Just because a weld looks good doesn't mean it is. Particularly with MiG and/or multipass welds. But chances are if it looks like crap, it's less than optimal. That doesn't mean it won't be adequate for a given application, but it's not as strong as it could or should be. If you do a lot of welding, you end up looking at the welds on just about everything you buy. And I can tell you, probably better than 90% of what's sold commercially, is not very good. I'm talking about things like name brand trailer hitches, truck boxes, etc. But even the good looking stuff can have problems. For example, a very nice TiG bead with a slight degree of undercut will weaken the weld considerably.
Yeah.... I work on aerial gear, scissor and boom lifts. If you were an operator of these, and could see the things I have seen when "certain" manufacturers units are damaged and you see what tore at the weld, you'd think twice about going up in one.
Those guys building planes are using chromoly. They either tig with some type of pre and post heat, or gas weld. But that's a whole other can of worms for another thread What to look for comes with experience. It's definitely possible to make a pretty weld that's weak, but chances are if you CAN make a pretty weld, you know what you're doing and are gonna do everything else right too. there are way too many factors to list. Joint prep, joint type, heat input, filler metal, base metal, material thickness, back purging technique, and then the obvious things like undercut and bead profile.....and many more. I guess I would say a tig weld with undercut isn't nice I mentioned this in another thread, I had a CWI with decades of experience tell me that he had NEVER had a tig weld that passed a visual exam(to asme/aws standards) fail a destructive test. Definitely Mig and stick are different stories! Your are right, even my wife is always checking out welds whenever we see them I'm always fixing chairs with cheap production welds for friends and family, half the time they don't even hit the joint! -Josh
The HAMB provides once again... guys, there is some serious tig work here. I can't believe the talent wrapped up in one place! While looking good is definitely important in this industry, symmetry is another thing that often gets overlooked. I know it's not important for anything other than aesthetics, but still... when we used to build a different type of front end here, I would weld the drivers side of the front end with the beads going one direction, then make sure they were going in the same direction on the passenger side. Often, that meant using my right hand for one side and my left for the other. Some people picked up on it, some didn't. At least I knew. Here's my humble contribution...
DW do you pulse your pedal when you weld? I thought I remembered you doing that in one of your welder series videos. If so do you find it is easier to control your weld that way?
Max Farrell's work (51gringo on the hamb) <img src=http://kustomfabrication.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/Welds008.jpg.w560h420.jpg> <img src=http://kustomfabrication.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/Welds001.jpg.w560h420.jpg> -Juan
WelderSeries, that is awesome. I have laid some pretty beads in my life, but those are really fine welds. Old grasshopper bows to the master.
yes and yes. I've always pulsed with a foot pedal. We have a machine that will auto pulse, but I never use it. Set the heat, then use the foot pedal for everything else. I suggest for those wanting to improve their tig welding to try drum lessons. I don't know which one's cheaper - drum lessons or welding lessons, but our experience with guys out of welding school is they weren't taught how to weld like we needed them to. Learning how to control three out of four limbs independently is crucial for tig welding and drumming. Any other drumming tig welders here?
Thanks That's funny I have played drums since I was about 12 years old. Never really connected the two.
MAN... i sure do MISS TIG welding. its hard leaving a shop that has EVERYTHING and going out and having to wait to BUY everything. soon enough... nice work guys!
Here's some from Kosman that I stole from the other JJ. Sure wish I had the skill and the eyes to weld like some of ya'll. Seems the older I get the worse my welding gets. Larry T
Thats why while welding... I tap my "free" foot along to the beat of the music, in 6/8 time or even 4/3... while blowing bubbles in my bazooka gum, all while telling my help what to do next
Wish I could say this was mine... TITANIUM part we have in the shop here... Pretty cool thread... Makes me want to get a TIG welder even sooner...
Keep 'em coming! I love welding porn There really is a ton of talent on this board, I get blown away every week checking out the friday art shows! -Josh
Nice stuff guys. Wow! Anyone want to elaborate on their setup (filler rod type and size, welder model, settings, what material and it's thickness)
Holy talent!! Amazing what skill and practice can do. I can barely cut straight. Hats of to you folks!
In my opinion. The guys that made vintage flat track frames were awesome welders.You rarely see a bad weld on any of the old frames. Some better than others. Sorry I don't have any of Terry Knight's welds to photo. He had some of the smallest, most uniformed of the bunch. Following are the works of Doug Schwerma:Champion Racing Frames, Ray Hensley:Trackmaster Frames, Ray Hensley: Sonic Weld, Lynn Kastan: Red Line, (?)Boss Frames Some of the other stuff above is very nice also, Zilla!
some awesome welds there , and i was happy when i did neat welds with the old miller thunderbolt 220 AC/DC stick welder lol
The Jalopy Journal
