Complete welding noob. Need some advice

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Let me start off by saying I have VERY little welding experience. Im just someone who likes to fix stuff on my car myself whenever i feel like i can to save some money.My car has a problem with boost creep, so im going to try making a new wastegate dump pipe that flows better than the crappy one my friend made with too many angles causing a restriction of flow thru the wastegate. So i tried some practice welds on the end of the pipe that im going to use, having no idea what heat setting or wire speed to use. After messing with it a bit, i got some welds that i feel is somewhat sufficent for what im doing (It doesnt matter if the welds are super strong. The welds just have to be strong enough to hold up the weight of a 15 inch long, 1.5 inch wide pipe so im not too worried about it). I did notice though that around the areas that im welding, im getting a dull yellowish colored foggy tint that goes a solid inch around where im welding. Is that a dead giveaway sign of something i need to do differently with my welding or settings? I also noticed that sometimes im able to form a good bead with these settings, but every now and then i get that popping crap and it just makes a mess of my welds. Im figuring that might be from a bad ground? Any advice would help. Thanks
Reply:Pictures would help. More specifics too, like welder, settings, flux or solid core wire, etc. The discoloration is probably the HAZ, or heat affected zone. Google for more info, but in your application it's probably not a big deal as long as your materials are slightly over spec'd. The popping can be many things. The straitness of your lead can play a big role in wire speed, and this is most evident at very low wire speed settings. Try to keep the lead strait with large diameter bends when needed. It could also be from contamination, make sure your metal is clean, sand disc down to fresh metal and use acetone to clean it before welding. It doesn't sound like a grounding problem, unless you are doing something funky with your ground between each weld. Post up some pics.Last edited by slagmatic; 03-05-2010 at 08:21 PM.
Reply:Standard questions:What welder?What wire?What settings?
Reply:The yellowish color makes me think of Galvy when someone welds near it. Seems odd for that use however, but it may be some other coating on the pipe..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWThe yellowish color makes me think of Galvy when someone welds near it. Seems odd for that use however, but it may be some other coating on the pipe.
Reply:Originally Posted by slagmaticPictures would help. More specifics too, like welder, settings, flux or solid core wire, etc. The discoloration is probably the HAZ, or heat affected zone. Google for more info, but in your application it's probably not a big deal as long as your materials are slightly over spec'd. The popping can be many things. The straitness of your lead can play a big role in wire speed, and this is most evident at very low wire speed settings. Try to keep the lead strait with large diameter bends when needed. It could also be from contamination, make sure your metal is clean, sand disc down to fresh metal and use acetone to clean it before welding. It doesn't sound like a grounding problem, unless you are doing something funky with your ground between each weld. Post up some pics.
Reply:Anybody else think this is some twisted joke?My name's not Jim....
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmAnybody else think this is some twisted joke?
Reply:#1 you are welding galvanized pipe.#2 you are welding galvanized pipe with flux core.#3 you are welding galvanized pipe with flux core and a ****ty welder.#4 you are welding galvanized pipe with flux core, a ****ty welder, and no experience.You need lot's of practice before you should even try to do anything auto related.  You also need to do some reading.  Miller and Lincoln both have good books.  Forget the pipe for now.  Find yourself some nice shiny bare steel to practice on...My name's not Jim....
Reply:Boostinjdm you pretty much nailed all the points I see..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Wow, i just did a some reading on welding galvanized pipe, and i didnt even know of the danger. Im pissed now because i told the place i got the pipe from that i needed 1.5" pipe to WELD, and that is what they gave me. Ill find some new stuff to practice on
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWBoostinjdm you pretty much nailed all the points I see.
Reply:Phantez you should leave those pics up, good for other beginners to see those pictures along with the comments.