Newbie welder...
#32
Re: Newbie welder...
It's the other way around. The thicker the wire, the more current it takes to melt. This translates into a hotter arc. That was my first mistake when I started out; using too small of wire for the material I was welding. The welds looked great but they were just sitting on top of the joint instead of melting with the base metal.
#33
Re: Newbie welder...
Originally Posted by Moving_Target
It's the other way around. The thicker the wire, the more current it takes to melt. This translates into a hotter arc. That was my first mistake when I started out; using too small of wire for the material I was welding. The welds looked great but they were just sitting on top of the joint instead of melting with the base metal.
#34
Re: Newbie welder...
Yes, it is easier to weld sheetmetal with 0.023" without burnthrough than it is using 0.030". But you still have to be careful. I do a series of alternating tack welds along the seam I'm welding to keep from putting too much heat into any one area and burning through. I just keep going until they are bunched right next to one another then knock the high spots down with a grinder. If I see any pinholes, I fill them using the same technique. Once I'm happy with the seam, I grind the high spots down first then switch to a disc sander for blending. Most of my work is warped to hell even with precautions but hey, that's what body filler is for.
#35
Re: Newbie welder...
Originally Posted by Moving_Target
Yes, it is easier to weld sheetmetal with 0.023" without burnthrough than it is using 0.030". But you still have to be careful. I do a series of alternating tack welds along the seam I'm welding to keep from putting too much heat into any one area and burning through. I just keep going until they are bunched right next to one another then knock the high spots down with a grinder. If I see any pinholes, I fill them using the same technique. Once I'm happy with the seam, I grind the high spots down first then switch to a disc sander for blending. Most of my work is warped to hell even with precautions but hey, that's what body filler is for.
#39
Re: Newbie welder...
Originally Posted by Moving_Target
Good Luck!
Edit: Here's a pic with my crappy camera, it will have to work until I take a pic with my mom's camera...
#40
Re: Newbie welder...
Welds beads seem to be sitting high on your test scrap joints. Looks like still not enough heat and too fast of wirespeed/slow gun travel speed...
Try the old "bend it in a vise with a hammer till it breaks" test to see how much penetration your weld achieved.
Try the old "bend it in a vise with a hammer till it breaks" test to see how much penetration your weld achieved.