Welding reference books

[noygdb]

Hello,

I have recently purchased a Millermatic 135, only to discover that I don't weld so well.

Can anyone recommend a reference book that will show weld beads, including good AND bad weld beads and their causes? I need to find out what I am doing wrong and to make better welds.

I have been looking at the web-available material, and purchased the ESAB book "Mig Welding Handbook", but I was looking for something simpler for newbies. I particularly want to discover what makes some of my beads look the way they do.

I am primarily doing self-shielding flux core wire welding.

Thanks!

SteveB

[hankj]

SteveB.

Welcome to the forum.

About a year ago, I was in your shoes - same machine, same experience. There's no short answer to your delimma. I have an excellent welding reference, "Welding Essentials" by Marlowe and Galvery, but it doesn't have pictures; rather it describes techniqes and provides diagrams of good/bad procedures.

If you are using flux core wire, use the door chart on the machine to get starting parameters, and adjust the settings accordingly. It will take LOTS of practice; don't be discouraged. Tip: remove the gas nozzle from the MIG gun. You can see the stick-out much better, and weld pool visibility is greatly inproved.

I reccommend that you get a bottle of shielding gas and some ER70S-6 .030 solid wire and try GMAW. It's easier to learn and you can see what is going on much better. You can start with 100% CO2 - cheaper than an argon mix and just fine for learning.

Fianlly, keep posting here. This is the most generous group of people you will ever meet as far as sharing knowledge goes. There are no stupid questions!

Practice, practice, practice!!

Be well.

hankj

[klsm54]

Hey noygdb, you are almost there.. ...Go back to the Miller Home page and go to the tab at the top of the page that says "Education". From there go to the libray and there are kinds of things that will help you, from e-courses to downloadable How-To articles and pictures.

[Paul Seaman]

Hank:
Practice, practice, practice!!
Your statring to sound like me.

noygdb:
On ebay I have seen early versions of a book from an author by the name of LARRY JEFFUS, the title is Principals of Welding. I have the 4th edition and the 5th is out but there all pretty good most of the changes are updating the graphs and pictures. By the way welcome aboard.

Weld well

[noygdb]

Thanks for the responses!

I figured out that part of the problem was that I could not see the stick-out, but I didn't want to remove the nozzle end because, as you may remember when you all were beginners, we get a lot of spray and I did not want to gum-up the gun gas feed too bad. Instead, I cut about 1/4" off of the end of a spare nozzle. I'm going to try it out tomorrow.

http://home.comcast.net/~gaborkin/welding/nozzle.jpg

Also, I tried to use the recommended wire speed and voltage settings (V=10, WS=45), but the wire kept hitting the bottom of the pool and the gun would just kick back at me constantly; couldn't even get a stable arc. I had to take it down to a WS of about 30 before I could get a stable arc. Is the welder broken, or is this within the range of correct parameters (or am I just really that bad)? Using .035 flux-core wire.

As far as gas goes, my garage is full of stuff (I am preparing to move, and the garage is FULL) so I have to weld out in the driveway to keep from burning the house down; unfortunately, we have a breeze out in the driveway. Once I move I will be able to set up a real welding area in my much larger new garage; then I will get gas.

Anyway, if I post weld bead pictures here, can I get comments on possible improvement techniques? Or is there someplace else to post newbie weld beads?

Oh; and I ordered the Miller "student package" a few days ago. I've been perched over the mailbox like a vulture for the last few days waiting for it to arrive....

Steve

[hankj]

PJS,

That is a compliment, sir! You are the first one who told ME that; just passing on good advice!

noygdb,

Search this board for "eating crow" - it talks about small 110V welders and extension cords. If you have a long cord, make sure it's big guage.

As for the spatter mess, you can use an anti-spatter spray or gel. There are mixed opinons on wether or not this is necessary, however. I use spray - once each time I start to weld, and if I get a large buildup, I'll clean it up and spray again. As for the gas diffuser getting plugged up from flux-core spatter, it is a concern. All you need to do though is clean the holes with tip cleaner when you are finised for the day.

Be well.

hankj

[Wheels]

NOYGBD
Read books and listen carefully to what is written on this board and you will improve your welding. There is a wealth of information here.

One thing that has helped me, is to keep notes on your projects. Record your tap settings , your wire speed , weld position, joint design and material thickness. A small note pad to record the outcome will always be there to refresh your memory and get you back on the right track the next time you need to make a spark.

Nothing takes the place of practice, but you need to remember what does and doesn`t deliver the desired result!

Mike

[Paul Seaman]

Wheels:
I agree I have a small steno pad for tricks, I have the memory of a pet rock so it saves me a lot of time. Especially on Aluminum out of position work, saves relearning because I draw pictures and approximated angles push-pull what ever is used to make it right. I might be embarrassed if anyone saw what is it but it works for me. A friend of mine had trouble with accelerating and slowing while mig welding heavy material but he couldn't see it, so I video taped him and that helped him improve.

Peace,

[fun4now]

+ or - torch ?

when you decided to go flux core did you change your polarity on your torch? it came setup for gass you need to change it for flux. i forgot to change mine yesterday when i went back to flux for some 3/16ths i had to do in the yard and it realy looked like pooo and splater everywhere .duuuuuu man did i feel stupid when i finly figured out what i had done took me about an houre to figure it out as i kept trying to make it work without opening the hood.so i let my mistake help you we all ooops once in a wile .that might be what is rong. my 135 runs sweet with or without gass.
post us a picture of what you are getting for a weld and we will trubleshoot for you if we can . also if you clean off you'r slag b4 you go back to same area (slag wont conduct and alow the arc)
+/- torch setup is on the dore at end of chart
good luck
hope this helped
happy welding

[fun4now]

gass feed gum up

i run flux without the nosel as the gass port part is just as easily changed as the tip and i keep 1 in my welding box should it ever get that bad but have not had that problem yet.
happy welding

[ASKANDY]

James,

Good point on the polarity!

That's something many forget to change.

A-

[mlicoasty]

Being a Damage Controlman in the Coast Guard, I get to do alot of welding. The Coast Guard started using a civilian welding manual that is fairly complete. It is Modern Welding, and it is published by the goodheart-willcox company. I have found that it is a very good reference on technique, and it has a lot of good pictures.

DC1