Welding Tips and Tricks

Hi guys, I'm new to welding and currently in school. One thing I can't quite get the hang of is finishing a weld from one edge to the other without completely melting the edges when I finish. I think it's because the metal is getting too hot. I've had some luck with lowering the amperage on the ends, but I'm not making it as clean of a start/stop as I would like.

I'm welding cold rolled steel anywhere from 3/32 thick all the way up to 1/2" (not common). Red tungsten, no pulsing.

Jody usually peddles a nice fat tack at the start and end of his plates. Maybe this can help.

Here ya go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... to3s66zf38 I think this was what Mike was talking about

i8myWeaties2day wrote:Hi guys, I'm new to welding and currently in school. One thing I can't quite get the hang of is finishing a weld from one edge to the other without completely melting the edges when I finish. I think it's because the metal is getting too hot. I've had some luck with lowering the amperage on the ends, but I'm not making it as clean of a start/stop as I would like.

I'm welding cold rolled steel anywhere from 3/32 thick all the way up to 1/2" (not common). Red tungsten, no pulsing.

Welding school ? If so ask the idiot "teaching" the class. If you're blowing through either cool it off or quit manipulating ther puddle and pull(or push) it straight and fast. All this cursive e and other nonsense is just that. Pretend you're a machine.

I'm welding cold rolled steel anywhere from 3/32 thick all the way up to 1/2" (not common). Red tungsten, no pulsing.[/quote]
Welding school ? If so ask the idiot "teaching" the class. If you're blowing through either cool it off or quit manipulating ther puddle and pull(or push) it straight and fast. All this cursive e and other nonsense is just that. Pretend you're a machine.[/quote]

Pretty sure you didn’t read what he said. He’s not mig welding.

Antorcha wrote: Welding school ? If so ask the idiot "teaching" the class. If you're blowing through either cool it off or quit manipulating ther puddle and pull(or push) it straight and fast. All this cursive e and other nonsense is just that. Pretend you're a machine.

That’s a pretty harsh assessment of someone you’ve never met (“idiot teaching the class”). For all you know, he may be a retired welder with 40 years experience who’s taken a new role to pass on his wealth of knowledge and experience to young, interested people to keep this industry healthy.

Might reconsider a non-constructive post in the future and limit your input to helping, not besmirching strangers.

i8myWeaties2day wrote:Hi guys, I'm new to welding and currently in school. One thing I can't quite get the hang of is finishing a weld from one edge to the other without completely melting the edges when I finish. I think it's because the metal is getting too hot. I've had some luck with lowering the amperage on the ends, but I'm not making it as clean of a start/stop as I would like.

I'm welding cold rolled steel anywhere from 3/32 thick all the way up to 1/2" (not common). Red tungsten, no pulsing.

It's most likely what you said, metal too hot when you get to the end.
As said above, a nice tack where you are going to finish can help you out.
Get used to lowering the amps as you approach the end, add a little extra and taper off the amps.

If you use a machine without a pedal, a run-off tab is sometimes a great help.

Another option is to stop momentarily right before the end, let it cool a few seconds, then light up and finish it off.

Another option is to stop before you get to the end, then turn around and weld from the end to where you stopped.

As already has been posted, I usually put a tack on the end to absorb some of the heat. Obviously you'll want to gradually decrease the amperage as the part heats up

When you first start welding it's more like melting metal together than a controlled welding process, at least IME. As such you are correct that it's easy to burn the beginning and ending edges away. All of the suggestions by other folks are valid and useful. What you will learn with practice is how to add just enough heat to run a good fluid weld puddle without excessive heat. Tapering off the heat during a longer weld as the material heat soaks will help to control the puddle. As noted by others adding a dab of filler rod as you are tapering off at the end of a weld will help prevent blow-out and cold cracking of the weld, especially on aluminum. Too much heat is usually the problem.