Welding Tips and Tricks

Hi,
I'm looking for opinion guys as in the title I'm going to challenge my tests in Calgary. Do not have much experience with stick but have to improve as there is one month to do so. Trying to weld 3G at 45 degrees up hill.
I would like to get some opinion and advice on what you see. (did not clean the welds very well)

Thank you
Slawkos

Practice a LOT more.

How thick is your plate? Is it beveled? And what kind of rod are you useing?

All right, Slawkos,

You have one month... If you hope to pass your Red Seal, you will be busy all month. You've established the basics, but you have miles to go before you sleep.

Details and pictures, and more details and more pictures.

You CAN do this. You can find extensive help here.

Steve S

Hi there,
thank you lads for the answer and good positive words.
Actually there is little update on my disadvantage the tests are changed to Jan 29th !
It looks like I need some kind of magic cos I can practice only about 2-3 hrs 2 maybe 3 times a week. No access to workshop and gear.
All details are underneath each of picture, repeating as follow:
Welder is Miller CST-280 (I forgot to say)
The root is done whipping rest is weave. Every weld with no push nor drag.

Open root - 3/8 plate about 37degrees, 3/32 opening and landing, 3/32 E6010, about 60A, welder set for stiff arc.

Hot Pass - at about 80A, 3/32 E7018, welder set for soft arc

Cap at about 75A, 3/32 E7018, welder set for soft arc

What do you think about use of 1/8 E6010 75A fallowing Jody's video for the root. (I have used 3/32 as is handy for me) I know he's doing 3G and my is 3G inclined 45degress. Maybe just to do stringer instead...
I know I need to practice a lot specially stop and start on root pass as I'm leaving big unfused gap.

Below more of pictures from last Saturday.
Parameters very same as last time maybe I have set root a bit hotter some 65A.
Please for comments and tips.

Thank you
Slawkos

Hi again,

I have moore pictures just from today. This time I have practice 4G. The same plate as before, opening, angle, landing, electrodes also same.
The amperage for root was 65A and rest about 85-90A. I have run it stringer, and rest weave. Slight drag angel on all welds

Have a look

Arrow shows the stop start of weld

It wasn't my best day...

Any question and suggestion pls

Many Thanks
Slawkos

60 amps on an open root for 6010 seems a bit cold i would bump that up. Try turning it up 2 or three amps at a time. I noticed in some of the pics your not getting concistant root tie in. I like to run my root with very little whip and when you look at it as you weld it needs to feel like your sticking the rod all the way through the gap. But it does look like your practice is starting to do you some good. Ive used a 280 CST for a lot of work.

Poland308 wrote:But it does look like your practice is starting to do you some good. Ive used a 280 CST for a lot of work.

Thanks for advice
The practice on the picture is just another day's first weld, I can do only 2 welds at time on given day (sometime one as I have to cut the same coupon to prepare for next weld).

I do not want to waste my precious time as not much more left.
How about to do the root with no landing, 3/32 opening and bigger 1/8 electrode about 75A?
or maybe just bigger 1/8 electrode for the root?

Poland308 wrote: I like to run my root with very little whip and when you look at it as you weld it needs to feel like your sticking the rod all the way through the gap.

Josh I did the overhead root (first in my life) on that way but no whip and it works good for me, it feels like I have total control over the weld as the noise when burning thru is consistent, if you know what I mean. Over all I think it was done a bit cold though.

Slawkos

If you go with no land you will find you end up blowing through a lot. I use 1/8 in 6010 at about 70-75 amps. 1/8 in land and a 3/32 gap.

Thanks Josh I'll try this settings it may work for me as well

Hi Slaw! I teach welding at a college, so let me put in my two cents ... or what ever exchange equivalent that works out to be!

