Need HELP

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I*M a Retired Trucker & Novice Welder I*M attempting to Weld on a Foot on the rear of My trucks Frame-got a matching piece of Frame--fitted & Tacked It On--both TOP & BOTTOM useing #6011 Rod--Now whats the Best Way to Finish IT? #7018? --& I*M having problems Seeing? my Weld as I Weld It!--as I See a lot of Pin Holes? & filling them IN takes Forever!--this Truck will have a Heavy Duty Holmes 750 Wrecker body Installed On It! when? Its Completed! So Please HELP! any Advice will be APPRICATED!  --Ole JIM--Ole JIM
Reply:Make sure the metal is clean on both sides of the frame. No paint, oil, grease, rust, etc.  The metal should be shiney.  You may want to also wipe the metal down with acetone to remove the residual oils.  Also you may even want to bevel the edges that you are welding together to provide maximum penetration.  I have learned thanks to this site that porosity is mainly cause by contamination of the weld  from item already listed above.Millermatic 175Miller Sychrowave 180sd
Reply:Did I read this correctly?  Are you adding 12" to the LENGTH of the truck's frame?  I'd never attempt that without some well defined welding skills.  You are describing welding porosity, which is a big cause of weld failure.  If this frame extension will be loaded significantly by the wrecker body, I'd be looking at the engineering too.  I think I'd at least box it...Hank