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Hello all.I fired up my Hobart 140 yesterday. First welds (if you can call it that) ever.I am using flux core wire, no gas. Just welding some nuts and bolts together for practice. I have a couple of questions.1) The pieces now have a yellowish/ brownish residue on them near some of the welds.Does that mean anything?2) Just how fast DO you go on this machine? Looks like some penetrated, some did not. I know this can be a complicated question, but is there a general rule to start out with? Thanks!Scott
Reply:Q1 possibly galvanized nuts and bolts. or even stainless, or even that lethal stuff..make sure extraction of fumes is adequate and good ventilation.Q2 PRACTICE is the only way, sorry no set speeds all down to amps (heat)  materials used and size. Keep at it some might say its imposible
Reply:Nuts and bolts are often plated.  Galvanized can be nasty stuff if inhaled.  Cadmium and some other platings are much worse.  Be careful.Can you post a pic of what your welds look like?  You should always list ALL your parameters when asking a question about your welding.  Wire size and type, polarity, etc.
Reply:Cadmium yes that's the stuff..Couple blokes got killed here in Sheffield few years back, one was down a man hole cutting some bolts with oxy acetylene torch, he collapsed and his mate went in to save him both died..dodgy stuff alrightsome might say its imposible
Reply:Yeh, since the average person doesn't usually have black nuts and bolts around, whatever you are using is probaly plated with something or even anodized and not really good practice material. Sooner or later you'll find the need for welding these types of things but generally on a limited basis. I can appreciate the frustration of trying to come up with weldable material on a holiday weekend for sure. Get some good clean strap or angle as soon as you can get time. It'll be closer to the real application. That'll be practice that will mean something to you. Do not, repeat, do not pay hardware store prices for you steel practice pieces. That stuff has hospital pricing on it.
Reply:Thanks.I didn't know I was being a candidate for the Darwin Awards today with the plated stuff.I appreciate the info. Obviously, good to know.Here are some pics of my practice...By the way, I admit I bought a few steel pieces at the hardware store.I have been looking around, but any recommendations on steel suppliers?And any criticism on this picture, please, fire away!Thanks! Attached Images
Reply:It definately looks like you got into some plated material.  Hard to tell what kind, though.  I wouldn't try any more welds on this stuff for now.  I work in a university that tosses a bunch of stuff into the dumpster that makes good practice material.  Old lawn more blades make good practice material, so do the old lawn mower decks, just remove the paint and rust around the welds with a grinder.  Go to the local dump and become friends with the guy and his one-eyed dog...lots of practice material there.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Originally Posted by scottw752003By the way, I admit I bought a few steel pieces at the hardware store.I have been looking around, but any recommendations on steel suppliers?
Reply:Yellow, white, and brown indicate zinc from a galvanized metal.  It won't kill you outright to breath the stuff, but it is very bad for you.  Zinc will eventually clear itself from your system, but cadmium used in similar coatings (primarily bolts) is with you for life.  The zinc can cause cracks in your weld and general brittleness (especially at high temperatures) so it's generally a good idea to grind back the zinc coating anyways.  Just weld in a well ventilated area, but you should really do that no matter what you are welding.
Reply:If I may suggest , buy your self a good respirator, with two cartridges on it . for dust, mist,& metal fumes, if welding cadmium plated stuff, make sure the cartridges are suitable for that, & make sure you get the size that fits you good . if it don't fit "properly" , you are wasting time & money , & health  !P S :  the "rules"   say: don't wear a respirator with more than a one day beard . if you  do, it will not be capable of doing it's job  properly . WHY has nobody else mentioned a respirator , at least not lately ? I will agree that good ventilation  comes first , but, what about welding indoors , with mig or tig, that strong ventilation can mess up the inert coverage so necessary for the process? think  about it , eh  mac?
Reply:Thanks all. I thought I would get a tip on making a weld that doesn't look like poo.Who would had thought I would get some good health saving info.Really, thanks!
Reply:Originally Posted by scottw752003Thanks all. I thought I would get a tip on making a weld that doesn't look like poo.Who would had thought I would get some good health saving info.Really, thanks!
Reply:Thanks 76 gmc1500, even with all the respirator classes i had to attend ( about 2 hours , every 6 months ) at MARE  ISLAND , i didn't know (shame on me) that cadmium is so bad , i guess it's there w/chromium, nickle , lead etc. ?) They said that the zinc, bad as it is , you get over , maybe the least bad (none is good ) is iron (carbon) they said WE are carbon based . ?????I like what Sandy  said  #12- Keep on educating us , Sandy