my first welds

[rsriverrat]

ok thought i would give u guys a laugh, here is a pic of my first welds...

i numbered them as i had done them...

the pieces were 1/16" angle iron..

1-4 i had the machine set on auto-set .030 wire, and the thickness set to 2.5 which is in between 18g and 20g.

5-7 i turned it up to the high side of 3 which is the high side of 18g.

7 i tried butt welding 2 pieces, and while it was strong, with enuf beating it on the saw horse it eventually gave.

i will say tho it was cool to have that kind of power....

i had tried a thin piece of 16g sheet, but i kept blowing through it no matter how low i set the machine while on auto-set.... guess i was going to slow.

ok u may laugh at me now.... lol

Ratt

[fun4now]

do you have the MM180 or MM140 ?
16gage is not so bad but on thin stuff ya need to stick to small runs, like 1" max then move and do another to keep warp-age down and stop the burn threw. as you go the part builds up heat so it tends to blow threw just about the time yo get a good bead running.
work on keeping a constant distance (stand off) and speed. you can back the torch away a bit to cool it at times if needed. just don't forget about warp-age on long runs. in time you will start to pre-think the warp and can use it to your advantage or prep to accommodate it.
melting steel is great fun. don't worry the welds will get better.

P.S. always clean a spot for a good ground.

[root]

Fun, isn't it.

Nice to have another newb on the board (such as myself). The only comments I am legally authorized to give are the three most common and obvious... practice, practice, and practice.

BTW, you might want to specify which machine you are using.

[rsriverrat]

MM180 w/auto-set

oh yeah, well see thats what i get for assuming people had seen my other thread in regards to what i was gonna get... anyway, its a MM180 w/auto-set running flux core E71T-GS .030. cant afford gas just yet.

and very nice it is indeed. gonna possibly try to make a cart for it this weekend if i can manage to get some decent welds the remainder of this week..


Ratt

[Craig in Denver]

Ratt:
Congrats on your MM180. You will never be sorry.

If you're not, use two hands to hold the torch. Slow down, I think you're going too fast. Use a soapstone line, it's visible and will help you go straight.

fun4now: 16gage is not so bad but on thin stuff ya need to stick to small runs, like 1" max then move and do another to keep warp-age down and stop the burn threw. as you go the part builds up heat so it tends to blow threw just about the time yo get a good bead running.

F4N just said more in 2 sentences than you'll learn in the next year. I think .023 is a better choice for 16ga.

F4N: work on keeping a constant distance (stand off) and speed. you can back the torch away a bit to cool it at times if needed. just don't forget about warp-age on long runs. in time you will start to pre-think the warp and can use it to your advantage or prep to accommodate it.
P.S. always clean a spot for a good ground.

Root: Fun, isn't it.
Nice to have another newb on the board (such as myself). The only comments I am legally authorized to give are the three most common and obvious... practice, practice, and practice.

Honesty is a virtue. I didn't know Root had any.

BTW, you might want to specify which machine you are using.
In the upper left hand corner of this page is a User CP button (the same place you put your location). You can go there and post your signature (on every post), your machine. Therefore F4N and Root and others won't have to ask you the same, redundant question.

[rsriverrat]

i agree, i dont think i will ever be sorry for getting the 180 over the 140, the extra 150 bucks was worth it i am sure...

i am taking notes, and i am sure i will learn quick, i have always been a fast learner, and i am also a perfectionist(about the only thing my wife hates about me), since if i cant do it 200% perfect i throw it away and start over...

ya know, i am an admin of a 300k member vb site, one would think i would have thought about that, especially since i read everyone elses sigs and their machines...

Ratt

[rsriverrat]

okey dokey i fixed it up, now all will know what i got and what i want for my b-day and christmas... lol

[Craig in Denver]

Now all will know what i got and what i want... lol

Soooo, do you know my ex-wife...... or Root??

[root]

Honesty is a virtue. I didn't know Root had any

I'm chock-full of virtue baby!

[root]

Soooo, do you know my ex-wife...... or Root??

What makes you think I'm not your ex-wife?

[usmcruz]

I guess Ill show off my welds as well. This is my first run and crack at Tig.






Sorry about the fuzzy pictures. I was told I could weld, but suck at working a camera .

[tacmig]

Keep welding.

Looks like a good start! Nothing to laugh at! practice, practice and practice. And when you're done practicing, practice some more!

TacMig

[root]

This is my first run and crack at Tig.

First at TIG, but have you used any other process? I hope the answer is yes, otherwise I'm going to have to slap you silly.

[fun4now]

first try, wow, great

first try at TIG.
..im going to go cry now.

[Craig in Denver]

Ohhhhh Nooooooo!!!!

What makes you think I'm not your ex-wife?

.... .... ....
Insert Physco Shower Scene Music here.