Welding classes have started again!

[Jerry]

Hello Bill, Good luck in this years class. I think those welds started looking pretty good there bud. Yet like one of the guys said a lot of welding on such a small piece will change how the welding goes as far as heat penetration is.

The crater is an area where I have seen many cracks develop from in aluminum. What I like to do is when coming to end of weld , yes a little lighter on pedal, easing the amps down a bit, but I will then break the contact for just a second or two and then restart and add filler there by filling any would be crater.

[jason]

Bill, the trick I use for the crater is after adding the last of the filler, back off the pedal while dragging the arc back over the solidified weld bead. It seems to me that breaking the arc over the puddle causes the crater, so I make sure to break it over solid bead. Give it a try and let us know what you think.

BTW, those beads are looking great!

Jason
________
vaporizer

[BillC]

I appreciate the pictures Mike. The termination of your fillet weld is a good example to shoot for. Practice, practive, practice!

Thanks again,

[BillC]

Thanks to Rocky, Jerry, and Jason for the different suggestions for terminating the weld. I will try all of them next Monday.

Is it correct to say that the termination will always have a slight concavity and it is the hole that is unacceptable?

[BillC]

Originally posted by Rocky D
I agree with Mike, Bill...as starting out on stainless. They all weld basically similar but there are differences. Now you are learning how to add filler. Then you will learn to keep your bead srtaight, which is harder than it looks. As eliminating holes in the crater, I use a circular motion as I ramp down, or feather the current.

You are becoming the best of both worlds...engineer + weldor! <envy>

Hi Rocky,
Adding filler is a challenge. I was amazed that I didn't contaminate the tungsten but one time the second night. I dipped it or hit it with the filler rod many times the first night. This stuff wouldn't be fun if it was easy.

I appreciate the compliment about welding and engineering. If I can learn even a small part of what the guys like you know then I will be a much better engineer.

Thanks again for all of the great help!

[p.dow]

wow - great stuff. i can hardly wait to get off stick. tig rules.
thanks for shareing. you learn.... we all learn.

paul

[Rocky D]

Originally posted by BillC

Is it correct to say that the termination will always have a slight concavity and it is the hole that is unacceptable?

A slight concavity is OK, but try to make it convex...hole is unacceptable.

Jason has a good one, that I forgot,... to ramp down while dragging the puddle back over the previous weld. This is a must when welding 4130 to prevent cracks. It's a old stick maneuver. Do you have a TIG machine at home yet? Once you see what you can do with TIG, and how clean it is....you'll have one on your shopping list, for sure.

[BillC]

Originally posted by Rocky D


A slight concavity is OK, but try to make it convex...hole is unacceptable.

Jason has a good one, that I forgot,... to ramp down while dragging the puddle back over the previous weld. This is a must when welding 4130 to prevent cracks. It's a old stick maneuver. Do you have a TIG machine at home yet? Once you see what you can do with TIG, and how clean it is....you'll have one on your shopping list, for sure.

Thanks Rocky. I'll aim for convex. The TIG machine is still on my shopping list. I just can't decide what machine to buy. I really like the Dynasty 200 inverter units but I just can't force myself to part with that much money yet... Next month I celebrate the first anniversary of my 39th birthday , and maybe that will be a good enough excuse...