MIG outside corners

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Had a question pertaining to outside corners. I don't do them very often but when I do I always feel rushed trying to make the weld as far as not letting the puddle leak over the sides. Filets seem much for forgiving in being able to take my time and fill in the joint.It would make my life much easier if I could turn down the wire speed a bit but to do that I would have to drop down a voltage tap as well. I tried searching but didn't find anything concrete. Being an outside corner with the full faces of both pieces to be joined exposed, can I use lower voltage and still achieve an equally sound weld?www.FirehouseFabricators.comZachLincoln 210mpLincoln SW200Hypertherm Powermax 45xp2x4 CNC Plasma Table.
Reply:Most of the time I just run them down hill. Same settings as when welding flat.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPMost of the time I just run them down hill. Same settings as when welding flat.
Reply:Outside (open) corners don't take as much amperage.I typically run them flat and one setting lower than what I run on fillets.Here's some 1/8" Some 3/16"and some 1/4"
Reply:yap, I run them flat or horizontal and just turn the machine down quite a bit and go nice and steady. The weld is inherently full penetration, so to speak so you only need enough power to burn in and not make a cold joint (which is far less than an inside corner joint). If it's a strength critical joint, just fill it in to maintain material thickness.Last edited by MikeGyver; 10-18-2014 at 07:00 PM.Welding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.com
Reply:A lot depends on how you weld. On outside corners I do a straight push with just a very tiny side to side motion, not much more than a wiggle. That allows me to move slower, have more control and not over fill the joint. Students who are wedded to the cursive e pattern almost always have issues. I can do the cursive e pattern, but I have to really fly and many times on 1/8" material it's tough to get my circles as nice and tight as I like at that speed and not miss sections.I do turn down the machine just slightly on occasion, maybe 1/2 to  1 volt, depending on what I'd have the machine set at for fillets. On fillets I can really have the power cranked up and still manage the puddle. For example even though Miller recommends 17.5v 230 with .035 solid wire on 1/8", I'll often go much higher on fillets, say 20 or 21v. I'll usually be in the 17.5v to 18.5v range when doing outside corners.The real key I look for with outside corners is if the student is breaking down the root on the inside, It's easy to fill the top. It's a lot harder to melt thru to the bottom and not pile on too much material..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:I try doing cursive E on them maybe that's part of my problem.On 1/8" the cursive E is damn near impossivle unless your a freak like ZT it seems.I'm doing 3/16 as far as this post was concerned but I imagine for 1/8 voltage/amps is nearly a non issue if I go low.www.FirehouseFabricators.comZachLincoln 210mpLincoln SW200Hypertherm Powermax 45xp2x4 CNC Plasma Table.
Reply:Paul doesn't list his settings, but it's a lot easier to do what he does when you are working with smaller wire that fills a bit less. Tech school uses .035 solid in the XMT's since they also do 3/8" bevel buts as well as the 1/8" plate we use for basic training. That's a lot of wire going into the joint constantly to work with.Paul's biggest advantage over most guys who always ask him questions, is that he can see and read the puddle very well. He's also got his motions down very consistently, thus can make those beautiful welds everyone loves. Many students I talk to that have seen his work, think it's all about his motions. It's not. The motions produce the effect he's trying to get, but it's his skill at reading and manipulating the puddle that allows him to do this so well, not simply doing rote motions over and over again..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 AKweldshopYeah,Tip that bridge on its side.....
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWPaul doesn't list his settings, but it's a lot easier to do what he does when you are working with smaller wire that fills a bit less. Tech school uses .035 solid in the XMT's since they also do 3/8" bevel buts as well as the 1/8" plate we use for basic training. That's a lot of wire going into the joint constantly to work with.Paul's biggest advantage over most guys who always ask him questions, is that he can see and read the puddle very well. He's also got his motions down very consistently, thus can make those beautiful welds everyone loves. Many students I talk to that have seen his work, think it's all about his motions. It's not. The motions produce the effect he's trying to get, but it's his skill at reading and manipulating the puddle that allows him to do this so well, not simply doing rote motions over and over again.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWPaul's biggest advantage over most guys who always ask him questions, is that he can see and read the puddle very well. He's also got his motions down very consistently, thus can make those beautiful welds everyone loves.
Reply:Originally Posted by BrooklynBravestI try doing cursive E on them maybe that's part of my problem.On 1/8" the cursive E is damn near impossivle unless your a freak like ZT it seems.I'm doing 3/16 as far as this post was concerned but I imagine for 1/8 voltage/amps is nearly a non issue if I go low.
Reply:Originally Posted by ZTFabLike DSW said, you have to learn to read the puddle...and that goes for all welding. Not reading the puddle is like pi$$ing in the dark and hoping you hit the bowl.
Reply:You can grind the tacks to thin them some so you have less material to go over. I just alter my fill based on what I see the puddle doing. We are back to reading the puddle again.All this assumes you aren't laying on the massive tacks some of the students use. My tacks are just small enough to hold things together. Many guys want to pile on 1/2" or more of weld, then wonder why they can't get things to blend well..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 DSWYou can grind the tacks to thin them some so you have less material to go over. I just alter my fill based on what I see the puddle doing. We are back to reading the puddle again.All this assumes you aren't laying on the massive tacks some of the students use. My tacks are just small enough to hold things together. Many guys want to pile on 1/2" or more of weld, then wonder why they can't get things to blend well.
Reply:So I dropped down one voltage tap on the 210mvp and lowered wire speed. I don't know who decides the voltage taps to wire feed settings on the door chart but they're ridiculous. Max voltage only has one suggested setting meanwhile one tap down has 3 possible settings and only one works properly.www.FirehouseFabricators.comZachLincoln 210mpLincoln SW200Hypertherm Powermax 45xp2x4 CNC Plasma Table.