had a play today

[BrokenBiker]

this is teh actual fire pit, im not painting it or doing anything else to it now as it is only really needed for one day, i thought i had one i made ages ago but it appears to have walkies with the rest of the gear that was in my shed so needed another one quick. took about an hour which included cutting, linishing, grinding paint off and welding legs on, i was taking my time but got it done quick if you know what i mean.

if it survives boxing day i might tidy it up, grind the legs into a nicer shape and paint it

i am waiting for it to finsih raining and then im going to do a few runs on the same material with same rod and amps to show the penetration as there is a fire in my pit and i dont fancy getting in there with a brush now to clear the welded areas off

 

[BrokenBiker]

this is the quick test i did to show penetration...4mm (4.17 on vernier) mild steel cut from a propane bottle, both with a 2.5mm 6013 parweld rod, top weld is 70 amps dcen, bottom weld is 70 amps decp (just for fun). no noticable difference in penetration but i did the bottom weld quicker as i was travelling so quick and there was a slightly bigger HAZ on the bottom weld.

this is why im more than confident i got full penetration on the legs, i also tried a 3.2mm rod on the same material, 90 amps and it just blew holes like a plasma cutter

 

[snowcat]

When my lads move onto pipe, I train them up using 2.5 & 3.2 E6013 electrodes, on DCEN. I also ask them to try DCEP, see how it goes and, ask them their opinion, can I can tell you, they all revert back to DCEN. They also have the option of rooting with E6010's, on DCEP, most (they are learners) can find it difficult mastering these rods, they return to E6013's.

Oh, 4" dia lcs pipe, 5mm WT.

Plant, 3 phase Lincoln Electric inverter.

Interesting always used DCEP and never thought anything of it, mind latter years Iv nearly always run a TIG root followed by a 6013 cap (normally 2.5 6013 on 3" pipe) with the exception of a slip flange which Il still root with a 2.5 and cap with a 3.25.