smaw overhead

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hi my name is damian am welding student. i just started overhead  v bevel open  butt and need some of your expertise. if anyone as a video it would be greatly appreciate. this thing overhead breaking my back and i need some help. thanks
Reply:Its all about getting into the most comfortable position as possible. It kills my back to. I try and find a way to brace myself or lean against something if possible. I also found in welding school that if I put it at just above eye level standing straight up then when I widened my stance a little it was about right and I could prop against the pole it was tacked onto. Dont know how your welding booth is set up.
Reply:Being as comfortable as possible for the conditions that exist.  I preach that a lot to my students.You mention an open butt joint, V-groove.  Is this correct, full penetration, no backing?I don't know what rod you are running, but generally you want 10-15 percent higher amperage than you would run vertical and keep your arc length tight.   I like to think running overhead is just like running flat position, but your more uncomfortable doing it.  So take the time and find the right spot.  You have the luxury of running from both sides (unlike vertical up), so lumps and divits becomes easier.Jay DavisAWS-CWIC-60 Specialty Welding ContractorLoving husband, and father of two boys (
Reply:I've had to learn to completely relax. Find the most comfortable welding position. Step away from the bench or what ever you are using to prop your plate up. Put yourself in the position as if you where going to weld overhead comfortably. Now, with that position in mind, set up your practice piece. It should alleviate some of the back pain. I try to have my stabilizing arm resting up against something. Out in the field, you are going to be in all sorts of different positions. We could tell you, but unfortunately, you have to find your own techniques/positions. If its any encouragement, most of the guys I talk with say that OH is their favourite.
Reply:It is all about rod angle, and arc length. Enjoy your time in a welding booth. When you get out on the job site, you'll either be standing on one foot on the top rung of a 12-foot step ladder reaching out as far as you can, or leaning back in safety belt, while welding over head. Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPIt is all about rod angle, and arc length. Enjoy your time in a welding booth. When you get out on the job site, you'll either be standing on one foot on the top rung of a 12-foot step ladder reaching out as far as you can, or leaning back in safety belt, while welding over head.
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeAnd if you a righty don't forget you'll be welding lefty cause your holding on for your life with your good hand!
Reply:Originally Posted by damianmurdockhi my name is damian am welding student. i just started overhead  v bevel open  butt and need some of your expertise. if anyone as a video it would be greatly appreciate. this thing overhead breaking my back and i need some help. thanks
Reply:Comfortability is the whole key here, try clamping a vise grip on the jig to rest your elbow on. Once your rock solid you got it made. And practice, practice! Good luck bud!I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:yes i am doing v groove overhead am using 1/8 spacing 1/8th rod 7018. Full penetration without a backing strip. This is very difficult. its so hard to get comfortable. Also its very difficult to get that full penetration because it doesnt stay up it seem to fall down a little from the top
Reply:donald it sounds so easy but so difficult especially getting full penetration using 7018 without back strip. i cant seem to get that lava to flow out back like the vertical. any hints? help please!
Reply:i have been told whenever i get this it will be easy doing pipe welding. my hold problem guys is that root pass and getting it to flow out back and stay up there
Reply:Tight arc length. Tight! And you gotta be comfy. And I put my rod straight in the stinger and if your a righty hold the rod like a pool stick in between your left middle and index fingers with your thumb underneath the rod. By the time it gets to hot you could slowly move everything out of the way, the rod will be short enough to control.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:You made me get my camera out! I'm tryin to help you but sometimes words just dont cut it so I took a pic for ya. This will help keep you steady and help with your arc length.   Attached ImagesI hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Originally Posted by damianmurdockdonald it sounds so easy but so difficult especially getting full penetration using 7018 without back strip. i cant seem to get that lava to flow out back like the vertical. any hints? help please!
Reply:As CEP said, DCEN or straight or DC- polarity can help push in a 7018 open root. Once you get your root in with dc-, then go back to reverse or DC+ polarity for the rest of the weld joint. This may help you.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeTight arc length. Tight! And you gotta be comfy. And I put my rod straight in the stinger and if your a righty hold the rod like a pool stick in between your left middle and index fingers with your thumb underneath the rod. By the time it gets to hot you could slowly move everything out of the way, the rod will be short enough to control.
Reply:Close(tight) to the base metal.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Stick pointed virtually straight up.Angled so the arc pushes the metal and slag to the back of the puddle.  (Away from the direction of the weld).  I probably use a steeper angle than most, but everyone is different.The tip of the rod is slightly, and I mean slightly, oscillated to fill the undercut.  Don't leave the face of the puddle.Watch the puddle, not the slag.  Forget about the slag, and ignore the fact that it will spill.  You only want to be interested in the puddle, and filling undercut etc.The heat is focused on the overhead plate, while the metal flows down onto the lower part of the joint.  Watch the puddle so's not to drip down below the joint.Higher amps when running overhead so that the weld puddle doesn't drown the arc.  The arc length is such that the rod is literally jammed into the steel.  Actually you're feeling the flux hitting the steel.  That's what the others mean by a "tight" arc.  As short as possible.Wear heavy clothes, and use long gauntlet type gloves with your shirt/jacket tucked into the gloves.  You should never have to worry about hot metal going into your clothing.  If you do, it wrecks your concentration.Now I gotta mow the yard    Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I have found that with 7018 the electrode is up inside the flux while it's being consumed. And because this you can actually have the flux on the plate. You can't see it but the arc length will be slightly longer than what is visible. Keep the rod as tight to the base metal as possable, that's what I did in school. I am just about to graduate, so I don't have much experience but I have found on all processes the tighter the arc length the better the control. But that my just be my style, I don't know as I tend to nit watch many others weld.
Reply:Thanks everyone for your kind response and help. Let me ask you guys this question. I would like to work for cbi do they do overhead with backing strip or without? if its with out the root pass tends to fall out a little because there is nothing to grab on. can some one give me a picture of how the back of a open root overhead stick weld open butt or v groove looks like without a backing plate. i would like to see back and front
Reply:Open v groove, will make a noticeable change in sound when you get full penetration, almost like a cross between a jet engine and bacon frying in a hot pan. It's hard to describe. Once you hear it though you will start to recognize it. And once you find that it will build up enough, and not suck back, you just gotta keep it going and maintain travel speed, arc length and the sound. It's actually the sound of the arc as it blows through the keyhole. It's hard to let the keyhole open up when your first starting out, because your worried about blowing big holes, but if you maintain the travel speed and arc length the deposit of filler metal will close it right up. It takes alot if finesse, you can do it just listen as much as look at what is going on. And you will master it in no time.Offering CNC Plasma cutting and welding projects.Follow me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/nobigdeal.fabSupport those that support WW.
Reply:Over head plate with 7018 open root isn't as easy as pipe.  Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:was this an overhead root pass
Reply:sujay i hope it drips from your colonOriginally Posted by damianmurdockhi my name is damian am welding student. i just started overhead  v bevel open  butt and need some of your expertise. if anyone as a video it would be greatly appreciate. this thing overhead breaking my back and i need some help. thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by Donald BranscomYou can hold the gun or welding electrode in such a way that one of your knuckles or fists or fingers is actually draggingalong the bottom surface of one side of the metal plate and keeping the distance away from the plate as you move along.
Reply:Thanks guys
Reply:Originally Posted by snoeproeAs CEP said, DCEN or straight or DC- polarity can help push in a 7018 open root. Once you get your root in with dc-, then go back to reverse or DC+ polarity for the rest of the weld joint. This may help you.
Reply:you can use dc- with 7018 for root pass