How do my welds look?
 

Just finished welding in my coil over bracket. I'm happy with the way the welds turned out for the most part. Especially, the top part as I had to bridge a big gap to get that weld done. I feel I'm definitely getting better. I just wanted to have others with more experience take a look. Should I try to make the welds smaller in the vertical portion on the passenger side where the bracket meets the UCA mount? It's 3/16 thick that is being welded. Also, any suggestions on further reducing splatter? I've turned wire speed down some. Not sure I want to go slower. Do those splatter sprays work? The nozzle dip I have works well on the nozzle.

Thanks

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Trey, they look good. Are you using gas?

Yes, Co2/Ar. 0.030 wire, too. Not sure if that has any effect on the splatter though. Thanks Scott.

I've found with my Miller, that the more gas pressure I'm sending out through the gun head, the less splatter I see, and overall prettier finish on my welds. Try turning the gas up a little on a practice bead. Then turn it equally down the other other way, and see if you can tell a difference. I turn mine WAY up, but I get my tanks flipped for free.

What CFH's is way up?

Looks pretty good I wouldn't worry about it.. Spatter is no big deal really. May indicate a setting being off a little, but it doesnt look to be much of a problem.

What size welder were you using? 220v?

It's a Hobart 140 which is their biggest 110v unit. It's rated up to 1/4. My biggest concern with the splatter is looks. You can't see it in the pictures well, but I have a lot of splatter built up in the corners I can't get out. It's just kind of annoying.

Thanks guys.

Trey overall they look like they have enough penetration to be reliable. Ideally maybe a little more heat. That can be power setting, wire speed, gun angle or hold off distance.

Fact is MIG splatter happens. Use a small cold chisel to remove the splatter.

^^^^ What Sieg said plus what amp braker are you on, or how much service is coming in to your shop? If it's only 110v and there are other things on that circuit it could effect the power your getting to the welder. You want nice clean power, nothing else on that circuit.

Other wise they look good!

One other thing, make sure your metal is as clean as you can get it. I've had splatter caused by a puddle "popping" while welding because I missed a spot.

Thanks guys. I got good heat through the metal evidenced by the paint on the back side burning off. With this welder I have rarely gotten a good, obvious blue heat area to show itself on the same side as the weld. I also had already taken a wire brush to these welds before taking the pictures. I can try making adjustments to my technique and the welder if it's important that I get a good heat area on the same side as the weld.

I also was moving very slowly around the piece. It took me a few hours over two days to weld everything. I wanted to make sure the UCA mount didn't warp or move since that was a question that was raised when Gerno was having so much trouble getting his alignment into spec. I'm using the same Speed Tech arms and my coil over bracket is similar. Before and after measurements were the same. I think I might try to move a little faster on the passenger side, but I honestly don't care if I do or not. I've got time.

Thanks guys

A 1000% better than my 'farm welds'.

Trey -- If you don't like spatter - there are several anti spatter sprays on the market.


There are pump sprays and aerosol cans.... I personally use Walters... but they all do the same thing basically.

Thanks, Greg. I noticed that my nozzle dip worked great to keep splatter from sticking if it managed to flow out onto the pieces, too. My next fabrication phase will be the headers and exhaust. I'll try out some sprays there.

Just a "thought" to anyone reading this -- because Trey -- your welds do "look" good. Looks aren't everything when it comes to welding.

I would urge anyone that's not a certified welder - meaning they've passed the tests - to weld up some similar gauge material and then cut them thru the weld (perpendicular or a cross section) and see what that weld really looks like.

Look at this weld -- looks nice -- but the cross section shows NO penetration! Oops!



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My point here is not about what Trey's welding looks like - because it looks good... my point is do you really know what your welding REALLY looks like and are you confident that your technique and set up is solid? You'll have confidence - or know you need to do a little more learning - by cutting your welds (test pieces!) and examining them. Look for porosity and penetration. Most of you guys won't have a press with a pressure gauge so you're not going to be able to do a tensile strength (yield to failure) test.

I started using this and it work's great.

great point greg.....by the way, googling good penetration will NOT be what you think it is.

:lmao:

Your welds look good. The fix for spatter is practice. The sprays help, you can use PAM cooking spray also. But, playing with your welder and burning wire will help more. You can get the spatter down with method and settings.

I tried all the recommendations out there for welder setting for my aluminum tig work and nothing got me results like I see from pros. Practice and a few lbs. of filler rod did more than changing settings. I found my torch angle was my biggest problem. Weld a bit, change something, see if it works and either go back or try something else.

Fit of your joints is just as important as your welding. Filling gaps will never look as good as a bead across a tight fitting joint. That's also a practice thing.

You lose you're man card for that kind of recommendation. LOL

Thanks guys. I do appreciate the feedback and your warning, Vince :poke: :D

That's a very good recommendation about cutting through the welds to inspect them, Greg. I'll get on that while I wait for the next round of work to start on the TA.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Don't cut up your work! Just lay some practice metal out and cut that up... LOL


When you take welding classes - that's what they do. Cut thru them and also put them in a bend test. Shocking how many you think you did just fine on and the things fail before they get 1/3 of the way into it.

Great advice, and info here. For anybody interested, there are classes available to most people locally, taught by certified instructors, to make sure you end up with a safe, and quality minded project. Your never too old to go back to school!
Shoot, I'm 42, and finished my degree this year.

right, took me 6 years for the guys to forget about the Easy off oven cleaner in my cabinet and the KY in my latex glove drawer...... don't ask.

I have a friend that keeps a couple blue latex gloves, duct tape and zip ties in the trunk of his car... in case he ever breaks down and has to change a tire or do a road side repair... I had to point out to him how creepy that actually appeared.