Voyeurger
Well-Known Member
I'm practice welding things around the house before starting the critical welding on my Bearhawk.
Just used up (it wasn't wasted because I learned what DOESN'T work) 2 hours trying to weld up a steel bracket to a piece of .25 inch 2"X2" angle iron. The bracket is 3/16 plate. Knowing the angle would be a heat sink, I focused the flame there mostly. I could not get a puddle. Then, I cranked up the torch and could barely get a puddle with the tip about a 16th of an inch from the metal. The very weak puddle was kind of cratered by the gas pressure and there was no room to introduce the rod now. I melted some rod where I wanted to make the weld, but then, the gas jet was blowing so hard, it kept the filler from entering the tiny puddle when I did get one. Both pieces were ground shiny clean beforehand. All filler that did adhere came right off after quenching when I hammered the joint. I'm using a number 1 tip. Questions:
1) How long should it take for a puddle to form with the proper gear and flame?
2) If the area the flame is focused on turns black, will this "over carbonization" prevent a weld taking if not cleaned? (I corrected with more O2 as soon as I saw it)
3) Filler droplets appear to do everything BUT enter a puddle if pre-deposited. Is it mandatory that filler only be introduced to an active puddle?
4) How far from the work surface should I be able to keep the welding tip if I have a proper flame? How anyone can introduce rod through a 3/16 inch gap without touching tip or puddle is way beyond me.
5) With the proper flame, should I hear a hiss or a dull roar?
Thanks very much guys,
Gary
Just used up (it wasn't wasted because I learned what DOESN'T work) 2 hours trying to weld up a steel bracket to a piece of .25 inch 2"X2" angle iron. The bracket is 3/16 plate. Knowing the angle would be a heat sink, I focused the flame there mostly. I could not get a puddle. Then, I cranked up the torch and could barely get a puddle with the tip about a 16th of an inch from the metal. The very weak puddle was kind of cratered by the gas pressure and there was no room to introduce the rod now. I melted some rod where I wanted to make the weld, but then, the gas jet was blowing so hard, it kept the filler from entering the tiny puddle when I did get one. Both pieces were ground shiny clean beforehand. All filler that did adhere came right off after quenching when I hammered the joint. I'm using a number 1 tip. Questions:
1) How long should it take for a puddle to form with the proper gear and flame?
2) If the area the flame is focused on turns black, will this "over carbonization" prevent a weld taking if not cleaned? (I corrected with more O2 as soon as I saw it)
3) Filler droplets appear to do everything BUT enter a puddle if pre-deposited. Is it mandatory that filler only be introduced to an active puddle?
4) How far from the work surface should I be able to keep the welding tip if I have a proper flame? How anyone can introduce rod through a 3/16 inch gap without touching tip or puddle is way beyond me.
5) With the proper flame, should I hear a hiss or a dull roar?
Thanks very much guys,
Gary
