First ever weld, how can I improve?

[eddie49]

On closer inspection, the male gas fitting on the back of your Rohr welder may be a quick-connect, perhaps a "Rectus" ?

Where can I source these? Gas fittings

I need some bits, struggling to find these online can only find rectus ones which I have no idea if they are compatible. On my handytig it has a really useful quick disconnect on the argon line into the back of the machine from the regulator. Does anyone know where I can buy another one of the...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

However, you could just push a hose over that and clip it tight.

See also post #36 here:

Advice on a buying my first welder

I suppose that for the gas the best thing is to go to a local supplier... Plenty of realistic options for "real" gas cylinders ( as opposed to the disposable ones ). Search on this Forum for BOC Hobby deal, SGS, Air Liquide Albee, Hobbygas. Argon/CO2 95%/5% is best. Pure CO2 "Pub gas" is a low...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

 

[Danez]

On closer inspection, the male gas fitting on the back of your Rohr welder may be a quick-connect, perhaps a "Rectus" ?

Where can I source these? Gas fittings

I need some bits, struggling to find these online can only find rectus ones which I have no idea if they are compatible. On my handytig it has a really useful quick disconnect on the argon line into the back of the machine from the regulator. Does anyone know where I can buy another one of the...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

However, you could just push a hose over that and clip it tight.

See also post #36 here:

Advice on a buying my first welder

I suppose that for the gas the best thing is to go to a local supplier... Plenty of realistic options for "real" gas cylinders ( as opposed to the disposable ones ). Search on this Forum for BOC Hobby deal, SGS, Air Liquide Albee, Hobbygas. Argon/CO2 95%/5% is best. Pure CO2 "Pub gas" is a low...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

That picture is one I pulled from another post, so not the best. I've looked at it proper and it's deffo a barbed tail outlet type so no worries

and cheers I'll have a gander at that

 

[a111r]

Yes, it would fit the cylinder, and it appears to come with a barbed "tail" outlet. Then fit a simple 1 or 2 metre long braided clear plastic pipe, of maybe 8mm internal diameter, to the welder, two hose clips, job done!

Clear PVC Braided Hose Food Grade Fuel Oil Water Gases Air Reinfoeced Pipe Tube | eBay

Resistant to oil and petrol. Hoses are made from high quality PVC, reinforced with a triple polyester yarn. 1/4 ID HOSE 16 Bar. 5/16 ID HOSE 16 Bar. 3/8 ID HOSE 15 Bar. 1/2 ID HOSE 12 Bar. 5/8 ID HOSE 10 Bar.

www.ebay.co.uk

This reminded me that I've over 30 metres of good quality 8 mm ID braided hose stored, that I'll never use up.
Now listed, per metre, in the 'for sale' section.

 

[Danez]

ok so having used gas for the first time i can say it’s a revelation after using flux core
so much cleaner and easier!

that being said i’m not 100% sure on my practises

i’ve been playing around with 1mm thick steel and i’ll post pics of my (in my opinion) 4 best weld lines

what do you reckon?
i’m not sure on what the penetration on the other side should look like

so here’s the top side with my 4 best welds circled

and here’s the underside. I’m not sure if that’s what penetration is supposed to look like. Too much? (if so i’ll lower the voltage) or does that look ok? there’s no holes in it but it does look like it’s come through too much?

cheers

ps. not sure what the orange dots are at the end of each weld are either

 

[Danez]

also to the right of those 4 welds i practised carrying on from previously laid welds (not sure if there’s a term for that )

 

[Danez]

results of the lower voltage
top and the under side
penetration is much less but it looks more like it should i think?

 

[Nick DV]

ps. not sure what the orange dots are at the end of each weld are either

Silica deposits

 

[Danez]

Silica deposits

guessing that’s normal?

 

[Nick DV]

guessing that’s normal?

I'm not an expert, but I believe it comes from the mig wire and helps pull any impurities from the weld.

 

[Barking Mat]

I'm not an expert, but I believe it comes from the mig wire and helps pull any impurities from the weld.

Don't worry about it.

Looking good.

Time to try glueing bits together.

 

[ajlelectronics]

More Voltage and reduce wire speed would be my next test.

 

[Munkul]

That last set looks pretty darn good for 1mm steel.

More voltage isn't going to help anything...

 

[ajlelectronics]

That last set looks pretty darn good for 1mm steel.

More voltage isn't going to help anything...

The higher the Voltage, the flatter the weld. Reduce the wire speed to reduce the "fill".

 

[8ob]

More Voltage and reduce wire speed would be my next test.

That and get a bit of a move on.

Bob

 

[Munkul]

The higher the Voltage, the flatter the weld. Reduce the wire speed to reduce the "fill".

To a point. On 1mm steel, you wouldn't want "flatter" as you'll start blowing holes in things Also, welds sat on top of flat material are always going to look peaky...

And in general, reducing wire speed to "reduce the fill" is bad technique and leads to LOF on thicker steel. Better to speed up travel.

 

[Danez]

cheers for all the advice chaps
i’ll keep at it

 

[Danez]

Ok so after not welding for a while I fired up the welder and the regulator has started to leak underneath from this ‘valve’?

I’m guessing it’s some sort of pressure release valve as when i turn open the flow to the welder it stops leaking out of there. It then leaks from the pipe to the barb fitting.

It never used to do this and i’ve not moved the bottle at all since.
should I try and adjust the valve?

and what’s the best way for securing the pipe to the barb on the regulator? i’ve been using an old jubilee clip but that doesn’t seem to work anymore
(smaller diameter pipe maybe?)

currently using a 8mm pipe on a 6mm barb

cheers