How to make butt-joint seams more visible?

admin

I can make decent strong beads.  But I find when I'm MIG welding that I sometimes have trouble making straight beads with butt joints between two sheets of plate steel.  I often wind up with a fair amount of wavering.The problem is that if my lens on my mask is adjusted so my eyes are comfortable, I'm not necessarily able to see every bit of the seam line between the plates while the trigger's depressed and the wire is arcing.  This isn't a problem for me with lap welds or T (fillet) welds, because the position of the metal pieces makes the seam line well defined.Is there some way that you've used to mark your seams so they're real visible when your work is lit by bright arc light?  Or do you have some other tip?
Reply:I use a bright light over the work and a shade 9.  Soon I'll be using a shade 8.I see fine with oxy/fuel, tig and stick welding.  Mig is where I need the extra light.And (if you don't already), take your lenses out and clean each surface inside and out before you weld.Dave J.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:Use a soap stone line just outside out your pool edge to guide you.Use a piece of angle next to the joint to reflect the arc back on the joint.Clean the outer and inner lenses from the fume.
Reply:If youre welding thin sheet, stitch weld.  Youre running shorter beads which will ultimately be straighter.  If youre welding thicker material, say 1/8" and up, bevel it a little.  Helps a lot with visibility. When i had my old hood, if I was stuck with a nasty front glass, Id bevel the sides and drag a little, kind of use the bevel to help guide the cup. Doesnt always work but worth a try.The other thing is reposition yourself so that youre looking more at the side of the weld.  The cup on the mig gun blocks a lot of light.  If youre trying to look "through" the cup youre bound to wander some.
Reply:I second the recommendation to clean your lens covers, both inside and out, and also to bevel a little bit.Everlast PA160-STH... and that's about it!
Reply:Change the posistion of your head, draw a soapstone line down the joint.REAL TRUCKS DON'T HAVE SPARK PLUGS
Reply:I used to have the same problem till I got a good hood.The position of your head in relation to your torch and the seam does make a big difference too though.Lincoln precision TIG 275Millermatic 140 MIG
Reply:What size wire are you using? If it's .023 try going up to a .030.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:A good filter will amaze you.  I started with an amber plastic filter and switched to a glass greenish filter, night and day difference.  I have several shades but I want a gold filter or an arcone filter next.
Reply:I bought some pencils that were supposed to light up near the arc, they were not much better than a soapstone. What worked for me was a good bevel.
Reply:What pencils were those?
Reply:I started using cheater glasses under my hood starting this year. Really helps seeing weld joint.ChrisAuction Addict
Reply:a good lens versus a cheapy is a night an day difference on what you can and cannot see also might wants to get your eyes checked might need a cheater lens on there as wellMiller Xmt 350Lincoln Ln-25Ahp 200xSmith Gas Mixer AR/HTig is my Kung FuThrowing down dimes and weaving aboutInstagram http://instagram.com/[email protected]
Reply:what does this have to do with seeing the weldment  ? Originally Posted by GambleWhat size wire are you using? If it's .023 try going up to a .030.
Reply:Originally Posted by WookieWelding what does this have to do with seeing the weldment  ?
Reply:Bevel the joint a bit before fitup.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Thanks, guys.  A lot of great advice, and I do appreciate it.  For one thing, I probably have not been cleaning my lens often enough.  I can also bevel more - sometimes I've done that, sometimes not, and it probably is better when I do.  I'll experiment more with head position. Originally Posted by GambleWhat size wire are you using? If it's .023 try going up to a .030.
Reply:I didn't mention bevel because it totally depends on how thick your metal is. Welding  22 ga the last thing you want is gap or bevel. Anything over 1/16 you can definitely start to add a little bevel. The thicker it is the more important it is.Lincoln precision TIG 275Millermatic 140 MIG
Reply:I will dig a pencil out tomorrow at work and get back to you.
Reply:Learn to weld in a straight line without any cheating help.It's not that difficult....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:It is when your hands shake like youve got palsy...
Reply:Originally Posted by Joel_BC...Is there some way that you've used to mark your [butt-joint] seams so they're real visible when your work is lit by bright arc light?  Or do you have some other tip?
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterLearn to weld in a straight line without any cheating help.It's not that difficult....zap!
Reply:soapstone!
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterLearn to weld in a straight line without any cheating help.It's not that difficult....zap!Originally Posted by akabadnewsThis.As far as visibility goes, I ditched the auto dark hood for a fixed shade, bought a gold filter for $5 and the difference is literally night and day. Or even switching to a glass lens if you're using a plastic one will make a world of difference.
Reply:Prismacolors very thin Argent Metallique 753 Metallic Silver . Recomeded by my LWS . Not much better than soapstone . I also use scrap or pipe clamps as a " crutch" no shame in this I am sure most people learned to ride a bike with training wheels.
Reply:Originally Posted by ThorsHammerI'll second that. lol. soap stone, beveling, etc. are all crutches. Learn to walk without them.
Reply:Does anyone still sell glass lens? I replaced my gold in my fixed shade and all I found was plastic Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:This learn to do it right is all right when you are young, but Ive gone past that level and I can weld a perfectly straight weld right off the seem and up the plate without any trouble at all.  Mac