texashuntingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
Stephen Robertson, avsb, RBeau, Jason Winn, Jason Harmon
72632 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
dogcatcher 110,840
bill oxner 91,416
SnakeWrangler 66,208
stxranchman 60,296
Gravytrain 46,950
Stub 45,385
RKHarm24 44,585
rifleman 44,461
Forum Statistics
Forums46
Topics545,430
Posts9,822,068
Members87,632
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Never welded in my life until now #9083322 07/29/24 04:16 PM
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 830
K
Ktexas14 Online Content OP
Tracker
OP Online Content
Tracker
K
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 830
I have never actually welded anything, I've stuck some steel together a couple times but never really made anything. I had someone install a wrought iron gate and they did a terrible job. 5 in gap between gate and post where dogs could just squeeze out. Couldn't get them to come back so i decided to make do with what I had. I got my dads lincoln weldpak 100 that didn't work, ordered a new gun from Ebay, cleaned out the insides of mud dobbers and got to work. Filled in the gap with some flatbar and an extra wrought iron piece. The steel holds but welds certainly aren't pretty.

Then I decided I was done calling people, I've already built almost 600ft of 8ft fence so i would figure out my gate between the driveway and backyard. By the last couple welds, they looked like a weld, although not pretty at all.

Let me know what you think. I still need to put posts in and then hang the gate. will then clad it with wood pickets. I just bought a Miller Thunderbolt XL from a buddy so i can weld the thicker hinges on to the thicker posts.

I know there are some welders in here, you wont hurt my feelings.

Pictures of the repaired gate and the new gate frame attached

Gate is 11ft wide and 5ft tall

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9083330 07/29/24 04:34 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 61,876
BOBO the Clown Online Content
kind of a big deal
Online Content
kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 61,876
Not a pretty weld, but looks like you got base depth and material so you are good. I would add a wheel or rest for it. 11 ft gate is a very large span.


Bottom line, never trust a man whose uncle was eaten by cannibals.-Sen Joni Ernst
Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9083333 07/29/24 04:38 PM
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 830
K
Ktexas14 Online Content OP
Tracker
OP Online Content
Tracker
K
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 830
I appreciate the feedback. I will be adding a wheel for sure. I might be adding a second gate but not sure yet.

Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9083337 07/29/24 04:48 PM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 10,580
U
unclebubba Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
U
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 10,580
I'm not a pro welder...not even really a good amateur either, but I have been fiddling with it for a while. With the amount of splatter you have, I would suspect that you have the wire feed speed wrong. Maybe turn the speed up just a notch? I'm sure a better welder will come along to correct me if I am wrong. Also, I find that I am better with a stick welder than a wire feed. Stick welders are not very expensive. You might look into one if you want to keep welding. Very useful skill to have.

Last edited by unclebubba; 07/29/24 04:50 PM.

http://www.boatloan.com/michael-hunt/

Originally Posted by Nolanco
current federal policy is clearly irrational, scientifically insupportable and ridiculous.
Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: unclebubba] #9083383 07/29/24 05:53 PM
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 830
K
Ktexas14 Online Content OP
Tracker
OP Online Content
Tracker
K
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 830
Originally Posted by unclebubba
I'm not a pro welder...not even really a good amateur either, but I have been fiddling with it for a while. With the amount of splatter you have, I would suspect that you have the wire feed speed wrong. Maybe turn the speed up just a notch? I'm sure a better welder will come along to correct me if I am wrong. Also, I find that I am better with a stick welder than a wire feed. Stick welders are not very expensive. You might look into one if you want to keep welding. Very useful skill to have.


I just bought a used Miller 220 stick welder and going to give that a try. I kept experimenting with wire speed and kept getting the splatter. Haven't figure that out yet.

Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9083491 07/29/24 09:25 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 69
J
Jim B Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
J
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 69
are you using flux core wire?


Jim
Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9083514 07/29/24 10:20 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 42,162
J.G. Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 42,162
You're making the most common mistake new welders make, when they have no guidance. Not high enough amperage. When you are in the hood, you should see both parent metals, and the filler metal, all liquid in the puddle. Many newcomers are afraid they are going to burn through. So they don't weld hot enough. Then you get filler sitting on top of the parent metal, and not penetrating within.


[Linked Image]
800 Yard Steel Range
Precision Rifle Instruction
Memberships and Classes Available
Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9083539 07/29/24 10:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 61
Z
Ziggybock Online Content
Outdoorsman
Online Content
Outdoorsman
Z
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 61
I agree with Jason on not enough amps, not getting a consistent burn. I would also verify the polarity if using flux core, that could be part of the issue as well.

Good luck!

