Weld Critique

[Gilmo]

I did this one on 1/4", one piece on top of another welded in the 90* angle with a miller 135, wire speed 60, full ampage, 75/25 with .030 wire. I know its not the best penetration because of the thicker metal but how is the pattern, etc. Thanks. Also, I recently bought a small acetelyn/oxygen torch setup and have been messing around with preheating the thicker metal. About how hot do yall suggest I heat it before welding? I did not preheat on this weld because I ran out of gas.
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee210/jacksongilmore/041.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee210/jacksongilmore/038.jpg

[bigdreamin]

Cut it in half and polish it so we can see the weld penetration.

[murphyslaw]

that bead looks a bit wide. you are supposed to only wave the wand twice the thickness of the wire so having .030 wire you should only be C'ing the weld .060" any wider and I would not certify the weld.

[Gilmo]

Ok thanks. I'm going to get some more and post more pictures.

[Rob G]

Cut it in half and polish it so we can see the weld penetration.

Should look something like this, but, yours probably wont be as deep.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t150/robg_010/weldpenetration1Medium.jpg

[Panthers65]

I think this would be true for stick welding. Trying to make a .060 wide bead with .030 wire would be very difficult, if not impossible.

I'll bet that you did not get much penetration. 110v welders just don't have enough amperage to weld 1/4" steel. 110v welders are pretty much limited to 1/8" steel using solid wire. 3/16" with flux core.

X2 less than 1/10 an inch with a mig would be tricky, I usually run around 1/8"-ish

I sold my 110 after I started welding 1/4" on a regular basis, even with flux I would find myself not getting the right penetration unless I was directly over the metal and could "push" the puddle into the metal, Any other angle (welding upside down, ect....) and it was just too difficult, plus I really suck as welding so I need all the help I can get

[Travis Waldher]

I think this would be true for stick welding. Trying to make a .060 wide bead with .030 wire would be very difficult, if not impossible.

I'll bet that you did not get much penetration. 110v welders just don't have enough amperage to weld 1/4" steel. 110v welders are pretty much limited to 1/8" steel using solid wire. 3/16" with flux core.

If you did, it sure as hell wouldn't hold anything.

That is if I read him right, bead .060" wide.

[AthlonAJ]

that bead looks a bit wide. you are supposed to only wave the wand twice the thickness of the wire so having .030 wire you should only be C'ing the weld .060" any wider and I would not certify the weld.

Ya definitely got that one wrong, .060 is so dam small that just normal shaking/breathing/variance is more than that. I highly doubt there are many (if any) welders that could surgically hold a mig gun under .060 in a straight line.

[Travis Waldher]

Ya definitely got that one wrong, .060 is so dam small that just normal shaking/breathing/variance is more than that. I highly doubt there are many (if any) welders that could surgically hold a mig gun under .060 in a straight line.

It's not staying in a straight line or moving the gun. It's the width of the bead.

With a bead only .060 wide - could you even strike an arc and put a bead down that small? Stick it makes sense1/8" rod = 1/4" bead; that's going to hold something. .030" wire = .060" bead? what is that going to hold?

Anyone else disturbed by a weld certifier that doesn't realize this?

[300sniper]

i don't think he is saying that the bead will be only .060" wide. this is how far the wire is manipulated back and forth. i have never measured it, but i would guess that is about right. i weld with my off hand holding the nozzle for added control and i don't see this as being a problem.

[murphyslaw]

I think this would be true for stick welding. Trying to make a .060 wide bead with .030 wire would be very difficult, if not impossible.

I'll bet that you did not get much penetration. 110v welders just don't have enough amperage to weld 1/4" steel. 110v welders are pretty much limited to 1/8" steel using solid wire. 3/16" with flux core.

not the width of the bead the width that you move the electrode.