Help from a newbie

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hi all,i started welding 3 months ago and keep on practicing the skills. i just learned from the internet and watching welding videos and no one trained/guided me personally. i just want to seek help from you to comment to the pictures below, for me to improve my welding skills. i also want to know if im doing the right thing. by the way, im using Stick Welding Machine using 6013 rods. thank you so much.1. flat position2. flat position3. flat positionLast edited by Ossie; 01-14-2011 at 06:16 AM.
Reply:i dont see much to criticize.. try some "real" rods.. 6010 or 6011 and some 7018..
Reply:@weldbead,ill buy the rod you mentioned and will post the weld afterwards. thank you.
Reply:The beads look good.  Make sure you fill the craters with weld material.  Several of your short welds end in a crater which can be a crack site later on.  On your butt joint you have a line of undercut on the side next to the ground clamp.  The other side of that joint is good.
Reply:@lotechman,thank you for the comments and its noted.i thought im moving fast on my beads. heheheits really nice to learn from a pro by correcting the works of a newbie
Reply:Hey Ossie,Your initiation into welding with a determined effort will develop as you learn from your mistakes. Simply bear in mind that each mistake is a learning tool to advance your skills. And, definitely get some different rods & sizes of each to grasp the characteristics of the puddle & effects with size as to heat applied. The more you practice, the better you will become. It wouldn't hurt to take a class at a vo-tech, adult evening class, or a college program. Learning the vast parameters of metal & processes will become more interesting if you would get some basic schooling with a knowledgeable instructor. Those of us who have enjoyed an entire career in the welding arena can provide valuable information & encouragement to assist you, although your level of competence will rise if you maintain a constant mindset that only you can benefit from your own "hunger" to really learn. To many, it is a skill that is only needed on occasion for simple jobs/projects. For others, it becomes a passion.....it's either there or not there. Only you will know.Lastly, you will get better responses if you learn to post your settings, material sizes, & equipment used.DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:I just came across a "Welding School" on ESAB's website.  In case you dont know, ESAB is one of the worlds largest filler metal manufacturers.  If you go to esabna.com you'll see a link for education, click it then there will be a link for ESAB university.  It is a little biased towards their filler metals but there is a lot of very useful information on there.  Starts at the basics of how they make metal all the way to advanced procedures.  See what you think!
Reply:As your rod burns, it is of course going to get shorter. If you don't compensate by keeping your rod close to your work it will long arc. This long arc, due to increased heat will cause undercut. In some instances undercut is a ticket out of the test shack.   Remember, once a bad habit is learned it is hard to break,try to get some professional instruction.                                      Rodstub
Reply:Originally Posted by fieldwelder84I just came across a "Welding School" on ESAB's website.   See what you think!
Reply:Speaking of hard to break  try putting your welded peice into a vise and beat it with a hammer! A good weld will hold up to the beating. If it breaks at the weld  it can tell alot. Take a few pics of your welded pieces after subjecting them to the vice and hammer test then post the results.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:hi all,thank you very much for the input/advice/comments. as much as i want to go to welding school here in the Philippines, i cant coz i have a job here and the school only offer weekdays. im just a hobbyist, and of course still want to know the right thing in welding thru your advices. i think its better to have an experience first then go to welding school so the training will not be that hard to me hehe ill be in Pennsylvania for good, hopefully this year and find welding school there.
Reply:hi guys,im back trying to weld 7018 rod with newly bought 200A DC Welder coz i cant weld using my 200A AC welder with 7018's.i observed that in the the end part of the welding, there's porosity (or bubbles?), may i know how can i eliminate that problem?thank you very much in advance.my very first welding:another view:2nd try:
Reply:and yes, im seeing also undercuts.Last edited by Ossie; 04-04-2011 at 09:38 AM.
Reply:Where in Pennsylvania are you hoping to land?  If you will end up in the Philadelphia area, Delaware County Community College has a pretty extensive welding program.  I recently took a welding class at a community college in NJ.  I was talking to my instructor about taking a more in depth program to learn the process better.  He strongly recommended the program.  There are 14 classes available for a total of 28 credit hours.  In addition, I think there are 4 classes available as electives.  If I read the literature right for the school, an in-state resident would only pay a hundred to two hundred dollars per class.  That sounds like a bang-up good deal to me.
Reply:I'm guessing that you have your rod to far away from your work. Also try maybe a little more amps and at the end of the bead do a circle to fill in the crater then flick you rod to break the arc and clear the tip.
Reply:Originally Posted by Ossiehi all,thank you very much for the input/advice/comments. as much as i want to go to welding school here in the Philippines, i cant coz i have a job here and the school only offer weekdays. im just a hobbyist, and of course still want to know the right thing in welding thru your advices. i think its better to have an experience first then go to welding school so the training will not be that hard to me hehe ill be in Pennsylvania for good, hopefully this year and find welding school there.
