3F 7018 uphill- comments/advice?

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1/8" rod, 1/2" plate. 110 amps I believe, Lincoln Invertec v350-PRO is what they have down at the school? Is that all the information I have to provide? Right then, time to shut up, stop talkin', and post some pictures.It's not finished because this one was practice... I can bring a full one and some more pictures maybe a couple of days from now.Anything sticks out in particular?My instructor said I got a little wide on one of the beads. How can you tell what the "perfect width" of one of these things is supposed to be?Apparently I just need to tighten up overall a little bit, but... I don't quite know what I'm aiming for or even if that can be explained. I know what "too narrow" looks like because there's no weaving, and I know what "too wide" looks like right now, but I don't know what it looks like when you hit it right on the spot. Attached ImagesKeeping it down in the hood...literally!
Reply:And one more image, because I can't fit more than five in one message. Attached ImagesKeeping it down in the hood...literally!
Reply:Oh, yeah.for future reference, should I have posted this in the MIG, TIG, Stick, And Oxy/Fuel Welding forum instead?Sorry for the trouble.Keeping it down in the hood...literally!
Reply:Either forum is fine.Looks good.  Watch your toe lines.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Looks a dam sight better than my uphill"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Toe lines?... Uh, you'll have to excuse me. I'm still relatively new to the game, so... I haven't yet been schooled on the terminology. I just lay the rod where they tell me to at the same time, classroom day is tomorrow, so Keeping it down in the hood...literally!
Reply:Lookin good Drake, keep steady and don't get into a hurry. Also, Learn what the arc sounds like when you're laying down a good bead.Last edited by Cofe; 10-05-2009 at 09:49 PM.6"XX P5P8 6G
Reply:That's the weird thing about this one... I didn't even hear the arc today and I usually do. It was like... some kind of dull roar or something, like the metal was just flowing into the puddle... I mean, there was no crackling or anything today, it just happened. I dunno, it's hard to explain.The background noise might have been covering it up. Is that even possible?Keeping it down in the hood...literally!
Reply:Yea Drake background noise can cover the sound somewhat. 7018 when it is dry and set right is smoooooth....I have a question though, Who torch cut those plates........?Last edited by Cofe; 10-05-2009 at 10:14 PM.6"XX P5P8 6G
Reply:Originally Posted by Drake AldanToe lines?... Uh, you'll have to excuse me. I'm still relatively new to the game, so... I haven't yet been schooled on the terminology. I just lay the rod where they tell me to at the same time, classroom day is tomorrow, so
Reply:looks goodthe only thing i wouldnt do is terminate 2 beads at the same place as in pic no. 2makes it hart to make a goo pickup.G
Reply:Good looking welds ! Straightenting the edges will make the visual appearance nicer as was alread addressed. Slight inconsistencies in each bead will work out with practice and haunt me occasionally.
Reply:Originally Posted by CofeI have a question though, Who torch cut those plates........?
Reply:Hey Drake, I was wondering about the torch cut on the plate, because a good part of being a good welder is nice smooth cuts with a cutting torch. A weldor has to learn to cut smooth so he won't waste time grinding. "Grinding will wear you out in a long day's work."Just trying to help ya(unless of course you have a good pipe fitter or helper assigned to assist you)6"XX P5P8 6G
Reply:Originally Posted by Drake AldanUm, when you say watch your toe lines, do you mean... keep them straight, or place them along a certain point?
Reply:Hmm, I see. Most interesting!I picked my classroom instructor's brain today and I got a lot of juicy information. I'm very happy. Anyway, to keep the toes straight and even, you try to use reference points along the joint, right? It should be easy if you can see the whole plate... that's just a matter of experience to get that "night vision", correct? Originally Posted by DesertRider33Watching both toes will help you know if your bead is getting too wide or narrow as you go along so you can adjust your travel speed.
