Please Critique these welds

I am trying to improve my Mig skills and would like your help.

Welds were done with the I mig 205 Arc force off (turned full left) .035 70s6 solid wire, 75/25 Argon Co2 gas, on 1.8 mild steel that actually Miced .115

Welds are numbered top to bottom.

#1 18.5 V. 140A Push
#2 18.5 V. 140A Pull
#3 19v 140A Push
#4 19v 140A Pull
#5 19v 150A Push
#6 19 v 150A Pull

Attachment 3132

I am looking for input on travel speed. gun control, stick-out etc. Really anything you see that I need to work on.
Thanks
Ray

No such a thing as off. Its all relative...more inductance, less inductance.
It looks like it may more inductance...Orientation of high inductance position, may have changed since original units were produced.Push always with mig, unless you can't because of position.

Travel speed is very inconsistent. Prop/ brace yourself on the metal or table, hold the gun with both hands, and move from the elbow to start.
Looks like you may be holding torch too far off. Bring it down to 1/2" off metal.

#5, last half is the best.

Hi Ray, nothing wrong with the heat/volt settings etc, just need to move faster and try to make flatter weld deposits. I would suggest practise doing laps joints as they tend to slow the whole thing down a bit and give you a bit more time to adjust to the speed of travel. consistant travel speed makes for better lookig welds.

I did a butt weld that I stress tested in my vice with a BFH and it held I also tried a lap weld.
Settings were the same


Attachment 3142
Lap weld

Attachment 3140
Same Lap weld

Attachment 3141
Butt weld

Attachment 3144
Same butt weld.

Ya still need to work on the travel speed. If you're right handed, try tilting your torch to the 2 o'clock position and weld right to left using a tight looping motion as you move smoothly and constantly to the left. Pause for a second at the end of your weld.
Make a few dry runs on the piece you're going to weld before pulling the trigger and finally making the weld. Practice makes perfect.

Go over to weldingtipsandtricks.com and watch some of Jody's MIG videos. It certainly helped me a lot.

Thurmond

Ray,

The heat and all look fine, but you are still real unsteady and inconsistent in your movement. I see a hint of too much standoff.

I am new to welding and received the most helpful information as well as much practice by taking a continuing education class for MIG welding at our local Tech education center. As a senior, sight was my biggest issue. I invested in an auto dark helment and added a magnifying lens to see better. What a difference it made being able to better see the weld puddle, travel line and tourch angle.

With the metal thickness that you are using I would suggest using .030 wire or less. Your running just slightly cold for the size of wire but its to hot for the the thickness of plate, see your number 6 bead. The brown around it is an indicator. Also, you need to brace yourself, use both hands, and may need to add a cheater lenses to your hood, and adjust the shade setting to where you see the puddle the best.. Watch the stickout, leave it about 3/8" to 1/2". Gas should be set 10 to 15 cfh. Play with the gas and see what works best. Pushing and moving quicker will allow the bead to flatten some if your angle of your torch is correct. You may also use a scribe line that will allow you to follow a straighter line.

Good video on adjusting wire speed and amperage......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eB9qnktmDI

Looks like you are just going in a straight line. After making adjustments to your wire speed and amps, try making cursive e's with your gun going back a little on the previous weld area. It will make your welds a bit stronger and make it look more like a tig weld.

Another good place to learn about mig welding is if you google "Mig like Tig". They have lots of information on how to make your mig welding strong and make them look like a tig weld.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thinman100

I am new to welding and received the most helpful information as well as much practice by taking a continuing education class for MIG welding at our local Tech education center. As a senior, sight was my biggest issue. I invested in an auto dark helment and added a magnifying lens to see better. What a difference it made being able to better see the weld puddle, travel line and tourch angle.

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Seeing is half the battle! When I was in welding school I started out wearing dark glasses and a #12 welding lens, together was probably a #15. I was having trouble, I was told that some people need to wear dark glasses because of welding flash from people around them, and someone told me I need to loose the glasses for regular safety glasses and get a lighter lens so I could see. I find a #10 works for me, but sometimes I go darker if I am tig welding. I could not see the puddle that was keeping me from being able to run a good bead.

They ALL look good to me lol