Make fun of my welds, just be nice!

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Here is a little test I did with the Lincoln 140. 1/4" plate, lap joint. The chart said 3.5 wire speed for the .035 flux, but I found that about 2.5 was better.This was a one pass attempt, with a weave pattern. Vertical up. Not anywhere near good looking, but I am learning. This is my first try ever doing a weave on vertical up lap joint.I find that with metal this thick, the 140 really works, and makes it hard to get a good looking weld.Tell me what to do better next time. Last edited by Canadian Welding; 09-07-2014 at 02:25 PM.
Reply:#1 Is your machine flux core only?#2 It appears you were trying to weld aluminum ( unless you really polished steel tread plate) with self shielded flux core, if so that is a problem. I have never heard of self shielded wire for aluminum but if so guess I learned something today.Most of the 110v flux core machines are probably good to 1/8", possibly 3/16" if you are on a 20a deticated breaker with no extension cord.Try welding some 1/8" steel and post how it worked.Sent from my GT-P3113 using TapatalkTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Originally Posted by Chris T.#1 Is your machine flux core only?#2 It appears you were trying to weld aluminum ( unless you really polished steel tread plate) with self shielded flux core, if so that is a problem. I have never heard of self shielded wire for aluminum but if so guess I learned something today.Most of the 110v flux core machines are probably good to 1/8", possibly 3/16" if you are on a 20a deticated breaker with no extension cord.Try welding some 1/8" steel and post how it worked.Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk
Reply:Here is a 3 pass joint. Same settings. Not to bad, but still pretty ugly. First 3 pass joint in over a year.
Reply:I would try slowing down and let the wire burn in. Also do stringers or a slight oscilation instead of the large weaves. What wire do you have in there?When I run Lincoln NR211, sometimes I'll get pockets if the weave is made too quickly so stringers seem to work better for me. The Hobart Fabshield 21b runs real nice so I mostly use that wire.Nice job on cleaning the tread plate, I appologize for thinking you were trying to weld aluminum with f.c.Sent from my GT-P3113 using TapatalkTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:You need a bigger machine...1/4" is NOT 115v territory, I don't care how good you are...
Reply:Originally Posted by AKweldshopYou need a bigger machine...1/4" is NOT 115v territory, I don't care how good you are...
Reply:I will try slowing down next time. It was my instinct to go as quick as I do with thinner stuff. The wire is my favorite, Lincoln NR211 .035 fluxcore.And, as you said in your last post, I was actually on a 25 foot extension cord. Its 30 amp wire though, but I bet I am loosing power there. When you say stringers, do you mean smaller passes, like the 3 pass picture I posted? I think your right about the 3 pass welding being better then the weave one for sure.And wire brushes, best thing ever invented.
Reply:Originally Posted by AKweldshopYou need a bigger machine...1/4" is NOT 115v territory, I don't care how good you are...
Reply:Originally Posted by JSmitty74Kinda like taking a knife to a gun fight.
Reply:That extension cord was your first mistake! Big no-no, lolHome hobbiest:Build all sorts of BBQ pits & smokers (trailer & non)Lincoln 225 Cracker box (antique)O/P torchRedneck tools out the a$$.They get me by!
Reply:Originally Posted by JSmitty74That extension cord was your first mistake! Big no-no, lol
Reply:Hate to say it but you are probably better with a stick welder (if you have one) for the 3/16"+ stuff.Sent from my GT-P3113 using TapatalkTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Originally Posted by Canadian WeldingI know, but where my table is in my garage I need that cable. It was raining when I did this, so no welding outside. Its fine when welding thinner stuff.
Reply:Originally Posted by Chris T.Hate to say it but you are probably better with a stick welder (if you have one) for the 3/16"+ stuff.Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk
Reply:Here are a few 1/8 joints I did. Looks %100 better.
