Good or Bad Weld?

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I recently hired contractors to redo our landscape. They're building a steel planter that runs the length of my property by welding 10ft long x 16in tall x 1/4in think steel plates together. They're welding stiffeners to the plates and I'm concerned that they are not welding properly. They also admitted to me that this is the first time they've done any steel work. I don't know much about welding so I was hoping someone can give me some advice. Please take a look at the picture and let me know your thoughts. I really appreciate the help!
Reply:RCB.  Are you funning us?  The weld looks fine but the steer manure in the bottom of the trench needs sifting.DanI hope that when i'm dead and gone, people will remember me and think; "Boy, that guy sure owed me a lot of money!"
Reply:Backed my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Fire them immediately. Im serious, that is as bad, if not worse than it can get.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Is there a good way that I can test the strength of the weld? If I take a hammer and hit the stiffener, it should hold. Right?
Reply:lol, you can call it landscaping art.    let it rust a lil, then clear coat it.    tell your friends/guests,  you paid alot of money for this, its the newest  fad
Reply:Ha! I should have mentioned that the stiffeners are in the planting bed and will be covered by dirt (aka steer manure). I guess my biggest concern is that as the soil freezes and expands that the stiffners pop off and the planter breaks.
Reply:[QUOTE=RCB;6174821      I guess my biggest concern is that as the soil freezes and expands that the stiffners pop off and the planter breaks.[/QUOTE]your talking like your building a bridge.     I think you'll be alright.     they buggered it up the full length.     maybe ask the boys to do a few overhead welds on the bottom side.   coat it w/ something to keep it from rusting best you can.  Hurry and enter it into sunset magazines  monthly contest before they cover it up w/ dirtLast edited by 123weld; 08-12-2015 at 12:16 PM.
Reply:Tell them they should have used rivets instead of welding and paint wouldn't hurt either.---Meltedmetal
Reply:The guy that dropped that metal [weld ?]  on there is amazing !!! How can anyone be that bad ! Boy, what a waste of good steel with those droppings on it. Might suggest to them to do it again with both eyes open.
Reply:Hit it with a sledge hammer. (12 pound.) To test the strength.
Reply:Thanks for the help. I'll bang on it with a sledge hammer when I get back and see if it holds. Some things are best left to professionals...
Reply:Professional just means you get paid for your work. There alot of great hobbyist weldors on this site. Maybe one can come out and hook you up for a couple of 20's
Reply:Originally Posted by RCBThanks for the help. I'll bang on it with a sledge hammer when I get back and see if it holds. Some things are best left to professionals...
Reply:Looks like a flux core weld with a 3" stickout to me.John 3:16(2) Miller Pheonix 456(2) Millermertic 252Dynasty 210DXHobart 210MVPDoringer D350 SA Cold SawScotchman 350LT Cold SawWebb 10x50 MillWebb 15x40 LatheGeka Bendicrop Ironworker
Reply:Rejected....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:Looks like what happened when my mig had an argon leak and I was welding without any gas getting to the arc plus trying to weld thicker metal than the machine was capable of welding.
Reply:Where are you located? Surely someone here would come fix that for you for relatively cheap. It'll take longer to grind that crap off there than it will to re-weld it properly. That is a terrible weld and it won't hold.
Reply:I'm in Seattle. This sucks.
Reply:@ RCB - Call the company ASAP and let them know that their welding work is a disaster.  Use those exact words.  Weldermike is correct.  You want them to remedy their disaster on your project.  However, you def do not want "them" to return for round two.  Fire and ReHire.  The fact that the steel will be covered in dirt/etc/etc and out of sight is no grounds for accepting ($ funding) these substandard welds.  If they admitted that they've never done any steel work then they should have sub'd out the work to a reputable firm who does know about steel. That dirty steel is no match for MIG.  SMAW would have been a better option if they had no intention of removing the mill scale.If they are producing this type of work for you, then guarantee they'll pass on their disaster to other (potentially unsuspecting) customers."Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:If you already have the guys doing other work for you ask them to drill and bolt the steel together as an added measure. They might be good at landscaping but suck at welding. If you went with the cheaper guys then you got what you paid for
Reply:Originally Posted by RCBI'm in Seattle.
Reply:Go save his butt Carl.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeGo save his butt Carl.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI’ve only been welding for a few weeks, and I can do better than that with my eyes closed!If you hit that with a hammer make sure the feet are well back. Go over and show him what a real weld bead looks like Carl.
Reply:I dunno what that is, but it ain't welding. It might look alright covered up with dirt.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI’ve only been welding for a few weeks, and I can do better than that with my eyes closed!
