Welding school to Graduation and stuff in between!

Really the physical size of the 480VAC machines are the same it is just a higher input voltage some machines sense the input voltage and link automatically other have mechanical links you must change .

when one links for the lower voltage and attaches the higher voltage it can be exciting for a few seconds.

Which happens all to often.

Check the back of your machines if you can often you see 240/480 VAC or 480/575 VAC or a machine can be made to any single voltage . Interesting a Manufacture had a web site listing the wrong part number and what showed up were machines dedicated 575VAC the plant did not have 575VAC none of the electricians bothered to look at the input voltage the number that were bought was embarrassing As long as the input voltage did not drop they seemed to work

It gets really interesting when your company has two buildings and one is 240VAC and the Other 480VAC and the maintenance people don`t know lots of new curse words that day.

 

Sounds like the company was run by a lot of military officers

Left hand never knows wtf the right hand is doing.

 

Well, with this week coming to a close, we're still doing stick welding.

However, my instructor said I'm allowed to finish that flag pole holder I started last week.

For those that missed it, here it is -

Started with two pieces of 8" long angle steel.

Tacked, then welded to make a square tube, 1 and 15/16" square. Definitely a good time to understand heat management.





Ran a 7/8" hole, 1 and a 1/2" from the end.



This will fit a Class III hitch.

Took 9/16" OD piece of round tube, 12" long to use as the flag pole holder.

Notched the other end of the tube 3/8" from the end and welded the pole in place.













After class and a couple of errands, I'll hit it with self-etching spray paint.

 

And, the pipe I'll be running 6010 root welds on -





I find I'm much faster just working around in the shop and doing stuff now.

 

First coat of paint and it's looking real bitching!

FIL is going to be stoked as he puts up a flag every camping trip.

His old one broke (was crappy anyway, plastic?) and he hadn't replaced it since so when he gets home today he's getting a nice little surprise.



Just in time for our camping trip tomorrow!

 

Oh and, some random T's I did just because I want to remain consistent even if I just got off from doing stick.

Two beads on a foot long piece -



Then a third -

 

Your getting acclimatized to being in the shop your getting comfortable .

I cheated I would use a few1/8" rod stubs till the pipe coupons are tacked together.

The hard part is welding through the tacks in the root pass so as to not cause defects once that and your tie ins it is pretty easy just practice .

 

You said it yourself earlier in this thread; do what you can to make things easier.

So I have to say no, you didn't cheat.

We will use rods to figure our gap, but even our instructor told us how the pipe can shift when you weld through your tacks.

He recommended putting the initial 4, and if needed another 2 or so.

We also have the choice to run 3/32" rod for our root weld. I never tried it so I won't attempt a different rod on something that's already new to me.

 

Great thread. Flagpole looks great. I’m in the early days of learning which means I just stick Ts together right now but looking for a few simple projects. I think I have I scrap to try the flag pole. Definitely post ideas if you have any other small projects that are useful. Anyone create a rack / hanger for their angle grinders, disks and other tools?

 

Thanks!

It really helps having a ton of experienced members chime in anytime I post pics.

What I found that helps is putting my coupons and scrap together after I've used all the free space on them. You get creative in trying to get comfortable because really, that's the most important thing to do.

Few pages back I made some kind of odd holder, then some bed stiffeners, and other misc. stuff.

You learn to watch your heat and movement when your putting thin on thick just like the hitch piece.

 

You have to go with what size Electrode works for You!!

3/32" might give you better control your in school try as many different things as you can.

 

Week 11 has been a fun start!

I have to say, I have a newfound respect for pipe welders, not to mention I get a lot of the memes now because of it

Did some out of position stuff with stick running my root pass on this.

For starters, the first pic is me completely fucking it up, trying to stitch, and applying too much heat and keyholing -



Then it sort of clicked -

 

Dude I have seen far worse on first attempts!!

That came from people with years under there belt

Helpful hint #69 always clean off your slag before taking pictures .

The small grinder with a semi stiff wire brush works wonders slag inclusions are bad .

Remember in the real world 3 strikes and your out to look forward to fixing dumpsters

 

Dank tips.

 

Ha thanks!

I looked at it and was like wtf, there's no way I'm going to get this. But I do recall the last part of my first run kind of being consistent.

Pipe welding isn't a career option for me, but I'm still trying as hard as I can to learn as if it was!

I'll make sure to clean the slag off next time

 

You did it you son of a bitch



Wondering if this would've been easier for me had I learned stick welding first like everyone else.

 

Who can say after some time they all seem the same to me the only difference is how filler metal is added to the puddle

 

I wish they introduced me to 7018 sooner!

Holy shit this thing is fun

 

For 7018 to be used in code work it lives in a Rod Oven!! it also works much better

It can only be out of the oven so long till it needs to go back in.

 

I ran my hot pass on my worst root weld, for practice -



5G, so vertical up.

Apparently it was good for my first time, but with my complete lack of stick-welding experience, I was told I should run it down to try.

Took me a few times to figure once I got to 3 o'clock, I need to quicken my speed as that puddle gets large and quick. Gravity makes that flux drip all over.

Also told my instructor, why the hell didn't he tell me about 7024 sooner



That shit peels by itself