Reply:Put a rosebud in one hand and the whip in the other. 3/8---no problemBubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:Haha, I would rather not burn my garage down, including myself. I get tangled up enough without a torch added. Originally Posted by BurpeePut a rosebud in one hand and the whip in the other. 3/8---no problem
Reply:I cant be nice they stink. When i looked at them i had to check my boots. I thought i stepped in pooh.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Ya, great idea. Make fun of a kid looking to learn. I know they are bad. You don't need to reassure me...Hahaha! Just kidding man, I know they are horrible.How do the 1/8" look? Least they aint bad, well, not THAT bad... Right? Originally Posted by weldermikeI cant be nice they stink. When i looked them i had to check my boots. I thought i stepped in pooh.
Reply:Even the 1/8" vertical bead look slightly cold. It also is a bit inconsistent. I'd say you needed more power on that one.The 1/4" piece is just ugly. WAY too cold. Consistency on the 1st of the stacked beads is better than any of the other bead picts you posted, but the 2nd stacked one needs a lot of help. Weaves are very bad. Besides not enough power, you need to tighten up your weave, slow down and work on your consistency. I can't really find much "good" on those I'm afraid..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:A kick in the butt is still a step foward. They stink too.  you will thank me for this one day trust me I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:I thank you guys every day. I have no where near the experience to know what really, not only looks good, but IS good. Let me try some horizontal for you guys next time, I feel like I can do that better.By the way, you say it looks cold, how do you tell? My issue with the 140 is that I am always saying "we need MORE POWWEERR!!!"
Reply:Part of know what is cold/not cold is simply from experience. How the bead is shaped and how the toes of the weld blend into the base material also is a give away most times.If you look at your 1/8" bead and compare it to your 1/4" stacked beads, you'll notice that the edges of the 1/8" bead wet out better and have a much more gradual slope than the 1/4" ones do. The weave looks wetted in ok, but there's no material there. As soon as you got enough material the beads would be very humped. Since there isn't any material, there isn't any penetration. Thus it's easy to know the weld needed more power and was cold.As far as always needing more power with the 140, that's typical. 110v powered migs simply don't have the incoming power to do more than sheet metal. You aren't going to win a drag race at the local drag strip going up against anyone with a small 2 cycle scooter. Horse power... horse power...Small migs have their place. They are great for the guy who is into sheet metal body work. However just about every manufacturer over rates their small machines, trying to one up the competition. They feed these machines unlimited amounts of input power on 110, so it's not the incoming power that is the limiting factor. That way they can say what the max the machine can do is. Also they really don't care how long a weld they produce is, since they aren't building anything. Duty cycle can there fore be almost nonexistent and measured in seconds. Not at all practical in the real world where welders are used to build things.The answer is a 220v powered machine. In some ways I think members in other countries have an advantage. Since in Europe they run 220v power for every thing, there isn't the implied though that 220v power isn't possible that so many here in the US and Canada seem to feel. Honestly it's not all that hard to get 220v power. You just can't walk into any room and plug a 220v welder in..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 Canadian WeldingLet me try some horizontal for you guys next time, I feel like I can do that better.Originally Posted by SquirmyPugIt doesn't matter if you can weld horizontal better, the machine is outclassed.  Stick to the cheaper 1/8" material and practice.Been welding for 2 years? If you don't know what makes the weld look cold you haven't been welding. Until you know what you are looking at you are just sticking things together.
Reply:This any better?
Reply:Yes that's much better. I see a few hiccups here and there, but if you brought that to me in class I'd most likely sign off on it and move you on to T joints. If anything it's a tad wide, but it's tough to get really small beads with big wire.Your vertical joint should look exactly like that one does..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:Thank you.Over the week I think I will just weld joint after joint. No other way to progress then by just doing it.
Reply:Originally Posted by Canadian WeldingSticking things together is exactly what welding is, no difference from me to you.
