Club 80-90 Forums

Welding! First tack...


...seems to have good penetration on setting 2... (this is the underside)


Lots of tacks, first one at each end, one halfway, then halfway again, then between those, etc, then spotting adjacent to the tacks to build up the seam, without burning through.

Very humid so my mask kept fogging up. Didn’t finish this piece, won’t tomorrow either - school awards night. (Proud dad)



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So pleased for you, nice to be putting new metal on. Are you sure that was your first tack, looks like you've been practising elsewhere

Can’t quite tell if that was a facetious comment...

I’m going to try and experiment with the settings to see if I can get a less bulky weld.

I don't think it was facecious, those look very neat.

Nah, my pathetic attempt at a compliment

Not sure what welder you are using but try turning the wire speed up a little at a time and weld a scrap piece to see how it goes. I use a Sealey supermig and that is set on 2 with a wire speed of 7-8 which works well..

Jawin89 wrote:Not sure what welder you are using but try turning the wire speed up a little at a time and weld a scrap piece to see how it goes. I use a Sealey supermig and that is set on 2 with a wire speed of 7-8 which works well..

Exactly what I have and the settings I use Jawin

937carrera wrote:Nah, my pathetic attempt at a compliment

My apologies, I guess I was filtering your words through the self critical part of my brain. My initial tacks were, as you point out, quite neat, especially when viewed next to my infill spots. I discovered later that doing infill spots worked better if I didn’t give too much time to cool, they tended to almost flow into each other a wee bit (as long as I left them to cool long enough to prevent burn through). However neatness suffered with a need to hold the torch with two hands (to combat the benign tremor I’ve had since childhood), and my eyesight - which is getting worse as I age!

Still, a grinder resolves most things, and when that dies (aye, not IF that dies) then a powerfile can take over. Hoping my Lidl powerfile doesn’t go the same way as my Lidl grinder...

Jawin89 wrote:Not sure what welder you are using but try turning the wire speed up a little at a time and weld a scrap piece to see how it goes. I use a Sealey supermig and that is set on 2 with a wire speed of 7-8 which works well..

I’ve a Weldability (http://www.weldability-sif.com/pages/vi ... =TWX1M160T" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;), and have that on 2 or 3 (out of 6) (2 when there’s a bigger gap to fill, and I need to have the welder on a couple of seconds longer to bridge the gap), and pretty much max wire speed (0.6mm wire, and 1.2mm sheet). Would you be able to tell me what effect thicker wire has? I’d assumed it was for welding thicker metal, I.e. it let you put more energy into the weld. I’m

I learned to weld the same way most folks on here have, trial and error, so I am no pro but the thicker the steel the larger the wire really needs to be as it puts more heat into the weld. 0.6mm wire is perfect for the gauge steel you are welding and your method of several small spots together (5 or 6) is the way is was advised to do it. The secret is not to put too much heat into the metal at anyone point and cause a warping effect. I find a blow gun on a small compressor can help if you trying to weld small sections. Weld an area then cool if off. Main point is the metal you are welding must be clean so a wire brush to remove weld burn between spots can also be helpful.

Useful tips, they make a lot of sense! Thanks very much.

Finished grinding down my weld, marked my pinholes and grind-through, reached for the welder - and found my gas was empty... had left it open and the torch button resting on something! Liberal curses. Remembered I have neighbours with small children..., remembered that gas is is not a 220mile round trip away and stopped cursing. Just need a bit of money or a way to spend non-existent money without my other half knowing...

Had that happen to me once, just a little bleed at the flexi connection. I "always" turn the bottle off at the end of welding activity now. Hope you have a good hunt down the back of the sofa.

Yeah, I always did too, til I forgot