First arc weld I'm proud of

[TheMadMech]

I've been an industrial mechanics for about 10 years and mostly welded small things and mostly with a mig. Last year I got a job at a different place and have had to start arc welding a lot more but it's all 6011 in a really dirty environment. 7018 has scared me because it's supposed to look good and be strong.

Anyhow, we're doing a project where I had to weld a lifting eye onto a beam. The main fabrication welder in our shop told me he would do it if I wasn't comfortable but I told him I wanted to try.

I took 3 passes and a 4th to fill some undercut I had. He watched me throughout to verify everything was good.

When I finished I told him I'd be willing to stand under a load with this weld but would I die. He laughed and said that I was full of ****, that I really wanted to know if He would be willing to stand under a suspended load hung off it.

He came over, carefully looked at it and said that it was really good. I need to work on consistency but that it looked really good and he was happy with it.

I snapped two pics.

Anyhow, I actually feel good about my welding finally and am excited to get better still. Sorry for the long story but I wanted to share with some like minded people.

Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk

 

[jhn9840]

Those beads look like they are burned in to me. Keep after it. The more you do the better you get.

jhn9840
John

 

[sberry]

The passes are out of order. The last one around the bottom isn't doing much. The legs of this should be equal, should be 3 beads in 2 passes.

 

[TheMadMech]

The passes are out of order. The last one around the bottom isn't doing much. The legs of this should be equal, should be 3 beads in 2 passes.

The eye was v-notched. I did the root pass, then the bottom, then the top. When I was done I saw that I had some undercut on the bottom so I turned down the heat a little and did another pass at the bottom.

I don't understand what you mean by it being 3 beads in 2 passes. Can you clarify what I should have done differently?

I'm eager to get better.

Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk

 

[sberry]

The plate didn't need a V, this is a fillet weld. The first pass is a pass, the second would be 2 beads to make a pass or another layer of weld. I don't think I have a pic, maybe I run one for here.
I think it is plenty strong.

 

[sberry]

Ok, had my brother run some, old rod stubs. Cam pic upsides down, let me see if I can fix. Ok, some better. Each bead has a different rod angle. Using a larger electrode would help, just old junk.

 

[lakeroadster]

The eye was v-notched. I did the root pass, then the bottom, then the top.

A good weld prep is always a good idea.

 

[TheMadMech]

One thing I did was picked up the Audel Pipefitter and Welders Pocketbook to get me some more info. It should arrive today or Monday

Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk

 

[trackwelder]

Sberry is correct no need to bevel, just needed a standard fillet weld. Keep working at it.

 

[sberry]

You are doing well in the fact it's consistent and not full of holes.

 

[CNGsaves]

Terrific welding guru on YouTube is the channel . . .
. . . Welding Tips and Tricks.

You'll start watching and get stuck at the computer the whole weekend. He is very good teacher and awesome welder.

There's also good forum just for welding at www.WeldingWeb.com
Whole slew of welders there and some cross-over as members on GJ.

"Keep the puddle moving" as the guy always says on Welding Tips !!