Reply:Exactly.At the tech school we have students weld in progression. Each new joint builds on what they learned with the last one. They start with flat. Once they can get the basics of running beads on plain plate, we move them to lap joints. That's followed by T joints, then outside corners and finally but joints. Then they change positions to horizontal and go thru the same progression again. After that it's on to vertical and finally overhead. Depending on if we have the stock on hand or not, each position might be finished by doing 3/8" bevel buts, but most times due to how much prep is involved, that is saved to the very end, and then they bang out each bevel but joint in progression flat to overhead just like with the normal size stock.To get a "pass" at night and move on, we want to see at least 3 consecutive beads that are decent. Day program is more restrictive. The one place I was at years ago, they had to pass 2 out of 3 bends in each joint to move on, but that was a full time program..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:To melt 1/4 " you need a bigger machine, this machine is not enough juice to melt your metal and your wire....my 2 cents!!!
Reply:Originally Posted by SquirmyPugAnyone can buy a welder and stick things together, its not welding unless the beads have proper fusion/penetration/size and some kind of uniformity. Even cold beads will hold things in place.Yes the last bead looks better, do you have a wire wheel you can clean it off better? It looks like the toes fused pretty good.
Reply:Vertical uphill again.Attachment 834671
Reply:I could not agree more. Originally Posted by goose hunterTo melt 1/4 " you need a bigger machine, this machine is not enough juice to melt your metal and your wire....my 2 cents!!!
Reply:Nice progression! Nice to see one not get butt-hurt and keep trying. You learned something today. Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Thanks for the nice words. You will have to run me over with a dump truck to make me butt hurt Originally Posted by shovelonNice progression! Nice to see one not get butt-hurt and keep trying. You learned something today.
Reply:Slow down a bit, tighten up your weave pattern or try circles, pull the gun instead of pushing it (if not already), and let the weld puddle build up and make some heat so it will penetrate. Flux wire loves to run hot! And also stick to 1/8 and below.. Just a few suggestions, I use flux core wire on a somewhat regular basis and it's a hard technique to learn if you want welds that both hold and look good.Practice practice practice! Your welder is a decent machine when you know it's limitations. And with some time you can lay beautiful welds with it but it won't do well on 1/4" no matter how much you practice. Even a pretty weld will fail if you don't penetrate deep enough!Now that I've said some criticism I'll say.... Your welds are definitely inproving in the last pics! Keep up the progress!Just for kicks.. Try finding a steel mill or parts production plant and ask if they have scraps you can get from them... A lot of places will give the un useable scraps to you! Makes great practice material.Real welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:You may also want to try .030 wire, this will help you keep a bit more heat and slow you down too.   Concentrate on your stick out, keep it tight. And gun angle 15-20 degrees, you want to drag not push. Some day you will get a 200 class mig and things will get easier. Until then keep at it, the world needs more young people that want learn a hands on trade. Oh yeah the 1/8" horiz welds look ok, good luck.Thermal arc 211iCk flex-loc 150 & 130Clamps, saws & grindersHarbor freight 80 amp inverter
Reply:Try not to wash the puddle around quite so much. You could maybe get away with more passes with smaller stringer beads. Also try to avoid lap joints as they take a lot more heatTeach Ag Mech - Mike At Home:Lincoln Electric AC225Miller Challenger 172Gas AxeWork:eclectic bunch of 90's vintage blue boxes
Reply:Now your cookin I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:I was running about a 20 degree angle, and I always drag when doing fluxcore. I am running a 10 pound spool of .035 right now, and I love it, but I may try the .030 next time fore a little better control. Originally Posted by Austin BennettYou may also want to try .030 wire, this will help you keep a bit more heat and slow you down too.   Concentrate on your stick out, keep it tight. And gun angle 15-20 degrees, you want to drag not push. Some day you will get a 200 class mig and things will get easier. Until then keep at it, the world needs more young people that want learn a hands on trade. Oh yeah the 1/8" horiz welds look ok, good luck.
Reply:I had that machine and I thought it was great until I wanted to do thicker stuff. Then I noticed that the puddle was harder to form on anything above 1/8 inch. I could see the wire melting away but not the base material. Nice progress though. Pay close attention to the puddle.