Just got up to speed on this , it sounds so much like what I went through a couple years ago on the nysdot field welder exam I took. First off, arc blow is a son of a gun, plus a few explitives, I never fixed it, I learned to deal with it. I figured it happens on the job, so might as well learn how ...

Very cool, what exactly are we looking at, a firewood rack or something? Oh yeah welcome to the forum!

Im not going to beat around the bush, my opinion is that the viking 3350 is the best choice for all around welding, it is battery and solar, but the view is breathtaking! Got mine on amazon for just a whisker over 200 bucks.

I have to dissagree with mig, tig, then stick. Especially if you bought a bobcat! Wholly macral Andy, bobcats are a great welder, I have quite a bit of experience with them. I would weld the project your talking about with 7018 1/8 diameter electrode at around 115-125 amps, plus or minus depending o...

Last year while passing by an iron workers rig I noticed two miller bobcat welders running, the ground from the first had been clamped to the ground post of the second and only one ground cable was run into the structure. Both were being run simultaneously. I thought surely that wasn't healthy for t...

Thanks fellas, ive always strived for quality work, but now it seems I need to hold all tolerances to a higher level. Im sure thats a normal response. Of course as a fairly young man I still have plenty to learn. Thanks again.

So preheat is a must, then the hardface 50 rods run smooth as silk. Without preheat I couldnt weld for an inch without hearing popping and snapping from welds breaking, like possibly the very same weld I was working on.very interesting job,, especially when trying to sew up a five foot seam.

The uncertainty may cease, I got a phone call today to inform me where I may pick up the certification. I passed!!!! Not that I had a single doubt, actually had several. Thanks to you folks for the time and encouragement, and thanks again to my instructor who put in just as much time as I did. And y...

Thanks for your time this evening. I'll give er a try tomorrow and if anything real crazy happens ill keep you posted. I still havent got the results back on the one inch exray test, but I expect to see them anytime.

That sounds right, is there much difference with hard facing rods as far as dragging them along lik 7018 ?

Yeah, that shows the material chart, and we're using the ultra met product, im not super computer savvy, not sure how to post an actual link, I just posted the webpage I was at that had info on welding.

Check this out:stlawrencesteel.com/ultra-met.html, this says it can be torch cut, I have my doubts about that. It gives some info on what to weld with, but no specifics about any kind of pre/post heat.

I'll look in to it. I know it has to be cut with plasma. Torch wont touch it. Thanks.

Anyone have experience welding hard plate? The product is called ultra-met, hot rolled plate with a hard alloy applied to other side. Ill be welding the softnside with 7018 per man. Spec. The hard side is to be welded with hard alloy, hard facing rod. Anyone with experience with this ?

Right, so you wanna run those 7018s on dcep, and try the 6011s on ac, thatll run the best. Also, those 6013s will run well on ac. AC is overlooked by most.

I thought he just wanted to weld razor blades together.

This is a great thread, in the circle I travel in if they ask for a "certified" welder its not an easy job. If it were, someone else would have done it already.

So the test was saturday may 7th. I've had some time to think about it now, its been over a week. I'm confident, but a little reluctant to celebrate. I didn't have any major issues while welding. I won't get the results back for couple more weeks, they get sent to the state capitol where they are me...

Well thanks for that, however I've been wrestling with this since I replied to Poland. I would say to not be confused with 'don't be afraid to fail' with 'its ok to fail'. Big difference. A lot of us, including myself weld for a living, this test could mean a job which feeds my family. Its not ok to...

You're absolutely right, I guess when you put so much time into something you pressure yourself to the point where nothing but perfection will do. Pass or fail I am twice the welder I was a year ago, and confident enough to say so.

Thanks for the advice, im pretty sure I have to test dc reverse polarity. Will try the lead wrap idea, ill try anything at this point. Im actually the only one welding at this point, so ive actually tried different machines and different booths with no change. I have the coupon tacked hard at the to...

So my test is in a couple weeks and last week I started having serious issues with arc blow. I dont usually have a problem with arc blow with 1/8 rod, but it has become a real issue on my root and hot pass. I have moved the ground clamp a thousand times with no positive feedback. No pun intended. An...

That seems ludicrous doesnt it? After all we pay to keep that place operating. Hopefully the training center that you can actually go to will be up and running soon. Good luck.

Hey brother, the international training center is in your back door yard. I cant say enough about our training center here. A great place to learn and burn and it doesnt cost you a dime.

So the test is going to be in the first part of may, which is good because the whole fam damly come down with the crud. Im progressing well, working at it at home, should resume class this week. I'll take some pics and keep you posted.