grade my shitty welds, how can i improve
Thread Starter
1.5 BAR
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,183
grade my shitty welds, how can i improve
i want to know how to get a better continuous bead, im using this smiley nig tig. i know i need to upgrade but im just learning this is my 3" test pipe that im welding a flange on. 15 cfh set on 4(power)
Thread Starter
1.5 BAR
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,183
Re: grade my shitty welds, how can i improve
also i use a back and forth motion with the torch and blow towards the filler but after a few minutes the power seems to choke and the puddle slows and wont move as easily
1.0 BAR
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 278
Re: grade my shitty welds, how can i improve
more heat...
add wire AS NEEDED. Don't think you have to just keep adding wire with some sort of rhythm. Add only as you need to. Watch the back edge of the puddle to see how much you need to add. You will see it rise up when you add wire.
add wire AS NEEDED. Don't think you have to just keep adding wire with some sort of rhythm. Add only as you need to. Watch the back edge of the puddle to see how much you need to add. You will see it rise up when you add wire.
Thread Starter
1.5 BAR
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,183
Re: grade my shitty welds, how can i improve
Originally Posted by Engloid
more heat...
add wire AS NEEDED. Don't think you have to just keep adding wire with some sort of rhythm. Add only as you need to. Watch the back edge of the puddle to see how much you need to add. You will see it rise up when you add wire.
add wire AS NEEDED. Don't think you have to just keep adding wire with some sort of rhythm. Add only as you need to. Watch the back edge of the puddle to see how much you need to add. You will see it rise up when you add wire.
1.0 BAR
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 278
Re: grade my shitty welds, how can i improve
You should be welding hot enough that the puddle will move with you without any special movements.
As for the wire balling up...there's a few possible reasons for that:
1) Moving it too slowly towards the puddle, and it gets hot and melts before you get it to the puddle. You do NOT want to try and melt the wire with the arc. Melt it by putting it into your molten puddle.
2) Too long of an arc. This means that the arc is ------ing out farther (it's like a cone) and #1 above his happening.
3) Too much angle on the torch. Think like you're skipping a rock on the lake. You'd sidearm it and throw at an angle close to the water's surface. When you have your tungsten pointed too much at an angle, your heat is like a rock skipping across the lake...and it's heading straight for your wire that you're trying to get into the puddle before it melts. You want to have your torch at about 15 degrees from vertical. 1/16" arc gap should be fine also. You really don't need to be closer.
As for the wire balling up...there's a few possible reasons for that:
1) Moving it too slowly towards the puddle, and it gets hot and melts before you get it to the puddle. You do NOT want to try and melt the wire with the arc. Melt it by putting it into your molten puddle.
2) Too long of an arc. This means that the arc is ------ing out farther (it's like a cone) and #1 above his happening.
3) Too much angle on the torch. Think like you're skipping a rock on the lake. You'd sidearm it and throw at an angle close to the water's surface. When you have your tungsten pointed too much at an angle, your heat is like a rock skipping across the lake...and it's heading straight for your wire that you're trying to get into the puddle before it melts. You want to have your torch at about 15 degrees from vertical. 1/16" arc gap should be fine also. You really don't need to be closer.
Thread Starter
1.5 BAR
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,183
Re: grade my shitty welds, how can i improve
Originally Posted by Engloid
You should be welding hot enough that the puddle will move with you without any special movements.
As for the wire balling up...there's a few possible reasons for that:
1) Moving it too slowly towards the puddle, and it gets hot and melts before you get it to the puddle. You do NOT want to try and melt the wire with the arc. Melt it by putting it into your molten puddle.
2) Too long of an arc. This means that the arc is ------ing out farther (it's like a cone) and #1 above his happening.
3) Too much angle on the torch. Think like you're skipping a rock on the lake. You'd sidearm it and throw at an angle close to the water's surface. When you have your tungsten pointed too much at an angle, your heat is like a rock skipping across the lake...and it's heading straight for your wire that you're trying to get into the puddle before it melts. You want to have your torch at about 15 degrees from vertical. 1/16" arc gap should be fine also. You really don't need to be closer.
As for the wire balling up...there's a few possible reasons for that:
1) Moving it too slowly towards the puddle, and it gets hot and melts before you get it to the puddle. You do NOT want to try and melt the wire with the arc. Melt it by putting it into your molten puddle.
2) Too long of an arc. This means that the arc is ------ing out farther (it's like a cone) and #1 above his happening.
3) Too much angle on the torch. Think like you're skipping a rock on the lake. You'd sidearm it and throw at an angle close to the water's surface. When you have your tungsten pointed too much at an angle, your heat is like a rock skipping across the lake...and it's heading straight for your wire that you're trying to get into the puddle before it melts. You want to have your torch at about 15 degrees from vertical. 1/16" arc gap should be fine also. You really don't need to be closer.
