Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Wanted to post a welding/fabrication thread here to maybe get some help and see what people are up to.

I'm finally up and running after years of owning a welder and not using it.
Here is what I took a few minutes to do today:
So I finally tried it all out, I def. like the lightweight feel of this torch vs. the 17.
Found some scrap metal to practice on, used a wire wheel on my bench grinder to clean it up and i just wiped it off with a clean towel.
https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/...46021128_n.jpg

Here I just practiced running a bead, the first one I don't think pulse freq was turned on, the second one it was up pretty good, the third longer run it was turned pretty low.
https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/...73343110_n.jpg

Advice as always is very welcome.

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Looks better than I could do. Good luck with it man, I'm sure you'll only get better with time!

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

That top longer one isn't too shabby for just starting out! The hardest part is keeping it consistent. You can see there are spots where the weld is thick than others. Very nice for just starting out and teaching yourself.

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

yeah, I was playing with the pedal a bit once I realized that all I was doing was melting the surface.

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Looks pretty good. Id just keep practicing on the flat plates. Then start sticking them together. Once you are pretty good at that try some lap welds and fillet welds. I really want to get a TIG now after playing with yours last week. Keep it up.

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Yeah, once you get comfortable then try doing welds where the edges don't line up very good and you have a varying gap. Lots of stuff on a car is like that and it is fun to try and fill the gap in.

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Not bad, try and keep your torch angle and gap consistant then it's getting into a rythem of adding filler rod and moving forward.

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

I'm in the process of building a bowling ball welding table. If you haven't ever seen one, check it out. I think it'll be the greatest thing since sliced bread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OnF6_V28DM

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

120 amps, no filler. #6 cup.
https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/...57322917_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...36006701_n.jpg
Backside of welds.
https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/...42755898_n.jpg

This time I concentrated on keeping the tip close and as perpendicular to the metal as I could, I had troubles with moving along at the right speed and foot control.

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Yup, another indicator to watch/learn from is your heat pattern. You can see the heat spreading out as you go, and extends pretty far out. As you begin to figure out angle, distance and pace, your control of foot pedal/heat will be a big part of getting it all down.

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Is it ok that the bead is that narrow? Does the width of the bead even matter?

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Bead width looks fine from what I can see.

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Try lower your amps a bit. Seems like u have plenty of heat there. Also make sure you let the argon run for about 10 seconds at the end of your runs. This will prevent that pitting u see in some of your first ones at the end . Also try feather off the pedal as you heat that metal up especially near the ends. Welds look way better then when I first started so u are off to a great start in my opinion.

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

That is amazing.

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

1/8" mild steel, 120 amps, 6 cup. Working right to left. 2% Ceriated tungsten - 3/32" and filler is 3/32"

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n..._5408285_n.jpg

Same again, having a hard time with moving the puddle with filler

https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...0e&oe=53A017C0

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

I should come down with some scrap and watch/learn with you some time

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

I am starting to run low on scrap. i need to find some more.

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Looks like bird poo! But much, much better than I could ever do :)

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Same stuff, but with a #8 Pyrex cup. Running out of scrap.
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...53250114_n.jpg
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...96194663_n.jpg

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...02142879_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...66318039_n.jpg

1/8" steel, 3/32nd 2% ceriated tungsten, 3/32nd ER70S2 filler, 120 amps, #8 Pyrex cup. Working right to left.
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...18449608_n.jpg

Back side:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...25762729_n.jpg

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Looking better!

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Got some more scrap. 1/8" steel, 3/32nd 2% ceriated tungsten, 3/32nd ER70S2 filler, 120 amps, #8 Pyrex cup. Working right to left.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...94451696_n.jpg

Back side of previous weld.
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...42538788_n.jpg

Got some more scrap. 1/8" steel, 3/32nd 2% ceriated tungsten, 3/32nd ER70S2 filler, #8 Pyrex cup. Working right to left. — at House of Big Brown. 105 amps this time.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...93879948_n.jpg

Back side of previous weld.
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...07698023_n.jpg

Got some more scrap. 1/8" steel, 3/32nd 2% ceriated tungsten, 3/32nd ER70S2 filler, #8 Pyrex cup. Working right to left.
Went to 115 amps, seemed a lot better here. Pass 3 & 4 from right to left .

