My welds [oxyacetylene]

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Hi! Just found this place, looks like alot of people knowing what they're doing. Thought I'd take a break from plowing through old threads, and make one of my own.Here are a few pics of some of my practice welding last spring/summer with an old (new to me) Dillon Mk. III oxyacetylene welder (later sold under the names Henrob, Cobra 2000 and DHC 2000). While I'm waiting for spring so it's hot enough to go out and weld some more I'd like your opinions on how seriously I have messed up. Left: 0,7mm mild steel. Filler used to tack both ends of each weld, no filler used in the weld. Several hols blown through it, mostly at the end of the welds - it is not hard to fill them but I wanted to leave it exactly as it turned out after a single pass. Bottom right: 0,7mm steel again. Not sure if I used filler there...Top right: Pieces cut out of oil drum that has been rusting behind the barn for at least 30 years, probably about 1,0mm mild steel and about as much rust. Again filler only for tacking the ends. (I know you're supposed to clean it, but if you don't try, you'll never know...)Backsides:http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2853...00440091lAtukC0,7mm mild steel. Filler used for tacks and where the gap was to large to weld without it.22mm steel tubing, 1mm wall thickness. 8mm solid rod coming up from the bottom of the picture. (Scrapped lawnmower parts turning into a cart for the gas tanks. Recycling! )The half finished cart. Not much to be seen of the welds, but anyway... Wheels etc. has been added since this photo was taken, still some details to add.http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2915...00440091ZMuaCFFirst attempt at cast iron: fins broken off a scrap cylinder, about 3mm thick at the edge. No cleaning, no flux. Old piston rings used as filler (recommended by people who sell these welders).Backside. I'd say about 60% with good penetration and 40% failed. (As I said, first attempt, so I had no idea about what was going on on the other side until I was done and turned it over.)http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2353...00440091iYFpQgCross section.Stainless steel exhaust welded with 316 TIG filler rod. Muffler wall cracked all the way around the weld holding the pipe, and about a quarter of the way around where a bigger pipe is welded to the inside of the muffler end wall (visible to the left of the pipe). A number of new exhausts cracked exactly like this within hours of driving, I've welded three and as far as I know they're all still in one piece - so I must be doing something better than the chinese.  Cant be too hard I guess...So, that's it for now, you should be able to click the pictures and zoom to original size if you want to take a closer look.
Reply:Nice practice work. Just keep welding! I really enjoy torch welding. It lets me relax and watch the puddle. City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:it looks like really bad tig welding! haha! i've never seen pics of oxy-welding... what i have done is mostly tig, stick and fluxcore...
Reply:I really like OA welding too. An old water heater tank makes for good practice, I cut one up and welded it back together one time and really enjoyed it. Just make sure it always has an opening when you are welding on it!Miller Challenger 172Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC 225/150Miller Maxstar 150 STLVictor 100CVictor JourneymanOxweld OAHarris O/ASmith O/A little torchNo, that's not my car.
Reply:Originally Posted by tanglediverIt lets me relax and watch the puddle.
Reply:Just one tip... ...for thin sheet metal, leave the rod in the puddle and use thin rods. IMO you made the right decision. It's better to have gas welding set than some cheap tig welder.
Reply:Next on the list... gas weld aluminum.... It actually can be done but its more or less a lost art.  Carol Shelby had to train people when he built his version of the Cobra (Shelby America).  Seems in the 60s that's how they built aluminum car bodies (at least in England).There some interesting youtube videos on it.Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:Someone suggested using MIG wire when welding thin sheet, haven't got any but I'll try that when I do. I'm planning on buying flux and rods for aluminum welding later this spring, when it is hot enough to work outside again. I have some broken stuff and if I can repair even half of them the flux & rods will have payed for themselves right there.