-Z

Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9083580 07/30/24 12:33 AM
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,140
J
jlsbassman Online Content
Veteran Tracker
Online Content
Veteran Tracker
J
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,140
I started welding about 35 yrs ago and it does take some time and you have experiment a lot if you have no instructor. I agree with them, probably needs some more heat. But my first instructor told me, it don’t always have to be pretty, that’s what they made grinders for.

Keep going, it gets easier the more you learn.

Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9083588 07/30/24 12:45 AM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 14,192
N
ntxtrapper Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
N
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 14,192

Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: jlsbassman] #9083604 07/30/24 01:15 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 42,162
J.G. Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 42,162
Originally Posted by jlsbassman
I started welding about 35 yrs ago and it does take some time and you have experiment a lot if you have no instructor. I agree with them, probably needs some more heat. But my first instructor told me, it don’t always have to be pretty, that’s what they made grinders for.

Keep going, it gets easier the more you learn.


Then that makes you a grinder, not a welder.


[Linked Image]
800 Yard Steel Range
Precision Rifle Instruction
Memberships and Classes Available
Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9083622 07/30/24 01:27 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 42,162
J.G. Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 42,162
.187" wall horizontal welding to a .380" wall vertical. This is engine driven welder, 5/32" E-6011, vertical uphill weld. I started at the bottom and worked to the top. You can see on the upper part of the weld, what is called undercut. I dug into the .380" wall good and deep, but failed to fill. Most definitely a hot enough weld, but at the upper part of the weld it was actually too hot.

[Linked Image]


Everything the same parameters, but I turned the amperage down a little. I've still got undercut on the top of the weld. So, what I'm doing here is the opposite of your welds. I'm penetrating a little too much.

[Linked Image]

I realize this is much thicker steel than 14 gauge or 11 gauge. I've welded a million joints of that stuff, too. Arc welded and MIG welded. The same principles still apply. Penetrate enough, and fill enough.


[Linked Image]
800 Yard Steel Range
Precision Rifle Instruction
Memberships and Classes Available
Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: J.G.] #9083623 07/30/24 01:27 AM
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,140
J
jlsbassman Online Content
Veteran Tracker
Online Content
Veteran Tracker
J
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,140
Originally Posted by J.G.
Originally Posted by jlsbassman
I started welding about 35 yrs ago and it does take some time and you have experiment a lot if you have no instructor. I agree with them, probably needs some more heat. But my first instructor told me, it don’t always have to be pretty, that’s what they made grinders for.

Keep going, it gets easier the more you learn.


Then that makes you a grinder, not a welder.

I guess it don’t matter as long as it stays together.

Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9083624 07/30/24 01:32 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 42,162
J.G. Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 42,162
14 gauge to 14 gauge.

.035" wire, 75% Argon 25% CO2

[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]
800 Yard Steel Range
Precision Rifle Instruction
Memberships and Classes Available
Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9083664 07/30/24 02:49 AM
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 830
K
Ktexas14 Online Content OP
Tracker
OP Online Content
Tracker
K
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 830
I very much appreciate the feedback. Not a lot of settings on this and on the highest it was burning through and the third setting it was splattering.

If you are burning through, do I just need to make the pass quicker?

I have some scraps so I will have to play with it some to see.

Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9083679 07/30/24 04:11 AM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 10,560
R
Ramball36 Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
R
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 10,560
It will be a little tough even for a guy who knows welding better than you to dial in that little 100 amp machine. They were made with simplicity in mind and 95% of the welds that have come out of them look a lot like yours. Definitely check the polarity like someone else said, but I’m pretty sure that weld pak will only do flux core so it should be set. It’s 14 gauge, it’ll stick just fine how it is. If you want to get a little better, watch a couple fluxcore videos on YouTube from weldingtipsandtricks and mess around with it…they’re really well done videos, I literally started my business off of them. After that if you’re still wanting to improve, you’ll want to upgrade machines to something you can fine tune to get what you want.

I tend to run pretty hot and fast mig welding. I’d guess my settings to be probably more for 3/16” that I use on 11/14 gauge.

Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9083707 07/30/24 11:29 AM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,688
GasGuzzler Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,688
Looks like flux core wire and no gas. If so, and you plan on using the machine more in the future, get a gas system and the proper 0.035" wire. If it is a gas rig, it needs more amps as stated. I did all my MIG side work 15+ years ago on a 300 amp Miller so I have no idea where technology is on the machines now.


Pass the gravy.


Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ramball36] #9083746 07/30/24 12:53 PM
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 830
K
Ktexas14 Online Content OP
Tracker
OP Online Content
Tracker
K
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 830
Originally Posted by Ramball36
It will be a little tough even for a guy who knows welding better than you to dial in that little 100 amp machine. They were made with simplicity in mind and 95% of the welds that have come out of them look a lot like yours. Definitely check the polarity like someone else said, but I’m pretty sure that weld pak will only do flux core so it should be set. It’s 14 gauge, it’ll stick just fine how it is. If you want to get a little better, watch a couple fluxcore videos on YouTube from weldingtipsandtricks and mess around with it…they’re really well done videos, I literally started my business off of them. After that if you’re still wanting to improve, you’ll want to upgrade machines to something you can fine tune to get what you want.

I tend to run pretty hot and fast mig welding. I’d guess my settings to be probably more for 3/16” that I use on 11/14 gauge.


Yeah there isnt much in the way of adjustability. ABC and D for AMPS and then 1-10 on wire speed. I bought a miller AC 220 stick machine. We will see what I can turn out with that.

I appreciate the feedback and will definitely be watching weldingtipsandtricks videos.

Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9083751 07/30/24 01:09 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 42,162
J.G. Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 42,162
The machine has the DC welding option, correct?


[Linked Image]
800 Yard Steel Range
Precision Rifle Instruction
Memberships and Classes Available
Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9083896 07/30/24 05:25 PM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 6,461
A
angus1956 Online Content
THF Trophy Hunter
Online Content
THF Trophy Hunter
A
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 6,461
Are you mig welding or stick welding?
From your pictures it looks like mig welding without welding gas, unless your using fluxcore wire.

Anyway I'm learning myself also on how to weld. Starting out it's " The bigger the blob the better the job."
Keep up the good work.

Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: J.G.] #9083954 07/30/24 08:09 PM
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 830
K
Ktexas14 Online Content OP
Tracker
OP Online Content
Tracker
K
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 830
Originally Posted by J.G.
The machine has the DC welding option, correct?


The Weldpak 100 that i used to weld this is just a mig flux wire 110 welder. I bought a miller thunderbolt XL AC machine.

Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9083986 07/30/24 09:20 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,547
F
flintknapper Online Content
THF Trophy Hunter
Online Content
THF Trophy Hunter
F
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,547
Originally Posted by Ktexas14
Originally Posted by Ramball36
It will be a little tough even for a guy who knows welding better than you to dial in that little 100 amp machine. They were made with simplicity in mind and 95% of the welds that have come out of them look a lot like yours. Definitely check the polarity like someone else said, but I’m pretty sure that weld pak will only do flux core so it should be set. It’s 14 gauge, it’ll stick just fine how it is. If you want to get a little better, watch a couple fluxcore videos on YouTube from weldingtipsandtricks and mess around with it…they’re really well done videos, I literally started my business off of them. After that if you’re still wanting to improve, you’ll want to upgrade machines to something you can fine tune to get what you want.

I tend to run pretty hot and fast mig welding. I’d guess my settings to be probably more for 3/16” that I use on 11/14 gauge.


Yeah there isnt much in the way of adjustability. ABC and D for AMPS and then 1-10 on wire speed. I bought a miller AC 220 stick machine. We will see what I can turn out with that.

I appreciate the feedback and will definitely be watching weldingtipsandtricks videos.


Stick welder will do a LOT better in terms of allowing you better penetration (for that gauge metal). Its good know both methods Stick and Mig. And Flux Core mig is MUCH different than when using shielding gas....just so you know.


Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9084011 07/30/24 09:56 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 42,162
J.G. Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 42,162
Originally Posted by Ktexas14
Originally Posted by J.G.
The machine has the DC welding option, correct?


The Weldpak 100 that i used to weld this is just a mig flux wire 110 welder. I bought a miller thunderbolt XL AC machine.


You still did not answer my question.


[Linked Image]
800 Yard Steel Range
Precision Rifle Instruction
Memberships and Classes Available
Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: J.G.] #9084249 07/31/24 01:15 PM
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 830
K
Ktexas14 Online Content OP
Tracker
OP Online Content
Tracker
K
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 830
Originally Posted by J.G.
Originally Posted by Ktexas14
Originally Posted by J.G.
The machine has the DC welding option, correct?


The Weldpak 100 that i used to weld this is just a mig flux wire 110 welder. I bought a miller thunderbolt XL AC machine.


You still did not answer my question.


No DC Welding option on this one.

Re: Never welded in my life until now [Re: Ktexas14] #9084357 07/31/24 03:31 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 42,162
J.G. Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 42,162
If that is the case, you've got to really up the amperage to get a good weld. Instead of DC welding.


[Linked Image]
800 Yard Steel Range
Precision Rifle Instruction
Memberships and Classes Available
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 2004-2024 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3