Critique my welds please

[SLAMnoma95]

ya they are still kinda ugly from the flux splatter, i didnt really clean them up that great, but let me know what you think

the number in soapstone is the wire speed i was at, im not real sure exactly how to judge the speed so any input is appreciated

[SlicksnChicks]

pic #2 looks great....lot better than i can do... :thumbup:
outta curiosity how long you been tig'n?

[whitebowtie9]

Quote: Originally Posted by SlicksnChicks

outta curiosity how long you been tig'n?

he was using flux core.... he said it

errr im no master welder but i've had the same problems you have so i figured i would pass on what little knowledge i have of welding... it looks like you need to work on moving the puddle, i know the welding process goes quick but the more you do it the less intense each weld seems. once you start to concentrate on really flowing the puddle over the two pieces then you can start making some better looking welds... but remember its not how pretty the weld is, its is how well you penetrate both pieces remember that... hope that helps

[SLAMnoma95]

okay so what exactly do you mean by moving the puddle?...should i drag it out longer, or go back and forth faster with it?

[Sixer]

i have found the best way to get the puddle to move is to use either half moon motion or the figure 8... i would say that the wire speed should be around 9 for that material, or you could turn down the power a little and use the 8. also, look into using a oxy acetalene tourch to learn how to weld. it is less forgiving and will get you into the basics that are needed for MIG, TIG and Stick. I took some classes at school and learned a lot from the oxy/acetelene welding.

[neh]

try practicing on lap welds, they're easier to see the puddle moving and set your machine. They usually have charts on them, they're good starting points. Do a bunch of welds changing only the wire speed and a bunch changing only the voltage and you'll start to get an idea of the best settings

[loundeb2]

Hi,
Judging from the pics. You need to slow down your movement a little and get the laps closer together. Also looks like your not getting enough penetration into the steel. You might want to invest in a bigger mig welder with gas flux if you intend on welding heavy plate like the ones you did. You want the welds to lay flat and even with the steel. Try practicing on thinner metals to really get the feel for hand speed, wire speed, heat range, and weld quality.

[jm2200]

looks to me like you need more penetration also. Other than that, unless the welds are going to be showing, dont worry so much about what they look like. most of the time you will be grinding them down and covering them with something anyway

[slamd98s]

on thicker steel you want to go wider with your beads so that you can heat up the area more so you get more penatration, the splatter is from your wire speed being too fast and or you just arent moving fast enough with your weld... Also when welding thick steel you should be running .030 or .035 wire on a flux core and .030 on a Gas which lets you turn your amperage down. and grinding down a weld isnt what ide do man, the better looking the weld the better off you are to just leave it alone, when you grind one down your lessening the strength of the weld...

[IntenseGravityLR]

the way you are supposed to weld is to make the weld look like a stack of dimes. the only way you're gonna be able to do that is to watch the weld puddle and just practice. when you start welding there are different motions you have to use inorder for the metal to be welded right, such as on a lap weld you need to use a J-motion or if you're welding a T joint you are gonna use a J-motion. the way i was taught to weld was by looking at the welds, if you really do pay attention to how the weld looks when you're welding the individual dimes will look like a eye closing up when you start to see that happen you want to bring the filler metal directly into the center of that eye and then continue on with your motions. by doing that your dimes will be stacked correctly. the easiest way to learn that would just practice with a stick welder and just practice running dimes in a flat position. if you can weld with stick you can weld with wire.

[dumpeds10]

you need to slow down and make sure you get good penitration and make sure your welder is set up right for what you are welding weather it be 1/8, 1/4 and so on also what kinda of welder are you using
and you also need to turn down the heat you are getting a lot of slapter on the sides and you dont want that if you can maybe have someone help set up your welder for you just so you can get it tuned in i use a miller matic 250 which is an expencive weld but worth the money it makes tuning in your welds very easy