Ok, so what do I work on.

admin

1/8 7018 on 1/4 x 2" ~6" plate.  130 amps (the long bead).  It started 'fat for some reason..  Probably the cold?  maybe me..   Flux fell right off. Attached ImagesVarious GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:Yep, looks like it starts cold and then warms up. Your travel speed is inconsistant. Try to steady your hands/arms and get as comfortable as possible before running a bead. A "practice pass" also helps.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Thanks, Ill give it another go.  Garage is like 30 degrees right now.. brr.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:Yepper, warm the piece up with a propane torch, then go.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:a lil trick that also helps is start uncomfertable and work to comfert. although this is a short bead it probly dose not aply here, but many times you find yourself streching to finish the bead and it can cause you to mess up. summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:if you are just learning to weld, this looks like a real good start.....and if your garage is 30 degrees ,then that rod is colder than that,  move your rods inside till spring if you have to....(warm dry rods will show immediate difference) one more kinda funny thing....when I first started weldin', my passes were real nice for a short distance ,then went to heck  ;cause I held my breath, then when i took  a breath they went  crooked and  uneven and unsteady,,,so don't forget to relax and breathe...
Reply:Thanks fellas, I ran a couple more last night and without posting pics, looked pretty much the same except it was straighter and more even.  Ill try the warm up the rods thing too.  Im gonna put these rods in a plastic bag too to try and help em last longer.  Ive almost used a whole box of 6013!  My first box of rod.. That will be a kodak moment eh?  This stick stuff is harder than it looks.  The 7018 behaves differently (arc and puddle) than the 6013.  Cant wait to try 6011 and 6010 out.  Im having a blast doing this stuff.  Gotta get more propane for the heater though...Rambling on...Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:I bought a kerosene heater (23k btus) at home depot for $96.... gonna see how it does ***************************************Lincoln AC225 stick welderLincoln HD100 WeldPak flux core wire feed welderThree of the cheapest grinders money can buy
Reply:Lowes has (had?) the Reddy Heater forced air on sale for $99. 55,000 BTU on kerosene.http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...5CT&lpage=noneI see its back to normal price...glad I got mine at $99!!!
Reply:I have a kerosene, but the dagone thing stinks so bad I kinda have parked it.  This little reddy propane job Ive got get mighty warm, and its quicker.  But it costs more to run it thats for sure.  Sure beats fussing with kerosene in my book though.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:i got a mr.heater big daddy or big buddy some thing like that. it runs on propain with 3 settings 8,000 16,000 & 24,000 i think i better go check it out. but it runs off the lil 1 lbs cilinders or the larger tanks with a converter hose. it works realy well, has a ceramic front plate for radeant heat as well as the gas heat. only beef with it is the lil fan is over the high side only ??its got 2 heat plates in the front, so on low its pushing the wrong air.i throw it on high to heat the shop up prity quick and then drop it down to low to hold it there. i use 2 tanks( standerd BBQ size) so when one runs out i just switch to the other and take the empty to fill. i get a lot of use out of it befor it needs filling, i think it said 200Hrs on low only witch is where its at most of the time, just a 15min. jump start then on to low.got it at TSC on sail for like $100. they did a recall on them a year or so ago due to a bad switch so if ya got one call them with the ser# and they will tell ya if you have one in need. they were realy cool about it sent out a new one with a return lable to ship back the old one. summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:Originally Posted by DoolittleI have a kerosene, but the dagone thing stinks so bad I kinda have parked it.  This little reddy propane job Ive got get mighty warm, and its quicker.  But it costs more to run it thats for sure.  Sure beats fussing with kerosene in my book though.
Reply:My kero salamander works well too. I use that thing all week. The only thing is I think it's more expensive to use, I may consider a big electrical heater. My A/C runs all day long during the summer and it's less than the kero is costing me every month. John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Roger that,  Its like 12 (-5 windchill) degrees right now.  Its too fricking cold to do anything..  Cant wait till spring.Same here on the AC.  My electric bills are much worse in the summer.  I dont have an AC unit in the garage, but would luv to have one.  I may yet do that.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:My shop is 20x18 with 8 7.5ft ceilings.  At 30 deg. I can get it up to 75 in 40 min.  (Check out the photo)  When the flue reaches 400+ I can get 150 deg. out of my heat exchanger which draws ambient air in from outside.
Reply:Ooooo..   Gotta like that.   Whats it run on?  Coal?Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:Wood...I burn lots of red oak. The stove was most likely designed to burn coal originally. I'll go through 20 lbs of wood in a 12 hour day if I want my shop to stay between 75-80 if it's below 30 out....I like it a hot.