Anything welding

Whoa, just found this thread! I'm looking for some advice. I just recently started MIG welding. Here are a few pics.







I've always heard you can have a pretty bead that's structurally weak, and a bad looking weld that's structurally strong. So what do you guys think? In the second picture, on the left side, I didn't go all the way to the end. And in the first picture, that's welding in an optimal position. I haven't tried vertical yet.

 

About 9,000 with the fixtures.

 

I bet it saves you a bunch of time and makes repetitive tasks a whole lot easier.

 

Yeah once the fixture is made its so fast to make part after part. We have a lot of big things in the pipeline this year so this table was a necessity.

 

x2

 

I got an Eastwood too, it's a good little machine....

 

Yeah just by the amount of fixtures you get with the kit I'd say the price is low as well. The table itself was only about 4800 all the rest was the clamps, casters and all the other stuff.

 

I thought the price was reasonable. Especially with all the goodies.

 

I think the two welds look cold and perhaps you're holding at the bottom or top of the weld. Maybe turn the amperage up or slow down. Definitely move more consistently to evenly heat the area.

 

Yeah I'm sure I'll have another 5,000 to 10,000 grand in clamps and fixtures by the end of the year

 

Agree. Also, in pic #2, you should not have an air pocket under the weld. It will also help a lot if you clean off your metal before you weld. Especially when you're learning. That way you have consistency and can better judge what you're doing right/wrong. It's good practice, too.

 

I will try turning up the amperage, and clean it up some more. Then see what happens. I was doing cursive E's in that pic.

 

I only weld recreationally and only with a really old stick welder, but i laid these diwn today 7018 style. Prolly the best bead ive ever laid, with a stick anyway.

 

Can a Hobart 140 handle 1/4" in a single pass with gas and no pre-heat? I found a decent deal on one and don't have 220 wired in my garage.

 

Prolly not, but so what. How much 1/4" do you plan on welding? If its once and a while, so what if you have to make a second or third pass.

Those are good 120v machines. Great to have around when you got sheet metal work to do.

 

I think that machine requires two passes for 1/4" if I'm not mistaken. My buddy has one.

 

More kits welded up with the new MM252

 

Many thousands of hours welding with a MM252, one of the best, well built MIG welders you can buy! Great looking welds! Only thing I ever had to do was upgrade the gun.. Oh and replace many liners.

 

I run the Bernard centerfire conversion on my M25 gun. A lot of people seem to like the q-gun, but the only difference is the feel since I'm already taking advantage of the centerfire set up.

 

Just how it ends up with my style on that type of joint