Butt joint question

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Hi all, I've got a question regarding butt joints. Is it just me or is it very hard to see where your pushing a mig gun when trying to lay a bead on a butt joint with zero bevel at all. Im talking flat position for argument sake. I've done it a few times thinking something will get better, but I still can't see where I'm pushing thru and must stop for fear of running the bead astray. I did drop the shade in my mask to its lowest dark setting which is shade 8 and the front protector screen is relatively clean for the most part. Dose anyone have any tips or ideas that could help me out? I don't imagine there's much that can be done about it other than put a bevel on the plates to see a path more clearly. Any help welding gurus? Thanks Pidge.Lincoln210mpHobart Handler 125...soldBoat battery and a couple coat hangers
Reply:Use a little gap.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:Bevel it....Sometimes, having too light of a shade will make it harder too see as well....8 would be way to bright for me.Just a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024
Reply:Yeah I prefer 10 or 11 with flux core or spray
Reply:AK-Hmm never thought to darken the helmet. Normally I keep it at 10, but I will try higher tomorrow if I get a chance. Now that I think about it it dose make sense as it dose get a heck of a lot brighter...naturally, but I guess its so bright I can't see the line. Will try it out for sure with the darker setting and make a report back of my findings and thoughts. CEP-In your travels would you recommend placing some .035 mig wire between the two pieces? I'm gonna try it that way myself, but thought I'd ask. Montecarlo-thanks sir.Lincoln210mpHobart Handler 125...soldBoat battery and a couple coat hangers
Reply:Sure that sounds like a good place to start. Maybe even .045“.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:You want no light inside the helmet. You want plenty of light on your work. Clean lenses are a must. Find a way to control fog, I use a Miller Cool Band head gear it has a fan blowing cooler air from either the back of your head or your belt. As I got older I found I needed a cheater lens in the helmet. Otherwise a soapstone line beside the weld joint can help.An optimist is usually wrong, and when the unexpected happens is unprepared. A pessimist is usually right, when wrong, is delighted, and well prepared.
Reply:I didn't try the .035 spacing method, but I did go to a darker setting and had similar results. I used to back to back pieces of 1/4" angle and used the natural line of the two butt up to one another this time. I also did like Willie said, drawing a line with some soap stone thinking that must do the trick, but another blind run pretty much. I should say going darker did help a touch, but nothing I'd write home about. On Moday I'm gonna strip my helmet down and give it a much better cleaning than the fast wipe down I did the other day. Willie I'll be honest I didn't think to stop and concentrate on the light entering thru the back side. I'll pay attention next bead I lay. Thanks again guys and once again I'll post my findings. Pidge.Lincoln210mpHobart Handler 125...soldBoat battery and a couple coat hangers
Reply:Thickness of the material you are welding? For 1/8" plate, I'll often gap the pieces 3/32" for a but joint with no bevel. If I'm not gapping, I try and bevel the plates back at least 1/2 way if butted tight.Also are you looking down the barrel of the mig gun when pushing? I see plenty of students who sit to the side or behind the gun and can't see squat. I lean forward so my head is out in front of the gun looking down the barrel for best vision. In some cases that may mean having to weld almost at myself, though usually I just weld right to left with me leaning out ahead of the gun..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I did try it on some 3/16 again and put a nice bevel on the two pieces. It did make a huge difference on what I can see finally. Haven't tried the mig wire gap trick as my stock is pretty much depleted. The next time I'm gonna take your advice and look down the "barrel of the gun" as I was, like you said looking from the side and also up from there a bit. Thanks for the tip on looking down and I will for sure try that. Pidge.Lincoln210mpHobart Handler 125...soldBoat battery and a couple coat hangers
Reply:You can always put some soapstone lines to follow or light grind the seam but like DSW said, look in front of the nozzle where you are going, not behind where the nozzle blocks your view.