as to what exactly they want. It wouldn't surprise me if they look to see the final welded joint at 90 vs just the tacks. It shows the person knows how to do layout and prep better as it takes more skill to pull this off then simply bending the plate to 90 deg after you tack it up.Keep in mind consistency, consistency, consistency... If you want really nice looking joints you need to do everything the same every time, all the time.
Reply:Post a practice weld, with pics of each pass, and settings used - you'll get a lot of useful advice then.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by rockcrawler97All 3 passes staggered out in top 2'' of tee joint to show work.
Reply:Originally Posted by RuarkCripes.  What exactly does this mean?