My second welds

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Ok, so here are my second welds. I took the advice from my previous post and applied them today.First off, I set my helmet at 9.5 as per Tensaiteki's advice - able to see the working field much more clearly. At 11 yesterday it was pretty much pitch black except for the bright spot of the arc itself.I experimented with leaning right down in and looking in from the side. In the first photo I gradually start to get the feel for this.In the second photo I experimented with my helmet's setting, eventually getting down to at 9. Visibility was excellent at this setting while not still not being unbearably bright. I was able to see and follow my soapstone layout marks much better in the last three welds on the right.The last three welds on the right in the second photo show continued improvement, getting straighter and more uniform in thickness.Had more confidence today, knowing that I didn't need to avoid contact with the workpiece. Leaning on the table made steadying much more effective and allowed me a better vantage point to view the weld puddle.Thanks for everyone's advice on my first attempt yesterday. Please feel free to pass along any thoughts on today's effort.Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away. And you have their shoes.Roland
Reply:Looking good on your being able to see and keep the bead inline/on the line.Now for some closer pics so we can see the penetration of the bead.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Looks much better.A little steadier and a little slower and you'll be doing much better.***************************************Lincoln AC225 stick welderLincoln HD100 WeldPak flux core wire feed welderThree of the cheapest grinders money can buy
Reply:looking better now lets weld something together. time to have fun now,  lap joint, butt joint,and fillet
Reply:Looking good, LOOKS to me like you need more heat and slow down.MORE PICS DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:I agree with David,  Slow down a little. It looks as if you can see the arc but not the puddle. Keep practicing, It will come soon!Perhaps it's time to work with some smaller pieces.  Try something about 3 inches long... some butts, some laps, and some tees. Also, it's harder to tell without something to reference the scale (or size ) of what you are working on.  (This is my take on why "ZAP" always puts a dime in the picture )The nice thing about smaller pieces is you can take them to a local welder and get advice.The best things in life all come on a stick!
Reply:Originally Posted by RabidfishThe nice thing about smaller pieces is you can take them to a local welder and get advice.
Reply:You are already good enough to build a dry hole marker.
Reply:Thanks, Oldtimer! What's a 'dry hole marker'?Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away. And you have their shoes.Roland
Reply:Roland,Hang around here and you will be a better welder.  I have been welding 30 years and I learned a lot of stuff here.  We love pictures of welds.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Originally Posted by STwelderLooking good on your being able to see and keep the bead inline/on the line.Now for some closer pics so we can see the penetration of the bead.
Reply:looks like you might be dragging a bit 0 the bead is high and uneven, and doesnt seem to be burning into the base metal much.  turn the heat up and hold the gun a bit more perpendicular to the surface, keep the wire length about an inch or less from the gun tip. then watch the puddle and not the arc. dont be afraid of getting the heat up - it will make the puddle more easily seen and controlled when the parent metal can sink the heat fast enough to avoid burn through. your arc should almost always be right into the puddle and not onto the solid part of work. let the arc create the hotspot at the lead end of the puddle and it will melt the parent metal into the puddle plenty fast and the arc wets the metal by keeping the puddle it hot enough to flow freely and move any impurities away to the edge of the puddle. getting to see the puddle is harder than the arc but thats where the easiest technique practice and improvement will be once you get the heat and the basic technique adjusted. gas shielded mig fills and builds very quickly and quite cold when dragged and usually burns in easily when flat or pushed, especially with a short arc.  others may argue with other techniques etc. but my experience is that a well adjusted machine can be run a dozen ways from sunday and make good or bad work.  learning good techniques will give you a whole new set of tools to work with. get comfortable with a position and then practice it a bit, muscle memory and comfort are essential as once you get tired muscles the fine coordination and attention will falter quickly. think about making practice joint welds and bead-runs of no more than 3 inches long at a time. that gets you a start, a finish, and a well heated burn in between withou changing your position or having to reach very much. A nice thing about technique and comfort in a procedure you become confident with - is that once you really get the hang of it - its like keeping tour balance while walking- you just seem to feel what to do just from watching the puddle and you dont think too much about it at all. watch the puddle and you will see a lot of things. if you are a stickwelder then you know how hard it is to see the puddle of metal and not the flux, just concentrate on keeping your attention on the puddle and it will tell you a lot. when the puddle looks like the same thing with the hood down or up- ( that is when its hot in the light of the arc and again when it has cooled and viewed inthe light of the shop) then you are in control of the bead. you can get this practice with one to two inch welds easily, you dont need to run miles of wire at all to work on the technniques.  little steps first, then bigger ones later
Reply:Roland, sorry I took so long to answer you question. Wife and I have been down with a stomach bug and I didn't feel like looking at a computer.A dry hole marker is a section of pipe that an oil company has to place on a plugged well. It has to be set where the hole was so it can be located easily. All the legals as it's called have to be welded on it. The company name, well name, section number, feet from the section lines, range township, etc. have to be there.
Reply:Thanks Oldtimer - I see what you were saying now.When I was welding the second time, I was struck with the thought of how similar this was to writing names on birthday cakes as a teenager helping out in my dad's bakery. So, I thought I'd give it a try and put in some verbiage, leveraging that old 'a picture is worth a thousand words' adage to label things. Not pretty welds, but the process lends itself well to cursive script every bit as well as icing!Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away. And you have their shoes.Roland
Reply:i would be real careful doing alot of welding on #9 at least not with a harbor freight helmet,i got my first taste of welder burn last weekend welding alot on 9 with a h f helmet good luck by the way welderburn sucks
Reply:Everything Lucywalker said.And start the puddle before you start running the bead. Remember wait on the puddle then move. Looks like good control though.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Thanks everyone for their feedback! I read over all of your advice several times in the last few days, then again tonight before heading out into the shop to run some welds. Check out my next thread on the results.Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away. And you have their shoes.Roland