Quick welding q

Attempting some welding again, arc this time.

Welded some tube but the weld is almost brittle and looks what i can only describe as looking like a sponge ( think dried lava )

Amps too low?

I'm searching anorl, sometimes it's quicker to get a reply on here from the lovely LZ folk

size rods..?
thikness steel..?

landymanmel90 said:

size rods..?
thikness steel..?

Click to expand...

rods are 2.5mm, steel is 2mm

welding technique?

You mean the slag looks like dried lava?

ahh should be ok paul turn the bugger up, practise on bit o scrap, make sure rods are warm, apart from that if it still no good it maybe yr welder or cheap rods la..

welder is right down, so will turn it up abit, rods were part of the welder when i inherited it and i warmed em up first on the heater.

Now you mention it Nathan, it is the slag so to speak, but it's all the way through in places, i might have been holding the rod to far away perhaps, learning as i go along

I forgot to mention the other tubing is slightly smaller in diameter, about 1.5 or 2mm

too long an arc = less penetration wrong angle anorl maybe... see post 4

Welding Techniques

On 2m u should be able to get the rod right in there n be ok from blowing a hole in it,
just keep practising paul its not the easyist welding to do la....
U will get it, hold rod at about 45 degree.
If yr rods not warm enough just stick it to the steel for a couple o secs..

sounds like amps too low so the slag isnt rising to the top.... ot shoul form a skin on top which comes off when you tap it with the chipping hammer.... tube isnt ideal to start on the heat builds up quick so its easy to blow holes . better to practise on plate or angle iron

PaulWilde said:

welder is right down, so will turn it up abit, rods were part of the welder when i inherited it and i warmed em up first on the heater.

Now you mention it Nathan, it is the slag so to speak, but it's all the way through in places, i might have been holding the rod to far away perhaps, learning as i go along

I forgot to mention the other tubing is slightly smaller in diameter, about 1.5 or 2mm

Click to expand...

my opinion of ark welders is agricultural work and angle iron.

Arc welding is one of the best forms of welding for penertration and strengh long as everything is set right. Sounds like your holding the rod to far away im guessin.

Sounds like your gassing up.
Are you using good quality rods, and the right type general purpose.
Crap around the weld can cause that problem, or galv plating, grind up the area first with a sand disc.
Maybe try a test weld on summat else to see if it does it.

the tubes are galv plated, although i did grind them down to a clean finish


just gotta practice abit more with angle & distance

cheers

is the tube you are welding poor quality, i think your amps are too high, and your welding arc too long, try a softer weld, and if you can, 80a on welder not 50a, this smooths out the arc on thin stuff, and good quality rod, bohler fox ohv are very good for multi positional welding, as are certanium touch rods very good, also welding rods ideally need to be kept in your airing cupboard, ie warm and dry, as the fluxes are extremely absorbent to moisture which messes up the welding.

Although it's already been said, once the seal has been broken on the pack, keep the rods dry preferably in the airing cupboard. Only take out enough rods for the job in hand.

if your using **** rods stick some flux on the work piece......sounds like the same thing that happens when you don't use gas when MIG weldin...............just a suggestion though

can you put a pic up of the weld in question normally i can see what needs to happen from what it looks like ( with welding galv steel sometimes depending on the quality of galv the slag does look a bit ****ty either tap the slag off with a small hammer or scrub it up with a wire brush )

dont be shy with the pics n dont get disheartened with trying it took me 12 months to get me arc welds something like right and i was only 14 back then

As with any welding, a good clean surface is vital. Even the "skin" on new metal should be ground off for the best weld. If your welding Galv, make sure work area is well ventilated. You wouldn't believe the toxic **** that comes off it when welded. H&S guy at our work nearly shat a melon when he found out we were welding it.

meego said:

As with any welding, a good clean surface is vital. Even the "skin" on new metal should be ground off for the best weld. If your welding Galv, make sure work area is well ventilated. You wouldn't believe the toxic **** that comes off it when welded. H&S guy at our work nearly shat a melon when he found out we were welding it.

Click to expand...

weldig galv seems to be as harmfull as smoking sulphur dioxide and al that crap