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Selene/Fred is a San Jose built 1965 Mustang

"abrahamfh" said:
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.

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First I am no expert, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night.... :bowdown

1) Your grinder should be used with the safety guard (finger guard). :nut :roll :wth

2) .023 wire is usually for sheet metal, I would probably use .030 for the thickness of the metal on the towers.

Agree with Mark that are better things to cut your practice metal with.
 
"abrahamfh" said:
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.
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So after a change of the cutting disc...and fresh shorts, you were back at, right Abe? I know just how scary that is when a disc disintegrates. I don't even touch any cutting/grinding tools without gloves and safety eye wear at the bare minimum. The fact that I wasn't hurt when it happened totally justified the minimal inconvenience! Glad you're okay!!! :thu
 
"Grabber70Mach" said:
First I am no expert, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night.... :bowdown

1) Your grinder should be used with the safety guard (finger guard). :nut :roll :wth

2) .023 wire is usually for sheet metal, I would probably use .030 for the thickness of the metal on the towers.

Agree with Mark that are better things to cut your practice metal with.
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You are absolutely right. Totally forgot about it. I had removed it when I had the sanding backer pad setup.

I actually have .030 wire and tips. I will have to experiment with that tomorrow in the AM.
 
"Ponyman66" said:
So after a change of the cutting disc...and fresh shorts, you were back at, right Abe? I know just how scary that is when a disc disintegrates. I don't even touch any cutting/grinding tools without gloves and safety eye wear at the bare minimum. The fact that I wasn't hurt when it happened totally justified the minimal inconvenience! Glad you're okay!!! :thu
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Thanks man. I always wear safety gasses, face shield, ear protection and gloves. I can't take the chance of hurting something I could never get back.

I did get back to the welding practice and will continue tomorrow as well. I really really want to get good at this because I am so hooked and enjoy the challenge. I really hope to pass on what I'm learning from all of you to my little guy. He asked me the other day to help him build a push cart so I am trying to find some plans online. I swear he almost made me cry. LoL
 
Sorry guys, been a little crazy over here but thought I should share pics of how things are going. I am freaking excited, they really did bite into the metal a laid down a lot flatter. Thank you everyone for all your help.

Excuse the LS due to it being my first attempts but I did start on the RS with a little more how to under my belt.

IMG_3529.jpg


IMG_3531.jpg


IMG_3534.jpg
 
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Much better! However, the weld on the far left and upper right look like they haven't penetrated well enough or are too "blobby". Keep going...you're definitely getting there!

IMG_3529.jpg
 
"Midlife" said:
Much better! However, the weld on the far left and upper right look like they haven't penetrated well enough or are too "blobby". Keep going...you're definitely getting there!

IMG_3529.jpg
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+1 :thu... For that left most vertical weld it looks like you might have had the torch too perpendicular to the frame rail. When your welding into a fillet like that you'll want the torch angle about 45-60 degrees. Essentially aim for the base of the "L ". That inside left fillet weld looks very nice. To me it looks like you've got your machines setting right, just need to work tip angles, and consistent feed. ... Nice Job!
 
Great job Abe. I am learning alot just by following this thread and hearing others advice. I have done alot of welding on my car but my welds looked crappy. Just by reading the responses from other welders I have learned what I was doing wrong.
WELD ON BROTHA, WELD ON. :wor
 
"Midlife" said:
Much better! However, the weld on the far left and upper right look like they haven't penetrated well enough or are too "blobby". Keep going...you're definitely getting there!
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Thank you Mid, those vertical welds, should I be working my way from the bottom up with the nozzle angled upwards?

verticalwelds1a.jpg


"monkeystash" said:
Great job Abe!
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Thanks Ryan, working up a sweat over here. I was thinking about just giving up and using some :gs LOL! :roul


"stangg" said:
+1 :thu... For that left most vertical weld it looks like you might have had the torch too perpendicular to the frame rail. When your welding into a fillet like that you'll want the torch angle about 45-60 degrees. Essentially aim for the base of the "L ". That inside left fillet weld looks very nice. To me it looks like you've got your machines setting right, just need to work tip angles, and consistent feed. ... Nice Job!
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45-60 degrees, like my little Microsoft paint sketch. Got it, and yes sir, you are absolutely right, I started welding from the top to the bottom perfectly perpendicular to my welding surface all the way down. I will make sure and grind it off and give it another go. Not too sure why I did that, I think the vertical welds got me a bit nervous. Thank you for all the feedback and tips.

"6t6red" said:
Great job Abe. I am learning alot just by following this thread and hearing others advice. I have done alot of welding on my car but my welds looked crappy. Just by reading the responses from other welders I have learned what I was doing wrong.
WELD ON BROTHA, WELD ON. :wor
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Thanks a lot 6t6red, nothing makes me happier than learning something new and knowing that my elementary questions are helping someone else as well. As frustrating as it has gotten at some points, I have been really fascinated and have enjoyed learning how to weld. Thanks for the encouraging words and I will be getting back to welding on Fred this evening.
 
I normally push the weld.


I wish "real" welders would chime in so we can ALL learn something!!
 
That video is great, thanks for posting it.


I am so pissed, I think my welder is broken. I depress the trigger and it is not feeding any wire or creating an arch, pretty much does absolutely nothing when depressing the trigger. :roul


I was seriously enjoying it and I have no idea what to do other than take it in but I really didn't want to much down time which I am assuming is what is going to happen.


I did get to do some welding before it went out. Here ya go, I still have a lot of learning to do but it is getting there.

Ground down and rewelded the joint where the motor mouunt brackets meet the shock tower.

RS
IMG_3541.jpg


LS
Had to grind down a small little build up(bubble type thingy) weld that I had but outside of that there is great penetration
IMG_3542.jpg


Also ground down the questionable welds and redid those on the sway bar brackets

RS
IMG_3537.jpg


LS
IMG_3539.jpg



The pictures really don't do it justice this time around, I promise, in person the welds look pretty decent, not pretty but there is good penetration and really melted all the joints together as if they are one piece. I ground down one of them to double check and rewelded it again. :shrug

What I was seriously reminded of this time around was the importance of prepping the metal that is going to be welded and the metal where the ground clamp is going on. I didn't realize how just a little bit of primer/leftover paint can really make the weld pop and crackle and hinder the welder almost useless.
 
Do you hear the wire feed going when you hit the trigger? Also check the tip. Take the nozzle off and take the tip out. Sometimes crap will get down there and clog up the wire feed.

BTW, Those welds look 100x better than mine.
 
"Gigantopithecus" said:
Do you hear the wire feed going when you hit the trigger? Also check the tip. Take the nozzle off and take the tip out. Sometimes crap will get down there and clog up the wire feed.

BTW, Those welds look 100x better than mine.
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Thanks, no there is no sounds at all. I opened the side door where the wire spool is and there is no clicking no buzz, just a lot of nothing. You get what you pay for I guess. I was trying to go as long as I could with this welder so I could use the money I was saving it to media blast Fred, but I guess a nice Lincoln or Miller will be a good use of the money I have saved so far.
 
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