Need help improving my welding

A couple of years ago I taught myself how to weld, and sometimes my welds look decent (it's all realitive). But, for the most part, I just get by. So: what input do you all have to help me advance my abilities? I've got a Clarke 130EN mig welder that I'm running with flux-core .030 wire. Running flux-core wire with a 120 volt machine has its limitations, but what can I reasonably expect for weld quality? I want to do better than grinding off the bubble gum.

 

If your welder has a gas hookup then just adding a bottle will help a lot. I am by no means an expert but using gas does make a better looking weld.

 

Argon helps a lot if your welder has the hookup. Wire welders also weld a lot better on clean metal than rusty old stock. A 130 amp welder has limitations on how thick the metal is to be welded. It is best suited to thin body panels and such. Thick metals won't weld as nicely. Just my 2 cents.

 

Like said above use gas if possible, and make sure the metal is as CLEAN as possible. Other than that just practice welding scrap pieces together to try and get some good looking beads.

 

Like they said above, the gas will help out alot. And if you didn't notice it in their posts, making sure the metal is CLEAN is to me the most important thing in making a good weld.

 

Follow he above mentioned guidelines as well as: Make sure that you have your welder set correctly. I teach welding and more times than not-for a beginner-the setting of the welder is the first place to start. It should be a smooth consistant buzzing/crackling sound. Secondly, Be sure your arc length as well as tip angle are correct. Even though good welds can be made if these are incorrect, this will eliminate the next set of variables. Lastly, EVERY motion has to be the same as the last (as long as it is correct) to make a consistently good weld. Be sure to leave some gap for penetration. Nobody likes too little penetration! Then practice, practice, practice! Good luck.

 

When you weld without gas you should pull the weld when welding with gas you should push the weld. keep the nozzle clean and practice, practice, practice.

 

One of the most overlooked problems with 110 welders is in using an extension cord. I can notice a dramatic decrease in power using a cord. If you have to use a cord make sure that is a large guage wire, at least #12 wire if not #10. It also makes a differance in the size wire in the walls, some garages have a 15 amp circuit with #14 wire. I have a special circuit for my plasma cutter and 110 welder that is #10 wire with a 20 amp outlet. It may seem petty but it really does make a differance. Hope some of my rammblings help.

 

Thanks for all of the input. I've noticed people forming tight upside "V" welds. I've been pulling my bead, but using a "U" shaped weld pattern. Realizing this prompted me to start this thread. Is one better/correct?
Any pointers on technique?

 

Yes, go gas!

Practice, practice, practice. I'm still practicing.R)

Get comfortable. Set the pieces up where you can comfortably weld away preferably sitting down at a work bench of some sort.

I find I make the best welds when I can see well. Sounds pretty basic, but I noticed that alot of times with the welding mask on I can see the arc, but I cannot see where I am at on the piece. I find that just basic vision is my biggest stumbling block at this point.

I had a welder tell me to use a G pattern. Basicly just stack up Gs, like this GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG, to form a bead. I find thats its similar to doing circles. I seem to have better luck with a U shaped pattern, espicially on fillet welds.

Kevo

 

Thanks for weighing in, Kevo. I've been checking out your welds on your "Small Project" thread, and strive to be able to weld like that. I practice from time to time on scrap metal from the local waste transfer station, and have found myself reverting back to a U pattern. I will definately have to try the G pattern.

How about nozzle (gun) angle in relation to the weld? I've been told to keep the angle of the wire as if I were writing with a pen. True?

 

Everyone writes differently but for the most part yes. I have been told 45 degrees but that is about the same. Another couple things that can make welding with a wire welder hard is correct wire speed and heat for the metal you are welding. This may be different every time. I'm sure you've figured out by now from all these threads that your weld should look like stacked dimes when you get done. Welds like that take a lot of practice. You'll get there with time.

 

Here is a detail shot of my welds on our cage in our CJ-2A. I use an Airco 250 (like an Esab 250), er70-6 .035 wire, and Praxair Stargold c-25 blend gas. I would suggest practicing on noncritical parts before you tackle cage or safety work. One guy who taught me some things recommended practicing as much as possible on tubing, since the curved surfaces really hone your control skills.



Practice often, and be safe,
Daniel

 

I have to agree with all the above, particularly about having enough juice to run the machine. 15 amps just doesn't cut it.

I'd give more advice, but you probably weld better than I do!

 

Practice is key... I haven't hooked a bottle up yet, but just eliminating the amount of smoke that a Flux Core process creates has got to help in a big way. I'm confident enough in my welding now to justify the expense of a 160lb bottle for my MM DVI($220 for bottle and $75 for gas fillup!! ). For the past 10 months I've been "practicing" by building rib racks, beer can chicken holders, racks for smoker, skate board grinding rails and here-and-there projects for friends. Hope to SERIOUSLY press forward with the BT3-C following my smoker project for "practice"R) .

 

I agree. Practice and gas (in that order), will improve your welds. Check out the Miller welding site (millerwelds.com) and click on "education". They have several how to videos that I found helpful. FWIW.

tommy b

 

Practice is key. If you don't have an autodarkening mask get one. Or at least I feel that way. a decent one will allow you to adjust the darkness so you can see what you are doing like kevo said.

 

I switched to a Huntsman auto-darkening and adjustable shade helmet about a year ago and have been very happy with it. Adding gas is on my list of upgrades, but for now I'll make do with flux-core wire.
I'll continue to practice on scrap, but it still frustrates me to go from good welds to junk in a heart beat for no apparent reason other than my abilities.

 

lots of good points here so far. I know when I run a mig (with argon) I always push the weld and run a circle pattern. I am a state certified stick and flux core welder. The flux core I run I also run with a gas called stargon and it is either .045 or .052 wire. Very big compared to most shop welders. Also, I am a very shakey person due to an overactive thyroid, so I will actuall take my other hand and rest it against the gun in order to steady it. As stated earlier, see if you can be sitting down or lean against something. Slow and steady and consistancy is the key. I am not sure what is availible by you, but here at the tech college, you have take night classes for only about 125. Well worth it. Practice does no good if you have no one that knows better to tell you if it is right. just becouse a mig weld looks good does not mean it is strong. And NEVER weld verticle in a downward direction. Looks good but has NO penitration. Good luck, and see about investing in a bottle and regulator to run gas. Zach

 

I recommend taking a beginning welding class at your local community college. OR, you can get a welding text book from a garage sale, auction or librairy.