Pipe to sphere: Advice please

[rockweasel]

This is similar to a recent thread by another member, but I don't want to hijack it.

I'm a beginner (arc welding) and can - on a good day - weld a flat bead that I'm not deeply ashamed of. I'm now trying to weld a 2" diameter pipe onto a 5" diameter sphere as pictured. After tacking the pieces together at 12/3/6/9 o'clock, the tacks were ground down the piece laid with the pipe horizontal (the end without the sphere was elevated). I planned to lay short horizontal(ish) beads then turn the pipe and repeat until I'd gone full circle. Not really happy with the result. I had hoped that it would look less stop-start than it does. Suggestions? What if the pipe was held vertical or the pipe was rotated by one hand to keep the bead going? I'm stuck.

 

[Welderpaul]

Roll the tube as you weld it. Easier if you have someone roll it (at the right speed) as you weld. Put the earth clamp on the tube rather than the bench or whatever otherwise the tube will keep 'grabbing' as the current passes from the bench to the tube. You will only have one stop/start to worry about then.
If i roll them on my own i roll the tube away from me with my elbow/forearm leaving both hands free to weld. Takes a bit of practice.
Up the amps a bit too. It will give a flatter bead.

 

[rockweasel]

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

 

[defender dan]

What I did before, was to use a pair of axle stands & rotate slowly by hand as the pipe sat nicely in the grooves & also raised the work piece for me at the same time.

Regard`s, Dan

 

[Dave Richards]

Myself personally i would have the pipe vertical, sphere on the bench and weld in two hits.Start go half way round, stop rotate pipe, pick up on stop and stop on original start. Will look neat and with a bit of practice you should whizz through em. Trouble with rotating is you may get a lot of stray arcing.

 

[rockweasel]

I tried rolling the pipe with one hand and welding with the other. I managed to lay a continuous bead but my welding hand wasn't steady so the arc wandered a bit. Practice practice practice. I 'll try the suggestion above of laying the sphere on the bench for my next attempt.Thanks agan for the input.

On a similar theme: has anyone made their own welding turntable?

 

[Robotstar5]

On a similar theme: has anyone made their own welding turntable?

Here's one of them - link

 

[rockweasel]

Here's one of them - link

Very nice and beyond what I'm currently capable of.

I've come to this new-found hobby a bit later in life (*cough* 52 *cough), but I'm enjoying the learning process. Thanks to all for your input so far. Out of all my interests, this is by far the friendliest and most helpful group of people I've "met" online. I wish I'd started years ago.

Regards

Alan