Reply:Gah! It's always something. I hope I'm just putting too much pressure on myself, and 3F isn't really eating my lunch like everyone said it would.My instructor said I needed to narrow the whole thing down. Said I was weaving before; that that wasn't necessary, it was more of a quick side-to-side motion, a skinny zigzag. Tweaks of the wrist, it felt like. So, I did. I tried to weave less and speed up a little more than I was doing.I still don't have bead placement down since I haven't put together in my head what effect the 4th bead has on the 5th and 6th, and on my 6th bead I had some undercut on the left side. My instructor said that you can look- and see- where you fill in the undercut, but I can't see it... everything below the puddle is just pitch black. Preventing undercut always seemed like a passive process to me, you just do it, change your technique or something, pause at the sides or whatever maybe 1-2-3 and hope it doesn't show up- but apparently you can see it and knock it out before it happens, no more pausing than necessary.Maybe it's because I wasn't specifically looking for it before...?I'll have some pictures later today.---I just checked my helmet and the shade setting is a little bit under 11... It couldn't be this thing causing all my problems, could it?I set it back to 10. Nobody here stares at the arc, right? I get some major eyestrain and green spots when I do that (which is why I decided to turn the shade up some weeks back).Last edited by Drake Aldan; 10-07-2009 at 03:54 PM.Keeping it down in the hood...literally!
Reply:Pics of the aforementioned weld.A few more after the jump~ Attached ImagesKeeping it down in the hood...literally!
Reply:Aaand the rest.You think I made any progress today? Attached ImagesKeeping it down in the hood...literally!
Reply:Ahh... all that time I had spent listening to my classroom instructor, I had forgotten... he wasn't the one grading me, my lab instructor was!the cardinal rule of school- talk to the teacher often, and do what they want!I assume it's like this in the real world too... the thing about welding I think, is that you build up your skillset... being able to see, being able to steady yourself, being able to control the puddle... and then you listen to your more experienced superiors!I can't believe I didn't realize it earlier.I managed to establish a feedback loop. I need to work on maintaining my rod angle while feeding the electrode in and keeping my toes straight. I stopped weaving... he says it's getting better. Hopefully I can nail something a little presentable on Friday.Turning the shade back to 10 did help me see a lot more (ha ha, how foolish of me...)I went to Airgas after school today and got some Tillman 850NS gloves.The Hobarts I had on were X-large [online retailers, what can I say?], and the Lincoln Electric gloves I wore when welding way back in high school were ill-fitting... I can't believe these gloves actually fit! I thought stick gloves were just unwieldy and you couldn't do anything about it Can't wait for tomorrow!Pics are of an unfinished weld- there are 3 beads laid down. Attached ImagesKeeping it down in the hood...literally!
Reply:The rest.If you have any suggestions for camera angles or the like, just holler! Attached ImagesKeeping it down in the hood...literally!
Reply:Your really doing a good job, just let it come, dont get upset. When you get it you will smile and say thats it,I did it. I did 37 years ago.1990 SA 200Miller 225  Rip Miller302Miller 135Lincoln 200 MigHypertherm 600 PlasmaPlasma Cam Cutting TableMikita Cold SawJL Welding Tx . com
Reply:Yea, I don't think there's really much we can say...Just need more practice then everything will get good. ;]
Reply:I managed to grade out today... wooh!Turned out my rod angle was too severe. I was overcompensating for not having enough rod angle earlier, and this made it difficult to keep a straight line.Well, everything's fixed now. I see what my classroom instructor was saying. Focus on what's in front of you... focus on passing your tests. (Focus on keeping your job.) You can always make it pretty later.Guess I'll make a new topic after this.Ahh, sweet success! It's gonna be a good weekend. Attached ImagesKeeping it down in the hood...literally!
Reply:those last pics look real good also. kept the overall bead width consistent all the way up.if i had to pick on anything id say to look at:between right hand bead and the center bead about 1/4 of the way down and again 1/3rd to half the way down the beads didnt flow over each other enough and left a deep sort of valley.this might be a slag trap if you have to do another pass of 4 beads on top.not trying to be a ball buster here, just a pointer.but hay they passed...and rightly so.im just splitting hairs (or beads )keep it upG