Anything welding

Got a couple pics of my attempts at 3G. 3/8" base plates 22.5 degree beveled, 1/4" gap, 1/4" backer. These are before the cap. They aren't the best, but I'm getting more consistent. I'm having trouble laying a cap without undercut. I need to pause longer.

Very first try.


Several tries later.

 

Uphill. Pics might be upside down.

 

For the AWS test you can do it in either 2 or 3 passes. I get enough fill on my root that I can only do 2 passes. The weld can only crown 1/8" max over the material and 2 passes is perfect for me. I just need a tad more pause on the edges to melt the beat into the base material so it doesn't undercut. The part has to be under 100 degrees before running a cap.

 

I have only ran a mig for a couple hours but ur up hill looks as good as my down hill if that means any thing to u

 

Haha down is cake.

I just need to pass this uphill 3G and 4F and I have all my certifications. Then it's on to underwater welding I guess.

Yep. 7" vertical, you can start and stop in it, or do it all at once.

 

I wouldn't dip anything I'm going to be tested on or bent in water. Only on practice pieces

 

This! Quenching a weld is a great way to fail

 

That you have. If you have an inspector watching you test, they'll fail you without even testing the welds.
Also, water quenching can result in some wicked burns. Saw a dude get de-gloved when he dipped a piece of 6" pipe in a tank of water. The water went up his arm, down in his glove. When he pulled his hand out, there wasn't much skin left

 

Lots of goes into calculating the weight of what ever you're pulling. Pulling in those conditions is definitely going to be way more than you might expect.

 

I got my weld test results back and I passed both 3G uphill and 4F first try. I was rather pleased considering I basically taught myself how to weld with pointers and YouTube, and the other employee that paid thousands and went to school for 2 years for welding failed both of his first attempts.

So now I'm AWS certified in 1-4G and F.

 

Congrats! And now expect a beat down from the guys that went to school to learn that.

 

Thanks. Haha it wouldn't bother me. If you set your mind to it, I think you could be just as good at anything that other people went to school for. You just need arm yourself with the right set of tools. A guy at my old job taught himself how to use solidworks and knew a lot more than I did, and I've taken several classes on solidworks.

 

The start of a home made break

 

Is that swag off road die kit thing they sell?

 

Nope got all this steel at the scrap yard for $40. Im hoping to bend the full 25"

 

Looks good just maybe a little more meat on the punch and you should be golden. I have the SWAG kit and its awesome. Just make sure you have the punch tall enough to not deflect under pressure.

 

Thanks man. I should get the jack tomorrow

 

Ahh I see that angle iron now. I've tossed around the idea of getting the swag off road kit and a big ass press.

 

me too for months. really wanted the 40ton but altogether i wasnt about to spend like 1000 plus

 

Yeah a little steep on the price. I wouldn't hardly use it anyway since I can have someone else cut and bend steel for less than it would cost me to do it, and I can be at work making money while they do it.