Hey guys, this is my first post on the forum. I’ve been self teaching myself to weld for close to the past six months now. 7018 uphill is whooping my tail right now, I’ve just now really tried to dial in on working on this. Any tips would be appreciated. I’m going around dead nuts 90 degree rod angle (5-10 degrees up at most) and running 1/8 electrode at 115 amps. I’m trying to hold the sides and go quick across the middle. I know I need to do a better job cleaning up the slag. Just wanted to get some critics and pointers. I know I need to be more consistent holding my sides to avoid undercut, and I have a long way to go. I’d just like to get a flat consistent bead.
Thanks
Also you'll have to choose, you say you're practicing stringers but doing movements for a weave?
Stringers practice should be without a weave, in my opinion.
Some people still count a weave as a stringer if the weave is tight enough, but that's a lot of extra motion that isn't needed (again just my opinion).
Dave J.
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Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Well I’m attempting to do a slight manipulation side to side around 2x the diameter of the electrode but it’s not working out. I’m still getting built up metal in the middle and not holding the sides consistently and getting undercut. Would I be better off just focusing on no manipulation, tight arc length, with consistent travel speed?
Well I’m attempting to do a slight manipulation side to side around 2x the diameter of the electrode but it’s not working out. I’m still getting built up metal in the middle and not holding the sides consistently and getting undercut. Would I be better off just focusing on no manipulation, tight arc length, with consistent travel speed?
Yes, Turn your heat down a bit and try to just build up on your shelf. You want to just keep pushing the puddle up. A very slight up whip (SLIGHT) will help the puddle solidify, but don't let it interfere with fusion to the bottom of the groove.
As has been stated. Turn the heat down a little. I personally always run my uphill stringers with a little upward angle on the rod. Not 90* to the work. Tight arc and a steady push up. Too slow and it will blob or belly out on you. Too fast and you’ll have undercut.
With the weave you’re trying I’ll bet just bringing amps down to ~90 May net you a better result along with a slightly slower upward travel and more movement side to side.
125+ amps with a 1/8" 7018 rod is too hot (for me) for vertical up. Especially on 3/8" thick plate or less. On a 6" long vertical weld, you will start having digging or blow out problems when your 3/4 of the way up the plate, if your machine is set too hot. It's easier if you have a fillet weld to do vertical stringers on. A T joint or a heavy piece of angle iron will help you see and watch your weld toes.
My vertical up stringers with 7018 have a slight oscillating motion to them.
Jason
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tighten up your arc. those spots where the puddle is falling out, you are probably long arcing, even though you may not realize it. You're not doing too terrible though.
Only time I use 1/8 for uphill is when there's enough material to act as a good heatsink, otherwise it gets out of hand, and I wind up burning through.
I tend to weld pretty slow, and 1/8 only works for me on thick stuff. I'm not good enough to run the bigger rod on relatively thin stuff.
It looks to me like your dragging the rod across the whole weld instead of hopping across it and pausing just long enough on each side to tie in..... and then continue to Z your way up. Plus you coupon is getting hotter and hotter with each pass so you'll have to adjust the heat to compensate.
This. Hop across the middle and shorten the arc as you pause on the sides. It helps me to mentally play music in my head to get a perfect rhythym going, which is essential for smooth, consistent deposit.
Hi, I could never get uphill to work at all. Then I got an inverter welder where the amps can be adjusted
almost one at a time. And I finally managed to do a reasonable bead. The amps and rod size and metal thickness
must all match and it will fall into place. I spent years frustration trying to get it with my big oil filled AC transformer
with a 20amp gap between each setting
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WeldingWeb Apprentice
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Originally Posted by AgDawg15
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I tend to weld pretty slow, and 1/8 only works for me on thick stuff. I'm not good enough to run the bigger rod on relatively thin stuff.
