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Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:35 am

Ever finish a weld only to say, wow! How did that end up so pretty?! Well, I made one of those tonight and thought it might be cool to have a thread of intense weld beads.

Here's mine:

You can see where the good bead is and where other wonky welds overlap it :lol:

Tue Nov 17, 2009 4:18 am

I felt pretty proud after welding this:

Tue Nov 17, 2009 5:08 am

I usedto work in a fabrication plant that made bridge components. Those old union welders could lay a bead 75 feet long that was damn near perfect every time. I have trouble getting one to look good for over an inch :roll:

Tue Nov 17, 2009 7:43 am

i'm just finishing up a basic overall welding class at the local tech college. i wanted to improve my skill and learn TIG and a few other processes. here's some recent things all done with MIG, .035 wire, argon/CO2:

triangular box, water tight, 1/4" plate steel:

3/8" flat stock to 5/8" i.d. pipe:

1/2" flat stock to 1/2" flat stock, V notched corner joint, one pass:

replication of a factory tool:

Tue Nov 17, 2009 7:50 am

hazetguy wrote:

3/8" flat stock to 5/8" i.d. pipe:

I can't look at this picture and not imagine some downtube-less bike frame with a weird seat tube, rear triangle and dropouts just off screen. Like an old slingshot frame or something.

Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:10 am

I wish I could operate a TIG welder. That is some skill.

Tue Nov 17, 2009 12:15 pm

The Sage wrote: I wish I could operate a TIG welder. That is some skill.

X2. I've played with them a few times and I feel like I'm all thumbs.

Tue Nov 17, 2009 12:47 pm

TIG is not too different than welding with acetylene. Just a different source of heat.

Tue Nov 17, 2009 1:00 pm

mattcuddy wrote: hazetguy wrote:

3/8" flat stock to 5/8" i.d. pipe:

I can't look at this picture and not imagine some downtube-less bike frame with a weird seat tube, rear triangle and dropouts just off screen. Like an old slingshot frame or something.

That bead looks like a hot dog. :shock:

Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:08 pm

From her crotch to her forehead... but I can't show a pic! :lol: :wink:

Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:10 pm

keifernet wrote: From her crotch to her forehead... but I can't show a pic! :lol: :wink:

:lol:

Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:51 pm

One of my home made beam mounts for my '56's front beam when I was narrowing it.

Tue Nov 17, 2009 3:06 pm

Man, you guys are getting me antsy to up my power to my shop. It is only servered by a 50 amp breaker, and that is not enough to run the stick welder I bought.
Wiring is 100 amp, but the breaker is only 50.

Tue Nov 17, 2009 3:26 pm

Just do like I do:

My uncle was a pipeline welder for 25 years. One of those guys who doesn't believe in fancy stuff like auto-darkening hoods, etc. Just uses the force. Lays a perfect bead every time.

I have him weld up all my stuff and then I take credit for it when he's not around!

:wink:

Tue Nov 17, 2009 5:12 pm

looks good guys =D> now lets move on to sheetmetal :wink:

Tue Nov 17, 2009 5:16 pm

The Sage wrote: I wish I could operate a TIG welder. That is some skill.

If you want to learn to TIG, start with some stainless butt welds without any filler. Once you get the hang of watching the puddle, pick up the filler rod and start using both hands. Stainless is the most forgiving for a newby. Later on try welding the cooling fins back on the aluminum head. :roll: I still use my OOO tipped Victor torch on sheet metal from time to time. It's an old dog/new trick kind of thing. It is good to see there are still people that want to learn the skills that are involved in hand welding. We get kids coming out of school that go from the tack table directly to the computer to program the robot for the full weld. They couldn't run a vertical up with 7018 for any amount of money.

Tue Nov 17, 2009 5:24 pm

Iowa Mark wrote: . They couldn't run a vertical up with 7018 for any amount of money.

oh the good ole days...

Fri Nov 20, 2009 1:35 am

Most of my welds look like metal turds. :lol:

But I remember awhile ago welding a type3 cooling fan to its hub, a full circle, and when it was done it looked abso-f'n-lutely perfect.

Nice, even, symetrical bead with apparently good penetration and I couldn't tell where I'd started or finished. Guess I should've taken some pics.

Now I should take some classes and get some skills so I can be consistent.

Fri Nov 20, 2009 1:41 am

keifernet wrote: From her crotch to her forehead... but I can't show a pic! :lol: :wink:

LMAO!!!!!!!

Skillz!

Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:04 pm

I'm not a pro. I'm self taught. I love welding and My miller 210.

3/4" roof rack tubing.

I picked up a TIG machine off CL awhile back. I'm having a tough time getting the hang of it. Here is the best I ever did with that machine.