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...65926220_n.jpg

Back side from previous pic.
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...65926220_n.jpg

Got some more scrap. 1/8" steel, 3/32nd 2% ceriated tungsten, 3/32nd ER70S2 filler, #8 Pyrex cup. Working right to left.
Went to 115 amps, seemed a lot better here. Pass 5, I feel like this is my best one so far, the gap started to get a lot bigger as you can kind of see here.
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...67807934_n.jpg

Back side of previous pic.
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...30522108_n.jpg

Still at 115amps, I had a lot of trouble with this gap, so I tried to "walk the cup"/do a "C" motion to help, I'll need to work more on this.
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...39379009_n.jpg

Back side of previous pic.
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...44199732_n.jpg

Got some more scrap. 1/8" steel, 3/32nd 2% ceriated tungsten, 3/32nd ER70S2 filler, #8 Pyrex cup. Working right to left.
Full shot of days work (20min?)
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...78986822_n.jpg

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Picking it up quite fast. People make it look so much easier than it is.

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Looks good, just takes practice, keep going.

You need a band saw or chop saw. Just cut up those pieces of metal and keep welding.

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Damn, quick learner they are looking better and better every day

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

I want a bowling ball welding table..... Jeff imma "borrow" yours when your done making it.
im to lazy to make my own.

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Already have one sir. I picked up a few pieces more from the same place. I want to practice that gap stuff more and move on to fillet and lap welds.
I need to weld a bung on my oil pan and a couple to go speed density.

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Looks good!

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Yes, drastic improvements!

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Picked up some more scrap. Not sure what coating is on here but I didn't like it.
I tried #6 cup, 120-125amps I believe, still on the same stuff as before. (No changes to equip rest of the pics)
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...87428239_n.jpg

Penetration on the back side wasn't that good, still having issues starting the weld with this type of joint.
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...d2&oe=53B9592A

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...58172153_n.jpg

Same as previous, just closer:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...28608583_n.jpg

Backside of previous pic:
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...55193968_n.jpg

Underside of previous.(This is good right, I mean the penetration)
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...44972433_n.jpg

Got a bit more comfortable, starting it and getting the puddle to move is tough still.
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...66290235_n.jpg

Backside from previous pic:
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...97663034_n.jpg

Underside pic from previous two pics:
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...98458464_n.jpg

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

So i finally touched the welder again, man it feels like forever!
Did this:
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...59167390_n.jpg
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...04911371_n.jpg

Then I tried my hand at some pipe and that got challenging. I did learn that I had way too much juice so that didn't help.
I need to redo my LICP, right now I think I could do it but i'm not 100%
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...05467139_n.jpg

I had trouble with gaps between the two pipes, but I wasn't walking the cup, just moving it along.

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

So I finally got myself a tig on Wednesday. Spent last night figuring out proper arc length and working on not dipping my damn tungsten every couple inches of welding haha. Started incorperating filler tonight. Still a long ways to go but for 2 days of tig experience I'm fairly happy with where I'm at.

http://rs239.pbsrc.com/albums/ff259/...59.jpg~320x480

http://rs239.pbsrc.com/albums/ff259/...14.jpg~320x480

http://rs239.pbsrc.com/albums/ff259/...35.jpg~320x480

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Looks good!

Re: Welding/fabrication thread.
 

Thanks! I'm definitely glad I finally dropped the money on a TIG, it opens up alot of different options for me that weren't available in my shop before. I gotta run over to my local supplier to buy some more practice pieces this morning. If it continues to go well I'll buy the metal for my first project with the new machine....a welder cart!:spin: