Welding techniques...

[SiRMarlon]

I will admit I am noob to welding but is there a technique for welding tubing? I just wanted to see if there was a special technique, especially when your on your back welding some sliders up...I had no success trying to weld my sliders on

Anyway long story short is I have a bolt on roll cage all tacked up and ready to get it's final burn in but before I tackle it I wanted to know if there is some kind of special technique you guys use to weld around tubing

I took some pictures of some practice welds I've done...As you can see if I'm welding anything to a flat surface I can lay down some good welds...

Here are some of my welds from a previous practice session...









And this is the base of the tubing of the cage to the baseplate that I welded today...



Once I get to tube on tube action my welds don't come out great no matter what technique I try weather it's Push/Pull/or little "e"... What I would like to do is correct the height of my welds...I feel they are to high from the middle...



Do I need to slow down and push the puddle down? I'm scared of burning through the material if I slow down, should I just lower the wirespeed and weld a little slower?

Everytime I lower the wirespeed I no longer get the "Bacon" sizzle I get a popping sizzle and it looks like water dripping from the tip of the nozzle. From my understanding that means the welder is welding to cold right? Or the wirespeed is to slow?

Maybe I am just being a little inpatient...I am still a complete noob to welding I've only been welding for about 2 months or so. I still have a lot to learn. I think I just need to practice some more. Anyway I hope some of you guys with more experience chime in and spit some welding knowledge my way! I am all ears fellas! And post pictures of some of your tube welds...

[SmokinPRanch]

I'll give my two cents from an amateur point of view.

I've found that when a lot of guys go from flat to round they forget it is the same thing. Still requires all the same techniques and proper settings. But what happens is it is a lot easier to maintain proper arc, work and travel angles, etc. when doing flat work. Hand/arm position is changing as you work around a tube or pipe.

I try to weld pipe in small sections. About a quarter at a time rather than try to maintain position around the whole circumference. If you working a confined area make sure you can "get where you're going from where you're at". You might have to change positions and weld in very small sections at a time to maintain proper technique.

Might try dry running around a tube and concentrate on keeping the proper gaps and angles and see how you'll have to control your positioning and travel.

Al

[SiRMarlon]

Thanks for the reply...I will def try doing that and see if my luck changes!

[SiRMarlon]

OK I got pictures...I finally got the cage all done last night I did the final burn in early yesterday, we had to drill the holes for the sleves and tighten everything down. We will probably pull it out next week and get it painted but for now we are leaving it unpainted. We are heading to the Hammers this weekend









After slowing down a bit, taking my time with the welds and making sure they were penetrating nicely I was able to get some decent looking welds that don't look like fat ugly boogers...:welder:

Before...



After...







It was a pain notching all the tubbing with the Angle grinder....my hands hurt for a few days after that one But this was def a cool experience and I learned A LOT from putting this cage together. It was a lot of fun and as weird as it may sound I can't wait to do it again!

[urch55]

I like the grab bars. What did you use to bend the tubing/pipe.? Looks like you did a nice job, I guess you will find out how good a design it is on the first roll-over. Did the cage get bolted down to the frame or just the floor pan.?

[WOODRACING01]

Looks pretty good for your first cage man>