What makes a weld job a quality weld job?

RM2 · 09-02-2002, 08:28 AM

If you want to weld whatever needs welded then it comes down to practice and prep. Depending on the person you can be running good strong welds within a day easy. The problem is there are other people out there that cant get the hang of welding to save there life. The other problem is a forum is not a good place to try and help someone learn how to weld, but I love a challenge. In my opinion welding is about 90% prep and 10% skill when you get ready to weld something clean it. I dont mean a quick wire hand brush to nock of a little rust and dirt I mean grinding wheels then wire wheels. Where you are going to weld should shine,you dont want any of the previous paint or coatings on the metal (just bare metal). Try as hard as you can to eliminate any jagged edges all smooth edges will make a more uniform weld. Even more important than that is to eliminate all gaps in metal or where the two pieces are going to join to be welded. A large gap between two pieces that are going to be welded will be weak and try to burn away on you while your welding. Now get some spare meatal of different sizes and start trying to weld. Go real slow and easy get the arc started and learn to control it. When the arc has been started, move it forward slowly. Here is a trick you have to set your heat hot enough to stay burnning but cool enough to not burn through when you try to move forward slowly! So practice getting the heat right. This should be enough to get an idea of what your after. I'm telling you clean the heck out of it and take your sweat time. Oh if it looks like crud the first time grind it out clean it up and try again.

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09-02-2002, 08:28 AM	#6
RM2 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 4	If you want to weld whatever needs welded then it comes down to practice and prep. Depending on the person you can be running good strong welds within a day easy. The problem is there are other people out there that cant get the hang of welding to save there life. The other problem is a forum is not a good place to try and help someone learn how to weld, but I love a challenge. In my opinion welding is about 90% prep and 10% skill when you get ready to weld something clean it. I dont mean a quick wire hand brush to nock of a little rust and dirt I mean grinding wheels then wire wheels. Where you are going to weld should shine,you dont want any of the previous paint or coatings on the metal (just bare metal). Try as hard as you can to eliminate any jagged edges all smooth edges will make a more uniform weld. Even more important than that is to eliminate all gaps in metal or where the two pieces are going to join to be welded. A large gap between two pieces that are going to be welded will be weak and try to burn away on you while your welding. Now get some spare meatal of different sizes and start trying to weld. Go real slow and easy get the arc started and learn to control it. When the arc has been started, move it forward slowly. Here is a trick you have to set your heat hot enough to stay burnning but cool enough to not burn through when you try to move forward slowly! So practice getting the heat right. This should be enough to get an idea of what your after. I'm telling you clean the heck out of it and take your sweat time. Oh if it looks like crud the first time grind it out clean it up and try again.