advice and tips

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Anybody have any advice and tips for horizontal and overhead I just finished flat and vertical I'm doing I'm working on lap,t's, square, and v grove  in my first quarter in school loving it
Reply:For overhead, I'd watch this - good luck and have fun http://welding-tv.com/2012/07/17/arc...ith-7018-rods/Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Overhead?  Wear leather!- MondoMember, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Reply:Originally Posted by MondoOverhead?  Wear leather!- Mondo
Reply:Learn to read the puddle. Sounds simple, but it's not. I see a lot of students who simply can't grasp this, and thus have a lot of issues when they move from flat to out of position welds. Some can get by doing "timing patterns" in horizontal, but that usually fails miserably as soon as they hit vertical.You need to pay attention and train yourself to really watch the molten puddle and understand what it's doing and why. Once you "see" this and it clicks, it will all make sense. I see a lot of new welders who simply watch the shiny light and don't really see what the molten metal is doing.This is very often a very difficult thing to get across to students. The only person who can do this is the student himself. Since he lacks any reference to what to be looking for it can be very frustrating until he picks up all the subtle clues and has that "Ah Ha!" moment when things he's been seeing for quite a while suddenly all make sense. The only solution I've found is hood time and telling the student to try and pay as close as attention to the puddle as possible. Good luck..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 DSWI see a lot of new welders who simply watch the shiny light and don't really see what the molten metal is doing.
Reply:Trying to get my root verification down right on welding vertical using a t pattern I'm getting a lot of under cut any tips oh I'm runing a Lincoln smaw about 90 to 95 amps is that to much
Reply:Undercutting usually comes from not pausing long enough on the sides when doing vertical. I tell students to watch until the puddle catches up to the arc on the side when the pause, and then move quickly across the center to the opposite side and again pause until the puddle catches up. With a root pass it's more a side to side wiggle more than anything else. Everything is based on what I see the puddle doing.As far as amperage, it seems a bit low to me if you are running 7018. I'd want to be up around 110-115 roughly if not a tad higher. If you are running 6010/11, then you might be on the high end of what I'd run. I'd probably start around 80-85 and see how it runs and go up a bit if needed based on how my penetration was at the root. Gap and fit up would make a difference on the amp setting for the root..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:smc1118Relax."Overhead is flat - upside down", E.A.Once you understand this, overheadbecomes boring.Opus
Reply:"Overhead is flat - upside down", E.A.
Reply:Thanks for the tips
Reply:Is there anyone out In pa by new castle that knows were I can find a store that specializies in welding equipment also auto darkening hoods and all welding jackets and stuff like that thanks in advance
Reply:On overhead, remember to push up constantly.  It feels like pushing since gravity wants to keep your arms down.It's less natural than flat where you just let your arm fall as the rod burns.If you don't constantly feed rod up, you'll end up with intermittent long arc problems.Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by smc1118Is there anyone out In pa by new castle that knows were I can find a store that specializes in welding equipment also auto darkening hoods and all welding jackets and stuff like that thanks in advance
Reply:overhead is EXACTLY the same as flat..................just imagine someone holding you by your ankles upside down.................the ONLY difference is the $hit falling on you, but everything else is identical, so do not let it worry you.  Horizontal is just as easy as flat too.  Vertical up is usually the hardest to master...........and remember, "Practice does NOT make perfect,,,PERFECT practice makes PERFECT"6 Miller Big Blue 600 Air Paks2 Miller 400D6 Lincoln LN-25's4 Miller Xtreme 12VS2 Miller Dimension 812 4 Climax BW-3000Z bore welders Hypertherm 65 and 85Bug-O Track BugPair of Welpers
Reply:Dsw thanks I will keep this in mind when I'm driving aroud can't ask in school every one I spoke to are from Ohio including instructors but i'll find one
Reply:Expatwelder thanks and your right vertical up is trickery my t coupon is the only thing I'm having issues with running strigers on especially with 6010 rods any tips and advice for them
Reply:If it's only stringers that are giving you issues and not "weaves", just think of the stringer as a "micro weave". Keep the motions super tiny.Again it all comes down to watching the puddle and watching things build up and fill. With 6010 it doesn't matter if you are doing a small circular pattern ( watch each side fill as you go around), or a whip and pause ( watch the keyhole open and the watch the material deposit as you swing back), or whatever other motion you prefer. I keep hammering on this because this is what will solve your issues. Problem is no one can get inside your head and really "show" you this. It's up to you to figure it out in whatever way works for you. Keep concentrating on the puddle and trying to understand just what you are seeing. I'm betting today you can drive down the road and judge your speed based on what is going by outside the car and engine sound among other things with out looking at the speedometer many times. You've "learned" thru repetition what is going on. It's the same in many ways.Look at what happens when you long arc, look at what happens when you short arc.. speed up, slow down, change the rod angle, swing from one piece to the other and so on. Watch what is happening to the puddle and try to understand WHY..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 DSWIf it's only stringers that are giving you issues and not "weaves", just think of the stringer as a "micro weave". Keep the motions super tiny.Again it all comes down to watching the puddle and watching things build up and fill. With 6010 it doesn't matter if you are doing a small circular pattern ( watch each side fill as you go around), or a whip and pause ( watch the keyhole open and the watch the material deposit as you swing back), or whatever other motion you prefer. I keep hammering on this because this is what will solve your issues. Problem is no one can get inside your head and really "show" you this. It's up to you to figure it out in whatever way works for you. Keep concentrating on the puddle and trying to understand just what you are seeing. I'm betting today you can drive down the road and judge your speed based on what is going by outside the car and engine sound among other things with out looking at the speedometer many times. You've "learned" thru repetition what is going on. It's the same in many ways.Look at what happens when you long arc, look at what happens when you short arc.. speed up, slow down, change the rod angle, swing from one piece to the other and so on. Watch what is happening to the puddle and try to understand WHY.