You are learning. When teaching, I sort of deal in percentages of the weld, based on the experience/skill level of the individual welder. For you, a beginner, from a cold start with no background, I would say you are getting better than 70% of your weld correct, which ain't too bad. My opinion is that the 100% capability comes with years of experience. A very seasoned pro KNOWS he is going to get that weld exactly right, and doesn't worry about - or at least doesn't worry about it too much. Beginners, those with LESS THAN 4000 to 6000 HOURS of experience, usually can't perform at that 100% level; which is why they typically aren't expected to do critical welds.

Now, I know most guys don't think in terms of the percentages, but it think it helps explain how a guy can do a weld 'perfect' on one pass, and only about 3/4 'perfect' on the next pass. Add the two welds together and you get that 'percentage', which I think really tells you where you are.

Welding is not easy and takes years to really master. Yeah, I am going to be nervous taking a test for a job, but chances are that I will do just fine and pass; I can't remember the last time I failed a job test. But I know that I have failed, and if I were taking a lot of these types of test, I might fail again!

Keep practicing. Be patient. Don't compare yourself to other welders, everyone is at a different level, but if you stick with it you all pretty much up up at the same place. I would say that for the amount of time you have been welding, you are where you should be. I understand you want to do much better, but have confidence and don't give up!
Gary

Hi there,

thank you Gary for your two cents, you have made a valid point for me I really appreciate it, you have very good approach as a teacher and can explain things to the bits. That's true about the experience and weld quality I know it from my other welding techniques.
I would love to get welding inspector with your approach on my exam. I won't give up, actually I'm getting more confident with every weld, the damn stick is not easy but I like the challenge and I want the melted steel to be obedient and make it to go on my way
Have not much more time but I know I can succeed.

Below few more welds, some of them good some worse.

4G
3G
3G Inclined at 45deg
I was experimenting with different current settings fallowing Josh's suggestion and it works

Thank you lads for your helpful input in my battle with time

A few more pictures hope you're not bored yet

4G

Todays welds,

first is 4G inclined at 45deg
and 4G
tomorrow is the last day of my practices hope I will be ok.
I know I have problems with stop and start (you can see the lack of concistant root tie in), have to heat it up a bit longer, have to remember, each time I am doing it I think its enough but it is not

@Slawkos - Thank you for your compliments!

Obviously, some of your welds are better than others. Make darn sure of you position before you strike up any arc. I used to have a checklist - literally a list of things to do and how to set up - written out and taped to the wall of my booth. You must be in the same position everytime you do this. Obviously, you won't be able to do that in the field, but this is not the field, this is a test you are trying to pass. I think you have enough skills to pass this test, with a bit more practice.

One other thing I would suggest is that you run short stringers. Stop and evaluate what you are doing. If it looks good, keep doing that. If it don't look good, then change it until it does. Don't run long stringers or stringer after stringer the wrong way; all you are doing is teaching your body the wrong way to do things.

Good luck! Your skill will carry you through!
Gary

I'm a structural welder so I don't have any comments on the root pass but I run my 3/32 7018 a lot hotter. I run about 88 amps on 3g and around 95 amps on 4g, keep the arc short.

Boomer63 wrote:@Slawkos - Thank you for your compliments!

One other thing I would suggest is that you run short stringers. Stop and evaluate what you are doing. If it looks good, keep doing that. If it don't look good, then change it until it does. Don't run long stringers or stringer after stringer the wrong way; all you are doing is teaching your body the wrong way to do things.

Good luck! Your skill will carry you through!
Gary

Hi lads,

thank you Gary for another good tip, will take it on board, you keep me positive.
Today I was doing 2G GTAW open root on 3/8 plate, 37degrees bevel 1/8 opening no land, 1/8 rod (did not have any rods so used bare E7018 wire). The passes was SMAW E7018 1/8".
The story is that the cup was too big no7 it could not fit in to the grove (didn't have any other), and the tungsten 1/16" (way too small) I have set the machine for 90A to have nice heat and have to have long stick out because of the cup. Ending up with burned tungsten and pores (could not have more gas flow because of turbulences) the whole weld looked like after battle anyway have a look yourself
and the back
using right gear the weld would be near perfection

then stringers 1/8 E7018 around 115A
because of the undercuts I have lower the power to about 110A and add one more stringer
Another position is 3G GMAW root 3/8 plate, 37 bevel and FCAW fill and cup, had only time to do the root downhill
started at 19V 250ipm but back of root was concave so adjusted 18V 280ipm and got nice flat weld. I'm going to finish it tomorrow (tomorrow is the last day, I have got confused yesterday )