Reply:It is, just take away the h, the e and the s I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Originally Posted by EcondronI thought your name was Charles??
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI’ve only been welding for a few weeks, and I can do better than that with my eyes closed!
Reply:huh, I don't think I've seen such a rough looking weld so consistent. Gotta give them that much I guess. I wouldn't be surprised if it holds for its intended purpose, but like Shovelon mentioned, I would be worried about it rotting out before too long. I don't know a lot about freezing temperatures and weather, being from Texas, but I can't imagine water getting into any of the many voids that I'm sure are there being too good for the longevity of that project, especially freezing?
Reply:in what appears appears to be a 10 foot long weld there may be an inch or two of sound weld under the worm poop. other than that great job. you didn't pay them in cash i hope?i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:Carl, Thought about you right away, you the man for the job fer sher! Besides, you need the practice.JonYeah, I know, but it'll be ok!Lincoln Square wave 255Miller Vintage mig30a spoolgunThermal Dynamics Pacmaster 100xl plasmaSmith mc torchEllis 1600 band saw
Reply:Good lord!They found a way to fit some extra terrible into a horrible weld...that's real talent.Have them drill and bolt - at least they can't screw that up.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:rcb, what do you think about at least snapping a few pics of the crew, so we can meet them, if not a video interview?   and  a pic of there rig, or means of weld euip would be great.   we want to help you.    i'd guess, on getting the boys in some shovel action in the morning to make some clearence for the underside.    they are ready for ovehead w/ a handfull of  6011.    honestly we want to help, you can bring them live on the welding web, and some of us will be here to answer there questions, and give direction as they do it.   again, pics in the least, video would bring even better results.
Reply:Turns out I'm not the worst !!Located In SE OklahomaLincoln Mig 135Hobart Ironman 230 Mig5x10 CNC Table with DTHC & FTHypertherm PM65 on the tableMiller Bobcatwww.caneyagequipment.com
Reply:Thanks for the feedback. I shared the forum with the contractor who then had his guy perform a durability test, which failed. They're going to to take the stiffeners off and then have a professional come out and redo the welds. If you're interested I'll post a pic of what it looks like after the pro has done his work. In fairness to my contractor, he's a straight up landscape guy who does great landscaping (we have a great fence, pavers, etc.). This is just his first time doing steelwork...
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveGood lord!They found a way to fit some extra terrible into a horrible weld...that's real talent.Have them drill and bolt - at least they can't screw that up.
Reply:At the very least, your contractor is being responsible.Keep him as a Landscaper, but find another WeldorI offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:Very smart move to show this forum thread to the contractor. And he is doing the right thing now. Hopefully...he starts to spend some time on this forum. The knowledge base here is incredible.   And I have to say...This is one of the best sites I have ever been on. The members are just so damned helpful. Some sites are full of people who do nothing but tear down new posters. There's really none of that here. Welding Web is awesome IMO.   If the guy who welded that is just learning...this is the place to be for him to learn. If he would have posted a pic of what he was planning and asked for advice...I guarantee that the advice given would have prevented that mess that was shown by the OP.
Reply:The guy that did that should give a art class. That's what many try to do but can't .
Reply:Originally Posted by Tim9If the guy who welded that is just learning...this is the place to be for him to learn. If he would have posted a pic of what he was planning and asked for advice...I guarantee that the advice given would have prevented that mess that was shown by the OP.
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeFire them immediately. Im serious, that is as bad, if not worse than it can get.
Reply:What shovelon posted is what you'd expect from someone with five or ten years' experience doing it. They make it look way too bloody easy.That having been said.... OP, did they use flux core wire and forget to chip the slag? The only time I've done anything half that bad was when I was first doing overhead with 6010, and kept getting the rod stuck- and I'd been welding less than three weeks.Currently working as a Paralegal, but still interested in hobby welding.Miller Bobcat 225ntOne- Character Fractions: ¼ ½ ¾ ⅛ ⅜ ⅝ ⅞
Reply:Originally Posted by teh603What shovelon posted is what you'd expect from someone with five or ten years' experience doing it. They make it look way too bloody easy.
Reply:I hope you didn't pay them.
Reply:It shouldn't have taken showing the contractor this forum for him to see the horrible mess created. You can't even call that an attempt at welding. A good contractor knows when to call in people with more experience. Actually doing nothing at all would be better than that mess. It likely weakened the steel just like stray arcs do and there's at least one of those too.
Reply:RCB   Any idea what equipment and process they used?---Meltedmetal
Reply:This is a picture of the box the welder they're using came in...The plan is to have a professional welder come out early next week and weld over the existing welds (the ones that will fail/rot). What do you think about that approach?