Sparkey
Bouncing along!
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- Thread starter malcolm
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Woody.v8
Blue gluer
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Yeah...well....i tried several times already but the bugger just wont bite me....
Keep practicing mate and suddenly you will wonder what all the fuss was about
wyn
Member
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That's looking real good for first time, malcolm. 
Less amps will make the weld narrower, but trickier to strike the arc.
To lessen the "hole" at the end go back in the opposite direction over the weld already put down for a couple of millimeters. But the hole is probably down to the higher amps.
Less amps will make the weld narrower, but trickier to strike the arc.
To lessen the "hole" at the end go back in the opposite direction over the weld already put down for a couple of millimeters. But the hole is probably down to the higher amps.
had been practising my mma for months and was well pleased with results, then did'nt do any for about 10 weeks and lost a lot of the skill, i think you have to do some nearly every day, to keep the skill level up. have a few books on the subject of welding, but the one i keep near the bench is "the science and practice of welding volume 2 ( the practice of welding) A.C.Davies, cambridge university press. this book has all the info you need, everything, and handy little tips you would'nt even think about like, "mma welding should sound like cotton being torn". buy this book, it will be your bible.
Good stuff Malcolm, you certainly laid down a good few beads!
Regarding questions from other members, a good point to remeber is, if you already have a good skill level with mig, to a degree, you are well on the way mastering MMA. Basic such as understanding a quality mig weld, is fair to say, similar with MMA process. When mig welding, you can audibly hear if you have a good mig welding condition for particular job you are welding, MMA is similar.
Struggling to arc up> amps to low, of course damps rods can cause poor start up.
Bright arc, with lots of spatter> amps to high, and so on.....
Practice practice practice and decent welded joints are easily achievable.
Regarding questions from other members, a good point to remeber is, if you already have a good skill level with mig, to a degree, you are well on the way mastering MMA. Basic such as understanding a quality mig weld, is fair to say, similar with MMA process. When mig welding, you can audibly hear if you have a good mig welding condition for particular job you are welding, MMA is similar.
Struggling to arc up> amps to low, of course damps rods can cause poor start up.
Bright arc, with lots of spatter> amps to high, and so on.....
Practice practice practice and decent welded joints are easily achievable.
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malcolm iv seen guys who reckon there old arc hands with much worse looking beads than that,
Id drop the amps now, or increase the forward speed, if you learning the first will probably be the best option, try a few stringers, and cut the weave this will stop you getting such an enormous joint, id fill something like that with a 5mm, ohhh and practice with the 3.2mm IMHO one of the easiest and most versatile rods you can use.....
,Id drop the amps now, or increase the forward speed, if you learning the first will probably be the best option, try a few stringers, and cut the weave this will stop you getting such an enormous joint, id fill something like that with a 5mm, ohhh and practice with the 3.2mm IMHO one of the easiest and most versatile rods you can use.....
malcolm
& Clementine the Cat
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malcolm iv seen guys who reckon there old arc hands with much worse looking beads than that
Id drop the amps now, or increase the forward speed, if you learning the first will probably be the best option, try a few stringers, and cut the weave this will stop you getting such an enormous joint, id fill something like that with a 5mm, ohhh and practice with the 3.2mm IMHO one of the easiest and most versatile rods you can use.....
Thanks Snowy,
I wasn't weaving, honest - I was trying to be good! All the photos were 3.2mm rods but I'm still getting blooming fat arc welds. Also the amps were close to the minimum mentioned on the packet of rods. OK so my Miller is 30 years out of calibration but it didn't look right to me and with low current I had no penetration. Struggled to increase the forward speed at higher amps too. Looked like I was rushing and the welds had arrows in them.
I'm using 6013s though - would that be the trouble? Tomorrow 3mm sheet.
shenion
Tool Pack Rat
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Malcolm, very nice welds. Would try reducing the current a bit, you would be surprised how spatter-free they can get. I had avoided Arc welding as I thought it was similar to gasless mig (very messy.) Now I enjoy using it whenever possible.
You can adjust penetration a bit with polarity on some rods.
Too much current or too long an arc will cause spatter.
I know what you mean by the Dialarc and maintaining an arc. My Airco is the same design. If I pull the rod away slowly, it will sometimes maintain the arc for about 1.5 inches
I agree with snowcat, bigger rods are easier. 1.6 and 2mm rods are a completey different game. 2.4 are not bad.
As for the end, I had a bad habit of slowly pully away. Keep the arc real close at the end to fill the crater while not adding as much heat. 6013's actually can be dragged or kept close without sticking as the flux coating extends past the end of the rod.
You can adjust penetration a bit with polarity on some rods.
Too much current or too long an arc will cause spatter.
I know what you mean by the Dialarc and maintaining an arc. My Airco is the same design. If I pull the rod away slowly, it will sometimes maintain the arc for about 1.5 inches
I agree with snowcat, bigger rods are easier. 1.6 and 2mm rods are a completey different game. 2.4 are not bad.
As for the end, I had a bad habit of slowly pully away. Keep the arc real close at the end to fill the crater while not adding as much heat. 6013's actually can be dragged or kept close without sticking as the flux coating extends past the end of the rod.
Drains
Yeah, nah.
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Good going Malcolm! Excellent start. Don't worry about "fat" welds. MMA welds are much wetter than MIG, and nothing like as high. If they are, your amps are too low! If your penetration is low, try using a wider prep.