I stay positive as DCEP

You should abandon any idea of using bare stick rods for GTAW. All stick rod wire is low quality steel, all the good stuff is in the flux, you will end up with crap results as per your pic. GTAW wire is high quality filler with deoxydisers and additives. Using anything else is just a waste of time - especially when you are learning.

kblenker#22 wrote:I'm a structural welder so I don't have any comments on the root pass but I run my 3/32 7018 a lot hotter. I run about 88 amps on 3g and around 95 amps on 4g, keep the arc short.

I forgot to say that I have burned all 3/32 and now using 1/8 with about of your amperage for the root and short arc as well the passes are about 110A. It would be too hot for me for the 'z' wave with the 3/32s

Thanks for sharing any suggestion counts and is very welcome

Coldman wrote:You should abandon any idea of using bare stick rods for GTAW. All stick rod wire is low quality steel, all the good stuff is in the flux, you will end up with crap results as per your pic. GTAW wire is high quality filler with deoxydisers and additives. Using anything else is just a waste of time - especially when you are learning.

Hi Coldman thank you for comment you're deadly right, I do know that already but haven't have any other choice, never welded any mild steel with TIG. Always welded only stainless for few years and only learning SMAW recently. Just curious how it goes for try so make one weld or not to do at all makes big difference isn't it. Now I know there is no difference

Hi lads,

I have to say that it was tough exam, especially the practical one it was only 3 hrs to do all welds flame cut a coupon following a drawing and cut all the welding coupons in a half.... literary battle with time but it was worth it I have passed and I am qualified Welder Journeyman now with 77% theory, and 70% of practical, I have screwed my oxy cut as I've cut too big hole. Anyways done and dusted I have learned a lot in last two months.
I would like to say a huge thank you for all the professionals from this great forum who made the great effort and put their own 2 cents towards my eduction I would not succeed without your's tips and good words keeping me positive.

Have a look yourself guys
Well I have done all the welds on my practical very nice (pity I can't show you, the mobiles are banned on exams ) but the GMAW the root was kinda flatish. All SMAW welds were projected in my mind before any arc was strike together with the movements of the hands as Jody suggested in his great videos. My hands were shaken (it meant to be like another day on the workshop ) but finally I've got there.

Thank you again!

Slawkos wrote:Hi lads,

I have to say that it was tough exam, especially the practical one it was only 3 hrs to do all welds flame cut a coupon following a drawing and cut all the welding coupons in a half.... literary battle with time but it was worth it I have passed and I am qualified Welder Journeyman now with 77% theory, and 70% of practical, I have screwed my oxy cut as I've cut too big hole. Anyways done and dusted I have learned a lot in last two months.
I would like to say a huge thank you for all the professionals from this great forum who made the great effort and put their own 2 cents towards my eduction I would not succeed without your's tips and good words keeping me positive.

Well I have done all the welds on my practical very nice (pity I can't show you, the mobiles are banned on exams ) but the GMAW the root was kinda flatish. All SMAW welds were projected in my mind before any arc was strike together with the movements of the hands as Jody suggested in his great videos. My hands were shaken (it meant to be like another day on the workshop ) but finally I've got there.

Thank you again!

Congratulations, your efforts have paid off!

Congratulations, Slawkos,

Now, the real education begins... Translating everything you've accomplished into a career. Working in the field is a different animal, and you'll soon see why, but there's a reason the tests are tough (and graded tough), and I think you'll be fine.

Steve S

HI there,
thank you guys it was an effort indeed and I'm happy it pays off, I can't wait to deploy the knowledge on the field and learn even more, have to find a job first