Welding observations that I have made....

[toolmanmike]

my version of a tig weld, done with a mig........with my eyes closed

guess I could overlap a little more


View attachment 1813054

Nicely done. Did you stop the puddle or arc then move and arc again. (not really spot or stitch)

 

[eldubb440]

Nicely done. Did you stop the puddle or arc then move and arc again. (not really spot or stitch)

much easier on plate steel ....... I stop and start on sheet metal or eventually it burns through

I make sure its good and hot....... so it remains molten while I stop the arc...... then right back into it while it nice and red.....it also gives me a second to take a peek (through medium shade green glasses)

I call it stitching?

 

[71Beeper]

Do you get a better result if the wire feed rate is faster or slower?
My example would be that I want to weld up a exhaust pipe connection.

 

[toolmanmike]

Do you get a better result if the wire feed rate is faster or slower?
My example would be that I want to weld up a exhaust pipe connection.

The wire feed has to be just right. If it's too slow you will weld up into the tip. Too fast and you keep gaining wire and your shielding gas doesn't work like it should.

 

[71Beeper]

This guy explains it well.

 

[Danno44]

That look...

View attachment 1813287

And another

 

[BB BELLA]

Stick is pretty easy for Canadian's , when it sounds like bacon frying you got some penetration!

 

[Kern Dog]

Since around 2013, I've worn contact lenses, over the years, the strength had changed.
I have to wear cheater glasses to see well enough to weld.
I have noticed that if I've welded for a couple hours, the lenses get sticky. I've added saline solution to my eyes, that helps.
I thought it was the smoke from the weld that dried my eyes out but maybe I am wrong.
To the guys that advise practice, practice, practice....That is nice but I have practiced for 30+ years and while my skills have improved, I took the class to UNlearn whatever mistakes that I have been repeating all this time. You need to know the proper way to do this, then practice to get better at it.
I've been good at doing things wrong for years!
One thing was the direction that you weld. I've always dragged the bead with the MIG. My reasoning was that by dragging, I can build up the weld slowly and add more weld on the previous one. For sheet metal, this works to weld closed the gaps. The instructor said that when doing MIG, you PUSH the weld. I tried that at home and was surprised to see my weld beads improve. This was on thicker metal though. I don't dare to try this on 18 gauge sheet metal.

 

[Photon440]

Since around 2013, I've worn contact lenses, over the years, the strength had changed.
I have to wear cheater glasses to see well enough to weld.
I have noticed that if I've welded for a couple hours, the lenses get sticky. I've added saline solution to my eyes, that helps.
I thought it was the smoke from the weld that dried my eyes out but maybe I am wrong.
To the guys that advise practice, practice, practice....That is nice but I have practiced for 30+ years and while my skills have improved, I took the class to UNlearn whatever mistakes that I have been repeating all this time. You need to know the proper way to do this, then practice to get better at it.
I've been good at doing things wrong for years!
One thing was the direction that you weld. I've always dragged the bead with the MIG. My reasoning was that by dragging, I can build up the weld slowly and add more wend on the previous one. For sheet metal, this works to close up gaps. The instructor said that when doing MIG, you PUSH the weld. I tried that at home and was surprised to see my weld beads improve.

When you push the weld, you're ensuring that the shielding gas clears all the oxygen away from the puddle area.