Welding Noob

[disciplerocks]

^yup. I've made that mistake before. I get mine at Rural King. 2lb spool of Hobart wire.

 

[nine-teen91stxranger]

get some anti-spatter spray in the squirt bottle. that stuff works wonders. you can just wipe the berries right off. or even with a light hit with a ginder/ chipping hammer.

 

[whissiswheelin]

You CAN Weld any thickness that you want if you clean the rust and milscale off your material and preheat the steel super hot and use multiple passes to get your desired leg length. turn that welder to max and move fast. the less you manipulate the weld puddle the better your penetration...flux core is good for penetration but shitty for "wetting out" and usually doesnt look pretty.

 

[csampson311]

Thanks everyone for the information. I definitely did not expect so many hits so soon
My plan right now is to go get better wire like you all are saying.
Also I'm definately going to fab anything that holds my life in its hands haha. I know I'm knew and need practice (and a stronger welder when the funds allow).
Just another quick question. If the power is on min. and the metal is burning through, does it mean a slower wire speed?

 

[shane96ranger]

Thanks everyone for the information. I definitely did not expect so many hits so soon
My plan right now is to go get better wire like you all are saying.
Also I'm definately going to fab anything that holds my life in its hands haha. I know I'm knew and need practice (and a stronger welder when the funds allow).
Just another quick question. If the power is on min. and the metal is burning through, does it mean a slower wire speed?

How thick is the metal?

 

[scotts90ranger]

use a faster wire speed to cool down the weld if that's the problem you are having. If it's really thin metal stitch weld with a series of tack welds

 

[csampson311]

How thick is the metal?

I'm not quite sure. It's just pipe from an old bike from I chopped up. It's magnetic so I know it's not aluminum if that could pose an issue.

 

[csampson311]

use a faster wire speed to cool down the weld if that's the problem you are having. If it's really thin metal stitch weld with a series of tack welds

Wait let me see if I have those right...
When it's burning through (ie to thin of metal) the speed should be higher!?
I thought it was the other way around... Haha

 

[scotts90ranger]

add more metal and it takes more energy to melt it, if the heat stays the same all you can do is change the amount of metal introduced in the weld. Adding more wire forces you to weld faster which also helps the overheating thing.

 

[csampson311]

Thanks Scott. Youve been a big help