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Selene/Fred is a San Jose built 1965 Mustang

Abe, take a look again at some of J's welds and compare then to what you've done. I hate to say this, but Mid seems to be on the right path. The welds would lay flatter if your temps were hotter. Are you pushing or pulling the puddle?


Compare these welds to yours.


26-131210140012.jpeg
 
Gotta agree on those welds. I would bet you didn't get into either piece of metal. Grind and reweld.....
 
"Midlife" said:
Please don't take this comment wrong, but the past picture looks like the welds are a bit "cold" and may not have welded fully into the plated structures you're trying to tie together. A perfect weld would look like you've melted the plates into the added material of the weld. You might want to turn up the voltage when welding thicker materials together.

Maybe it's only the picture and not seeing things as well as in person. Does anyone want to comment?
Click to expand...

I would never do that Mid, any wisdom you can impart is welcome here.

Increase the voltage, got it.
 
"silverblueBP" said:
Abe, take a look again at some of J's welds and compare then to what you've done. I hate to say this, but Mid seems to be on the right path. The welds would lay flatter if your temps were hotter. Are you pushing or pulling the puddle?


Compare these welds to yours.


26-131210140012.jpeg
Click to expand...

I see what you mean Mark about the flatter look, I just might have to fly J out here for some lessons. You did want to get married :skul in CALI right J?

I will have to cut all that out and give it another go tomorrow, thanks everyone for keeping an eye on me and throwing up the red flags when necessary.
 
"AzPete" said:
Gotta agree on those welds. I would bet you didn't get into either piece of metal. Grind and reweld.....
Click to expand...

The grinder will be my friend tomorrow night and Saturday. Should be loads of fun. :sarc LoL

Thanks again guys.
 
Abe, all is not necessarily lost here. If you try to get all your welds to look like J's you'll end up very frustrated! At the risk of swelling his head, his welding is pretty much as good as it gets. What you really need to be concerned about is the penetration you are getting with your welds. "Flatness" is a sign of this. They don't have to be as pretty just solid.

If we're talking about flying J around to do some welding for us, I want on that list!
 
"abrahamfh" said:
The grinder will be my friend tomorrow night and Saturday. Should be loads of fun. :sarc LoL

Thanks again guys.
Click to expand...

My Dad always said "one becomes and excellent grinder before becoming an excellent welder". Considering he welded as a living.....I found that very true as he taught a number of friends to operate a grinder.....then weld. lol
 
Gotta agree with the others. Need some more heat. You have to keep a steady hand and watch the pool. You dont want your weld to build up or just fill the gap in the tower, you want to see the two pieces actually melt together. Also, be careful with the grinder. Dont take too much material off and create thin or weak spots. You dont have to remove all the old weld, you can melt it all together next time around. I would get it ground and prepped and then find some thicker practice metal to work with. I would set it up similar to what you are working on with a gap between the pieces. On the practice metal, crank up the welder and learn your limits. You'll find welding the thicker metals way easier than sheet metal. Keep practicing and keep up the great work.
 
Geez guys... LoL.

Abe, yes - more heat, and maybe a little less wire speed too. The weld seems to be pretty big and sitting on top as Mid stated as well - you really want it to all melt together. That is some pretty thick material you are joining - so don't be afraid of some extra heat. Plus with a 120-V mig, you are not generating the Amps to blow through easily.

And also, as you weld some, stop, take a hammer and tap the next section (to be welded) down some to help close any gap between the 2 pieces of metal. The metal will work & bend so much more easily while it's hot from the previous weld. It's just better to weld a closed gap than an open gap.


And did I ever mention how much I HATE flying... :barf1
 
"70_Fastback" said:
And did I ever mention how much I HATE flying... :barf1
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Just figured it was asking a bit much for you to drive everywhere is all. Why don't you take a test run and drive up here to help me out and decide from there whether to drive or fly the others.
 
Western 'burb of Chicago (Naperville). Lots to do and see up here. Weld by day, party at night. Make a honeymoon out of it!
 
Thank you everyone for the edumacation and encouragement.

J, those are some seriously beautiful bad arse welds my friend. I am currently using a 220V 110AMP with solid .023 wire and 75% Argon 25% Carbon Dioxide shielding gas.

So the goal is to make sure I am melting the two metals and adding a little welding wire into the mix for a nice solid strong weld.

Me and the grinder are going to get down and nasty this evening. Oh YEAH! :hs
 
Abe, I commend you for your acceptance of constructive criticism! Way to many people gent bent out of shape when they are given advice. They think everyone's wrong and they are right.

I learned how to weld from my buddy years ago, my problem is that I never got good at it!
 
Thanks Mark, I really want to learn all as much as I can and I appreciate and respect anyone that is willing to take the time and help me out. What can I say, it seems as though I'm going to be in this hobby for life.

I think I am going to just practice as much as I can at the settings for the thicker material.

I am noticing that the sounds I am getting is no longer a sizzling sound like bacon on a skillet but more of someone getting executed by means of the electric chair.

Should it be sounding like that. I couldn't figure which photo shows up best so here are both of them. I am hoping you all can see enough for some feedback.

Thanks again

83553faa.jpg


56fc6723.jpg
 
OKAY! :yah I think I got it. I had to move my wire feed rate up two and I was able to find my sizzling bacon on the skillet.

I took a practice run just on the flat service to see what it looked and sounded like and this is what I got.

6f8708e8.jpg


651e0274.jpg


Filled a whole on it using a copper backer and I like the fact that it if I were to hit it with a grinder it would look like there was never a hole there at all.

92f791fa.jpg


0d60758a.jpg


I am going to just take the rest of the evening to keep practicing and once I feel really comfortable with the new setting I will cut out the previous welds and give it another go.

Thanks again everyone.
 
Have you watched any welding videos? They have lots of them online. I usually try to use a U stroke going back and forth while pushing the puddle of liquid steel (got to be careful how that's worded).


Keep in mind, I suck at welding, so listen to this advice at your own risk!!
 
Yikes guys. I just had one of the most scariest moments of my life. I was chopping up pieces for my welding practice sessions. Not sure what happened but the grinder went crazy nicked my finger before the cutoff wheel got all shredded up. I immediately check my finger, wearing gloves so I couldn't see if everything was still in one piece so I totally freaked. A small cut with some blood but I am feeling pretty fortunate. Holy Crap.

90d56953.jpg
 
Oh yeah, forget to tell you. A plasma cutter, chop saw, jigsaw with a metal cutting blade or a metal bandsaw would be better for that.

That's why you wear gloves, long sleeve shirt, helmet and a jacket when welding. Glad you didn't have to go to your workplace!
 
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