Comments, Critique, Advice Needed on O/A Welds

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Help me out.  I've been training myself to OA weld for the past 7 months.  Finally worked up enough nerve to post some photos for critique.  So, without further delay...have at it!I did not notice the flash rust on the tube joint until it was too late.  Should have cleaned it before the photo. Attached Images
Reply:Not bad looking, especially on the bottom pic. My respect is out to you to sit there OA weld. Id go crazy sitting there waiting on the puddle. Tig drives me crazy enough
Reply:Not too shabby, I never had the patience either. I'll stick to electricity unless it runs outThermal arc 211iCk flex-loc 150 & 130Clamps, saws & grindersHarbor freight 80 amp inverter
Reply:Originally Posted by Austin BennettNot too shabby, I never had the patience either. I'll stick to electricity unless it runs out
Reply:The fillet weld on the square tubing looks very cold. Otherwise, not badMiller Multimatic 255
Reply:O/A welding is a humbling experience. I tried it again for the first time since high-school and was horrified! butts are one thing but fillets are impossible! I couldn't get the "root" of a fillet to fuse for the life of me!my hats of to you sirbosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:Originally Posted by swampwelder13You dont need to take your electricity in for exchange lol
Reply:Originally Posted by 92dlxmanO/A welding is a humbling experience. I tried it again for the first time since high-school and was horrified! butts are one thing but fillets are impossible! I couldn't get the "root" of a fillet to fuse for the life of me!my hats of to you sir
Reply:Gee, all the comments about how difficult o/a is, how did they survive in the old days?   IIRC, my dad was trained in O/A, "Heliarc" was the new technology (1950).   The welds look nice but the real evaluation come with a bend test.   When I have (frustratingly) played with o/a, the welds never held up to testing.
Reply:Electricity is so much better. Once I invest in a proper TIG welder, I may sell my other welders. I just like TIG so much better for my hobby and repair stuff. Although SMAW is pretty fun too, it is just so dirty.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:Guys, this is great feedback.  Thank you for taking the time to post.  I'm an office guy -- not a welder, so this is a hobby for me.  Eventually (in a year or two) I may save enough money to look at buying a tig...maybe.For now, I just want to continue to practice a few times a week to develop skills.Thanks again!
Reply:What was your O/A settings and what filler was you useingThe main thing is not to panic or get excited Bobcat 250, X-Treme 12VS,  MM211Meltabo, Milwaukee,Porter Cable,Dewalt,MakitaVictor O/A, Ingersoll-RandEvolution Rage2, 40 amp PlasmaLincoln 225 AC/DC
Reply:Renaqade, I think I was using 5 Oxy and about 4 Acet with a Harris number 2 tip.  Interestingly enough, I was using a Victor J28 Torch with a harris mixer tube and individual tip.  The size and thread pitch were the same and I have more harris tips than victor so I tried it.  Filler was just 3/32 mild steel rod.  I probably should have used a 1/16 rod, but my LWs was out at the time.As I have been 'playing' and learning I have accumulated several purox torches including a W200 a Victor J27 and J28 a couple of smith aircraft AW1s.  The victor is the most comfortable to me (small hands), the Smiths tend to get very hot and the purox is overall ok to use.
Reply:Good looking welds.   The second weld is too cold. You can see where the weld is piled up.  Fillet welds are hard.  I have yet to master themThermal Arc  Power-Tech 10/270  stick welderLincoln buzz-boxPurox O/A setupNothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool
Reply:Guys, here's another take from tonight.  I increased my tip size by one.
Reply:wannab1Show us photos: of your pre-weld joint prep and fit,the tip sizes you are using, and your welding flame profile when lit.Your coupons are to short.  You are too cold.  The coupons weld area is not prepped - and you are using junk metal.Reverse this . . .Use new metal, prep and properly fit the weld joint,[adequate coupon length] use the right size tip, with proper flame adjustment.Show the WW your parts - and WW will show you theirs.Opus
Reply:Opus, will do...I guess that would help you assess.As far as metal, I only have scraps from some cut up ATV frames and other scrap metal.  They are .065 wall but I don't know what type metal...whatever the major manufacturers use to build their ATVs.  I fishmouth the fit-up on my grinder. So you suggest to use longer pieces of tubing to practice?   For this tubing what is an adequate length coupon?Again, I am a hobby guy at this and buying new metal is not in my budget.  I DO want to learn, however!Thanks for your comments, I'll make this happen this evening!
Reply:Here's the next series for critique, please:Weld Prep on first couple of photos.Then The weld side.Then the back side.  Last edited by wannab1; 07-27-2014 at 03:26 PM.
Reply:More weld prep and flame:
Reply:Here's the flame under the helmet
Reply:More weld prep and post weld photos.  Harris number 3 tip.  5 oxy and 4 acet.  .065 wall tubing from cut-up ATVs.  3/32 mild steel filler rod.  Tubes were prepped on a belt sander and grinding wheel.Any advice appreciated.
Reply:More of same
Reply:Pardon my ignorance, but is that a cutting tip you are using? Doesn't look like any kind of welding tip I have ever seen before.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:More pictures please!
Reply:I taught my self to O/A weld 44 years ago, using The Oxy-Acetylene Weldor's Handbook by T.B. Jefferson. Steve Bleile has a great video on O/A.