With regard to amperage and down hill welding. This depends on the thickness of your metal. In general, you want to weld very cold for thin metal. 60/10s and 70/10s require less amperage to strike and hold an arc. So practice on a similar thickness metal to be sure you can hold an arc and make a quality weld. All machines are different in terms of actual amperage output. Start low (60 to 70 range) and work your way up if needed.

 

quick fix
used hf core wire

 

3 months of learning on my own I think I'm getting somewhere with it

 

Needs more heat. Did you bevel the edges before you welded?

Snagged a new hood today. Coworker wanted the newest one so I got this old work horse for $100. All new internals, lenses, hard hat attachment, etc. Going to teach the wife how to weld this weekend now that I have two hoods. Might have to get her to help build a new rear bumper and swing out tire carrier.


Already yanked the stickers, it's going to get painted most likely.

 

Welds aint gotta be pretty, they just gotta work. Lol

 

Haha exactly!
I need to get a new hood. I've been using an old set lens which makes it's a shot in the dark when laying on the ground lol

 

Ordered some tips for my Oxy Acetylene torch, 0, 1, and 2 and a Smith Gas Saver. I plan on welding some 18 gauge together using one of the tips. I will need to practice to figure out which one will work the best. I need to butt weld some sheet metal and only have a Mig and Oxy and the Oxy is better for that if you have to do some shaping after.

Cheapest I found the Smith was at Weldingsupply.com

 

The smaller the tip the better for sheet metal, less orifice = less heat

 

Also make sure the psi for both acetylene and oxygen are the same, to obtain a neutral flame, instead of oxidizing flame.

 

C'mon people. Post up pictures of your welds
Or even projects.

 

Hopefully you'll be seeing some from me soon. Amazon has a deal on a hobart 140 reconditioned unit for $400 so I think I'll be buying it tomorrow

 

Started my cart today






Its a good start, still have a ways to go! Excuse the mess, I was in a hurry to snap a pic before work.

 

My first welding project will be a welding table. Going to have a 1/2" thick top. Actually my first project will be the scrap pieces I picked up to practice welding on.

 

Put up some welding blankets to protect stuff, need one more section.



Made a little more progress today, I had to run get steel for my upcoming table so I didn't do much.

 

Check out how good of a welder my PO was..