I'm a bit disappointed you got bored doing the pad. You have to learn to plod, me old son.
I'm a bit disappointed you got bored doing the pad. You have to learn to plod, me old son.
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I have a feeling Malcolm, and this is a guess your lead angle is either too large, or your arc length is long especially as you have a lack of crater fill on the stops, around ten degrees lead and a very short arc length for a 6013, in fact only concentrate on keeping the lead correct with a 6013 at 10 degrees the rod will quite happily sort its self resting into the work.......
looking at the pics again theres no real undercut, so your amps cant be far off...
looking at the pics again theres no real undercut, so your amps cant be far off...
malcolm
& Clementine the Cat
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You know you are the second person who has said I have too much current . Will explore that possibility in the morning. My main objective (other than 6G certification) is to get a peeler, and the slag did seem happier to come off the colder welds.
I did notice the rod disappeared faster the closer I had it to the work. Too far away and I had a schooshing noise. Too close and the weld looked like it had something in it that shouldn't have been there, but closer than what seemed about right the rod did disappear quite quickly.
Thanks Si, I'll continue the pad. I'm up to level 3 at the moment. What's the record?
. Will explore that possibility in the morning. My main objective (other than 6G certification) is to get a peeler, and the slag did seem happier to come off the colder welds.I did notice the rod disappeared faster the closer I had it to the work. Too far away and I had a schooshing noise. Too close and the weld looked like it had something in it that shouldn't have been there, but closer than what seemed about right the rod did disappear quite quickly.
Thanks Si, I'll continue the pad. I'm up to level 3 at the moment. What's the record?
malcolm
& Clementine the Cat
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Lead angle was about right (apart from when my elbow got stuck at one point and I ended up with a trailing angle
).Had noticed the filler disappearing up the rod. Too far away would be a distinct possibility. More practice for tomorrow. Any more advice much appreciated.
I did feel it would have been very handy to have someone who knows what they are doing overlooking. I was popping in every other weld to search things on the internet, and you know what the internet is like.
madkayaker
Pro sparkey Pro Welder
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time to get practicing. I did get a box of rods on the way home so that a start. I know what i will be doing saturday.
malcolm
& Clementine the Cat
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I had a little delay in practice, but a couple more rods burned today. I'm becoming more comfortable with the weld characteristics - the arc weld is much more fluid than a MIG weld. And joint preparation seems to be very important. I can see why it is good discipline to learn to arc weld.
Running beads on flat plate doesn't give a good indication of current or speed required. So a joint prepared with a 90 degree V through 2/3 of the thickness and a 1mm small gap at the bottom. 3.2mm rods at about 140 amps. And true enough - I am running far too hot.
I've found Runnach's examples very helpful as something to aim for - thanks for posting those. I am running far too hot and going a bit fast. No undercutting but the weld is flat. Just about managed good penetration though. I'll read up a little more on joint prep. Here's the reverse:
So before knocking off I thought I'd try a vertical up. How hard can it be I thought. Here's a photo of my very first attempt:
That fluid weld pool is fun isn't it. I found the uphill stick welding thread and got a bit better in the last couple of runs in the afternoon. Not going to ask questions though - I want to work out the amps on the flat first.
And to end tonight's instalment. A friend was over so he tried arc welding for the first time. He's done a bit of MIG before. I explained roughly what to do. His first attempts involved 1/2 inch gap between rod and work, and he was going far too fast. Probably those things are what us beginners need to overcome the most.
Running beads on flat plate doesn't give a good indication of current or speed required. So a joint prepared with a 90 degree V through 2/3 of the thickness and a 1mm small gap at the bottom. 3.2mm rods at about 140 amps. And true enough - I am running far too hot.
I've found Runnach's examples very helpful as something to aim for - thanks for posting those. I am running far too hot and going a bit fast. No undercutting but the weld is flat. Just about managed good penetration though. I'll read up a little more on joint prep. Here's the reverse:
So before knocking off I thought I'd try a vertical up. How hard can it be I thought. Here's a photo of my very first attempt:
That fluid weld pool is fun isn't it. I found the uphill stick welding thread and got a bit better in the last couple of runs in the afternoon. Not going to ask questions though - I want to work out the amps on the flat first.
And to end tonight's instalment. A friend was over so he tried arc welding for the first time. He's done a bit of MIG before. I explained roughly what to do. His first attempts involved 1/2 inch gap between rod and work, and he was going far too fast. Probably those things are what us beginners need to overcome the most.
hi, try running the 3.2 at about 110 to 120 amps, would'nt bother with a gap for the time being. before going vertical try a setup at about 45 degrees. from looking at the first picture the rod might be at two much of an angle (only a guess) but try the rod at about 75 to 70 degrees from the plate (in the direction of weld) and take your time, you got to keep a consistent speed, which is difficult as the rod shortens, back practicing myself everyday as i think thats the only way you can a competent mma welder. burning of half a dozen sticks is a great way of warming up in the morning)
scarecrow
Outstanding in his field
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ive found that arc welding is quite addictive, i use it more than the mig now! and im a bit of a proffesional at uphill now too, now overhead,hmmmmm....
Vertical up is probably the hardest of the disciplines to learn horizontal and overhead are easy with a bit of practice. i Used be much better a vertical
probably because I used to do more vertical back in the day. rod choice is critical
for vertical up i used overcord c some of the guys probably have better always wort having a box of good vertical rods lying around