Reply:Hey just wanted to let you guys know I did great on my root verification my t joint using 6010 now I'm using 7018 instructor wants a root pass also then a weave pattern weaves came out ok just have to move my wrist more instead of my arm moving hand he calls bumper car movement also what kind of job are out there for welders who graduate also types of welding jobs I was thinking pipeline work then again I don't know I hear their is so much out there so was wondering if you can help me out even thoe I didn't graduate I like to get a head start on things oh also any know about under water welding I just hear its not a good idea if I have a family anyway thank you all
Reply:Don't expect to weld underwater without additional training. They don't train you to be an underwater welder. They train you to be a commercial diver. Most of the training is in rigging, mechanical fit up, inspection, ROV work and so on. On average they do very little underwater welding, though in some cases they do a fair amount of underwater cutting with exothermic torches that's somewhat like stick welding in reverse. Almost everything is assembled underwater with nuts and bolts. Welding is just too expensive underwater and weld quality wet is fair at best. Most things are welded topside dry and then assembled underwater.The commercial dive company I used to work for years ago did quite a bit of pier and bridge inspections on the Delaware river. They also did a fair amount of small watercraft recovery in the summer when the idiots would sink their boats. They also did a lot of oil abatement cleaning up spills and small leaks.As far as being a commercial diver with a family, like everything else, the big money jobs usually require you to be away a fair bit, just like pipeline welding etc. However there are often "local" jobs for commercial divers even if the pay isn't as great and the conditions aren't always the most pleasant.  Bridges and piers need to be inspected underwater, docks and boats need to be worked on and recovered when they sink, water systems and sewer plants need to be inspected... All work for trained commercial divers, but no welding on average.As far as other jobs, in general the economy still sucks. It's an employers market. They can easily fill openings with guys with a fair amount of experience at lower pay levels than they'd typically be able to offer since so many are out of work. That leaves entry level jobs where you make very little money on average. Talking to the day instructor last year, he commented that only 1 in 5 of his students is finding welding work on average. Of those probably 90% are starting at $11/ hr or less doing production work at places with high turnover rates. The places chew new guys up and spit them out since  they know there's always a steady flow of newbies they can get to work for them. The best students are lucky if they can find work for $15/hr.Like a lot of places, employment can be spotty. Some places are having a boom and will take almost anyone they can, while in other places it's impossible to find work. You have to be willing to go where the work is, but remember with zero experience, pay still will be bottom level..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:Also what about being a apprentice  out of school with a union my school is only 10 months to me that's not enough experience and it counts for 2 years
Reply:10 months is 3 more than I got. If you are allowed to stay after normal class times, take advantage of it. My typical class is 5 hours a day. I'm at the school welding for anywhere between 10-15 hours a day because I stay late. The hood time will only make you better.
Reply:Yea I go to school at night use to be able to go in early but they said we can't right now because the instructors come in at 4:30 but I start at 5:30 so about a half hour is good I guess every minute counts
Reply:Originally Posted by MondoOverhead?  Wear leather!- MondoWell I'm starting overhead monday my leather jacket broke and don't have money for a new one is ther any other clothing I could use any tips and advice on that would be great
Reply:Leather is pretty much what you need - at least on the sleeves for sure.  The inside of your elbow collects sparks.By jacket is broke, you mean stitches came out?  Grab some needle and thread (and thimble)  and stitch up Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:No my buttons came off
Reply:Hello guys and gals out there just to check in almost done with my first quarter 2 more weeks feels like I just started anyway was wondering 1/4" opening on a v groove with a backing plate how difficult is it to weld in an position also what size rod can you recommend instructor said its up to use its for our final grade for the 1 quarter oh for got the sizes of the rods 1/8 an 3/32 now that's for 6010 and 7018 electrodesLast edited by smc1118; 08-17-2013 at 09:06 AM.