How do my welds look?

[WSSix]

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

[lzdick]

A 1000% better than my 'farm welds'.

[GregWeld]

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.

[WSSix]

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.

[GregWeld]

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!








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.

[coolwelder62]

I started using this and it work's great.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

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

[Build-It-Break-it]

Originally Posted by Vince@MSperfab

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

[MeanMike]

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.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by MeanMike

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