Anything welding

I’m going to buy the one I linked and try it, for science. I know it’s a good practice to clean up mill scale and it does make for a cleaner start so I should get in the habit.

 

Also, that beer is delicious. Good choice.

 

@Shmellmopwho you and I think someone else nailed it, my torch wasn't properly seated into the machine. It wasn't for lack of trying though, turns out my wire was starting to bind which I think was preventing it from fully seating. It finally got so bound up the wire stopped feeding in the middle of a weld. I got it all untangled, pulled out the wire and re-fed it. As soon as I hit the trigger I could hear the "whoosh!" at the trigger (before it was just at the machine). Wow, what a difference, smooth as butter! (well, at least compared to what I HAD been laying down) Not sure why the wire got bound up in the first place, but I had noticed that even though the gaskets were in, you could see some of the metal. Now the torch is all the way in and no metal is showing.

Here's the rat's nest I pulled out:

And here are the first beads I made after re-feeding the wire. The smiley face and two lines next to it were done after re-feeding the wire. The other lines were the last ones made right before it shit itself. I put all the settings back to what is recommended on the chart and no issues. Also pushed the weld and tried to keep my tip closer to the surface.

 

I've been resting the wrist of my welding hand on my non-welding hand. I tried putting my non-welding hand on the torch (wearing gloves of course) and I feel I have more control, so I may switch to that.

 

I hadn't even thought about that, but I suppose there is as I haven't cleaned it up. I'll do that when I flip it to the B track

 

Did some tests for science cause I’ve been drinking and I like melting metal.

so for @Mojo Jojo this is how far I hold the gun off the weld:



Next I tried no gas at all and with gas for comparison:



No gas on the left, gas on the right.

And lastly cause @koditten and @EatSleepTacos says you can weld right through mill scale....



Damn why have I been cleaning mill scale all this time?!

EDIT: Full disclaimer I’m a noob who only
Does this for fun out of necessity.

 

Now we’re talking, looks muuuuch smoother. Good job mark.

just play around and find what’s comfortable for you. Guarantee we all do it a bit differently in here. The biggest thing is having some point of contact with something for your welding hand. I can’t just have my welding hand in mid air and lay anything halfway decent. I have to have it braced up against something for stability.

Same with pushing vs pulling. I prefer pulling the puddle. I feel I have more control this way.

 

I weld through paint sometimes too

 

Thanks everyone for your patience with this noob and all the helpful tips. It makes all the difference having people virtually looking over my shoulder troubleshooting and giving advice. I'm relieved to have the gas setup properly and to now focus on technique!

 

Awesome man!! I’m glad that worked. Yay for gluing metal together!

 

In the first picture, it looks like the tip is touching the material. I had started out doing that but wasn't sure if that was OK and started moving it away. It's definitely more comfortable for me if they're touching.

Interesting the gas vs no gas welds. The no gas looks like what I had been laying down.

 

No problem man, we all were new once.

@EatSleepTacos since we were just talking cursive e’s going down I decided to give it a quick go.




Not my best but I can def work with that look vs the concave look I usually get going down.

 

You're learning all sorts of shit tonight!

 

I bought a couple this morning, they work pretty well. I used them to get the zinc off the coupons Pirate Bill gave me.

 

I'm proof you're never too old to learn, that's what keeps life interesting!

 

Those coupons were zinc coated? If so that’s your problem. Even after grinding the zinc off the metal is still really impure. Get yourself some clean, fresh steel and try again

 

This thread is awesome

 

I don’t think I ever posted pics of my finished bumper in this thread. I finished the bumper and skid plate just into time to make it to the Toyota Takeover Last week.

skid getting paint in the rain


Bumper painted


Bumper and winch installed

 

That bumper turned out great, man!

Kudos!

 

if the mill scale is chipping and thick enough I expect it to be seen through paint I use whatever flap disk I have handy / 320 ish grit sand paper by hand. Paint, mill scale, etc burns up near the puddle, still projects that are on display for all to see I usually clean everything.