Looking for comments

admin

I'm looking for constructive criticism on my weld. There is no one around that welds where I am so I'm looking to all of you to help me out. I'm pretty much new at this and fit into the hobby category. I am able to make things stick together so they don't come apart, but that's all I'll claim.This weld is 1/4" steel angle on 1/4" steel plate with 1/8" 6011 rod at 110 amps on a Sears 230amp AC (only) welder. The long weld line is horizontal with the base plate tipped about 10 degrees away from the viewer. The gap halfway down the weld is where I changed to the next rod. In looking at other pictures on this web it seems to me that there is a lot of splatter. I normally use 6013 rod and have more splatter than I expected - is this normal or is it due to my technique? The ripples (?) in the weld seem to be closer together than others I've seen on this forum. Am I moving to slow or is it ok? Any other comments? Attached Images
Reply:You must have dragged the rod instead of whipping it.  Some splatter is to expected but that seems a little much but don't worry in time it will go away.  By whipping I mean take a 1/4" step forward and then a half step back then wait till the puddle starts to get the shape of the circle then repeat moving forward again.  Keep a short arc length and maybe lower your amps down to 90 or so.  On your starts and stop should overlap and if you overlap to much it is better then not enough, just grind the extra off.
Reply:That won't come apart anytime soon...Good job for a first timer.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:For what it's worth that's identical to the results I get from my AC only buzzbox using 6011 rods too....
Reply:My welds look 'nasty' with 6011 on AC too, so I wouldn't be too concerned with appearance I'm a mite concerned about 'underfill'The lack of fill (underfill) along the top end of your weld is not good.  I'm sure it's fine for around the home, but you asked for constructive comments.  In a high stress situation, those unfilled crevices could be the sites of stress concentration leading to cracking or tearing.  Better to weld with complete fill, even if you have to grind off some overfill.Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:Pick up some 7018 AC rod 1/8" and run it 120-130 amps.  You can just drag it along slowly on the flux and it will practicaly weld itself.  MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:This discussion came up on another board a few months back. I couldn't remember running SMAW on AC, so I gave it a try. Soon as I struck an arc I almost stopped! The sound really through me! 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:Thanks, I appreciate all the comments. I was concerned about the underfill as well.
Reply:learn to see the liquid metal puddle and set your travel speed  based on seeing the puddle fill in the groove that is becoming the weld..the underfill means you are moving  before that area fills..
Reply:with a fillet weld you can use 7018ac, 1\8" 110 to 140 depending on machine. either back step, a C, or J technique, which ever one works best for you. keep the rod angle slightly less than 90 degrees. with the 7018AC, it will look a little more ropy than running DCEP, but it will still look alot better than running 6011. as far as the 6013 goes, throw it away!!! or use it to make hooks to hangs things on. you can either run stringer beads around the peices, but it will take longer. if your going to weave it just touch the top and swing around the bottom side the same length out as it was up. you want the weld itself to be as close to 45 degrees as possible. hope this helps