mig high in center

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Hello. I've searched with no luck for an explanation of this weld shape. Mild steel, 3/8" tee and butt welds, 250A GMAW machine, med. range, 3.5 heat, wire speed 4, .035 wire, 75/25 Argon/CO2, brushed and beveled before welding. It looks like a caterpillar is laying on my weld, on the verticals at least. The tee weld on the horizontal seems ok to me, though not sure about the penetration. You're looking at 4 welds. Two verticals and one heading left are mine, one heading right is on the machinery I'm welding. It's the shape of the verticals I don't understand.I'm pretty much a novice. Any advice would be welcome. Sorry for the primer, and the blurs. Thanks, Jim Attached Images
Reply:Your horizontals have undercut (maybe primer makes it a bit harder to see) but look good otherwise, the verticals could be you are moving too fast, try putting the heat up 1 notch and slowing down a tad, looks like it isn't fusing the filler and the piece completely.
Reply:vertical - too much filler, not enough heat, horiz - too much heat not enough filler, or slow travel a bit and let it fill inThe difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:yah thats right try more heat, and when going vertical make sure to try to go up and hold the sides.
Reply:Or as I was taught by an old barge builder...A vertical up is just a bunch of horizontals stacked up. Try a little weave be sure and wait for it to fill at the outsides move fast across the middle.You will need to get the heat just right. Use a helper who can turn knobs and listen well.Best of luck!Last edited by RockyTigJet; 02-11-2008 at 05:48 PM.Reason: Missed a word or two
Reply:From what I have been taught.. (not saying it makes it right or wrong) but when it is high in the middle, spread it out... I.e. more weaving...  So to copy what has been already stated in this thread/topic... weave some more and pause on the edges and faster across the middle...
Reply:Thanks for the advice. I'm always worried I'll end up with a lot of boogers if I go too slow, so probably I go too fast. On the horizontal, are you saying the weld should be filled more, like the pro weld going to the right? That makes sense, all theirs are quite full, and mine kind of concave. More practice, I guess.Jim