Reply:hi canderso,in Bethlehem, PA and my confirmed flight is on May 16 of this year yes, im planning to attend welding class there even if im IT hardware guy and currently casino field service technician, and open to new career. thanks for the info. Originally Posted by candersoWhere in Pennsylvania are you hoping to land?  If you will end up in the Philadelphia area, Delaware County Community College has a pretty extensive welding program.  I recently took a welding class at a community college in NJ.  I was talking to my instructor about taking a more in depth program to learn the process better.  He strongly recommended the program.  There are 14 classes available for a total of 28 credit hours.  In addition, I think there are 4 classes available as electives.  If I read the literature right for the school, an in-state resident would only pay a hundred to two hundred dollars per class.  That sounds like a bang-up good deal to me.
Reply:just sharing my latest welding project: Givi Box Bracket for my scoot
Reply:and after spray painting with Anzahl paint: with flash
Reply:#1 flat:  I think you cheated.  By the looks of your other welds I'm betting you welded this in flat position, not fillet.  Anyways, it don't look bad.   I don't like too much being able to see your first pass under it though.  IMO you didn't start on the end (where its harder to do), also the big crater.  Thats probably alright on a piece of scrap iron but on the job I'd want to see that crater full (flush).  (also harder to do) #2 flat:  Not good.  Undercut on both sides and humped-up in the middle.  Typical amateur weld IMO.  Needs work. (again IMO) #3 flat: Same response as for #1.,  Your LoHi examples.  Bad starts, bad stops, wet rods (porosity), undercut, rough appearance, uneven ripples,  I see an A/C machine (probably 60hz square wave transformer machine IMO), overall ugly IMO.  Needs lots of work.... Your fancy bike carrier shots:  These shots reminds me of something I was told many years ago, "anyone can make a weld with a grinder".  The tacks looks ugle.  No finished welds thats not ground off.  Hope this helps.   ==========Don't let me bust your bubble man.  Honest criticism is what will make you a better welder.  Not false help.  Keep practicing and looking at other welds and welders.  You've get it - if you're honest with yourself. lolGood luckLater
Reply:The porosity in your stops was probably from long arcing as you were stopping. Very easy to do on 7018 when you are learning. Keep with it, and good luck!
Reply:@slowhand,hahaha me, cheater? hehehe im still a newbie and its all done in flat position. do i need to weld first on horizontal position before the flat position? hmmmthanks for the criticism and all were noted for my improvement, thank you.my next coming weld hopefully in welding school  Originally Posted by slowhand#1 flat:  I think you cheated.  By the looks of your other welds I'm betting you welded this in flat position, not fillet.  Anyways, it don't look bad.   I don't like too much being able to see your first pass under it though.  IMO you didn't start on the end (where its harder to do), also the big crater.  Thats probably alright on a piece of scrap iron but on the job I'd want to see that crater full (flush).  (also harder to do) #2 flat:  Not good.  Undercut on both sides and humped-up in the middle.  Typical amateur weld IMO.  Needs work. (again IMO) #3 flat: Same response as for #1.,  Your LoHi examples.  Bad starts, bad stops, wet rods (porosity), undercut, rough appearance, uneven ripples,  I see an A/C machine (probably 60hz square wave transformer machine IMO), overall ugly IMO.  Needs lots of work.... Your fancy bike carrier shots:  These shots reminds me of something I was told many years ago, "anyone can make a weld with a grinder".  The tacks looks ugle.  No finished welds thats not ground off.  Hope this helps.   ==========Don't let me bust your bubble man.  Honest criticism is what will make you a better welder.  Not false help.  Keep practicing and looking at other welds and welders.  You've get it - if you're honest with yourself. lolGood luckLater
Reply:Ossie, Please don't take my critique wrongly!   Man I've welded across the pipe from hundreds of professional welders in my 35 years and the best welders I've ever worked with were honest welders (if you know what I mean here).  The worst ones I've worked with were welders that thought they were better than they actually were.  For them - when the truth finally caught up with them (and believe me it always does at some point) they were crushed.  I can't recommend that outcome to anyone.Look at your welds as honestly as you can and judge them for yourself.  If you don't know how to then learn that too.  Do like my Dad always told me to do - "do the best you can every time no matter what it is and you'll be happy with yourself".  I've tried to live my life that way and at 55+ years I can fully recommend that to anyone.  Try man and learn from every rod and I promise you - you'll get it and when you do it will be exactly where you want it to be.  Be big enough to take honest critique of your work.  Watch every welder you get a chance to.  Don't do what they do - only what they do that you like. lolBest of luck man and keep trying and practicing.  Its a life long challenge.  But a challenge that is very fulfilling.   I promise you. Its like I was told many years ago by an old experienced welder I was working with, "When you step up here boy  its only - YOU - THE PIPE - and  - THE ROD".  "And you're the only one that can think"  Good luckLast edited by slowhand; 04-28-2011 at 07:58 PM.
Reply:@slowhand,no sir, i didnt take your critique wrongly...i know all my welds are not good that is why im here to learn from expert like you, im open minded person and all your inputs and comments were noted for my improvement and correction.and, thank you so much and pls dont be tired on replying to newbie like me ill look for the welding school somewhere near Bethlehem, PA. pls if you know something, its a great help for me...thanks so much.