My welds to critique please

admin

I have a lot of Galvanized tube in my shed of varying sizes @1.6 mm thick.I have pretty well got the hang off welding thick steel up to 10 mm, but this smaller stuff in galv is even trickier. The photos shown are purely demonstration welds and will not be used for anything else except scrap metal after critiquing. I used my grinder to remove the galv coating. I mitred the corners at 45 and welded them using a very low setting on my 210 amp mig. I ground the external corner and the top after welding, as this is what I will be normally doing when making a coffee table. The internal and underside welds are left as is.It was hard to 'NOT' blow holes through initially, but I eventually managed to weld without trouble in one pass, then grind off with 'NO' seams or joints showing through.What do you think, does it look good enough ? (don't forget it's a test piece and the sanding is not done to a finished level)
Reply:Is this a April Fools Joke? People around here love to critique welds, so I can't believe no one else has posted yet.Eyspy, I've seen some of your other work, like your coffee table, so you obviously know what your doing. But you're definitely leaving yourself too much grinding. The bead and puddle needs to get down more into the joint, with better penetration. Try these tips:Bevel the joint a little so the filler has something to fill.Try a higher setting to get better penetration. Speed up the pass so you don't spend as much time in one spot.Use a little circular motion in the wrist so your flowing the heat into both pieces of parent metal.You may also have your wire speed too high. You've got to find that balance where the wire and the parent metal flows into the puddle together smoothly. You want a puddle, not a blob. When you get it just right, a little polishing with a flapdisk is all you'll need."We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities. "   - Oscar WildeMaxstar STL150Eagle CPM30 Bender
Reply:It just occurred to me, you don't say what size wire you're using.  0.023 is plenty for this type of weld."We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities. "   - Oscar WildeMaxstar STL150Eagle CPM30 Bender
Reply:I'm using .9 wireI fiddling with the settings and the one I used was best for not burning through. I hear what you say about speeding up my pass, and tried it after your post and t certainly went better.The weld in the pics was only a minute or so to remove, but if I can get it lower that would be better still. When I bevelled this thin stuff (even slightly), it made it way too easy to blow through even when the amps were really down.This is all learning for me, and I am slowly experimented and getting better.Thanks for taking the time to assist me with your comments, it's much appreciated.
Reply:OK, .9 mm is .035 inches - way too big. Find some .6 mm or so. That will help a lot. You'll be able to lay down less filler and won't burn through as easy. So then you might be able to bevel it a little.Fill out your location in the CP so we can picture where you are! Good luck."We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities. "   - Oscar WildeMaxstar STL150Eagle CPM30 Bender
Reply:Originally Posted by artworksmetalOK, .9 mm is .035 inches - way too big. Find some .6 mm or so. That will help a lot. You'll be able to lay down less filler and won't burn through as easy. So then you might be able to bevel it a little.Fill out your location in the CP so we can picture where you are! Good luck.
Reply:User CP will not recognize Land of OZ unless you are a wizard or a witchLet's see those welds after you get that thinner wire."We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities. "   - Oscar WildeMaxstar STL150Eagle CPM30 Bender