Old timer told me my welds were too 'cold' and it finally clicked

I was laying down beads on a 3/8 inch plate at the Evansville shop and this retired guy walks by, says I'm running my machine too low. He showed me his puddle compared to mine, night and day difference. Cranked my Lincoln up to 180 amps and the penetration was way better. Anybody else get a tip from an older hand that totally flipped how you work?

2 comments

2 Comments

janaw113d ago

Cold" welds are a real trap for new guys man. That old timer nailed it. Its not just about the amp number either, its about watching that puddle wet out and flow into the edges. I had a similar thing happen to me with a 7018 rod where a guy told me to watch the slag curl behind it, if its curling slow you're too cold, if its curling fast you're too hot or traveling wrong. That visual cue changed everything for me. You gotta get that puddle to wash into the base metal like butter, not just sit on top like a booger.

wren_thomas163d ago

Isnt it wild how something as simple as watching the slag curl can make or break a weld? I had a buddy show me that trick with a 6010 rod on some rusty pipe, and it was like a light bulb went off. If the slag was balling up and falling off in chunks I knew I was cooking it too hot, but when it peeled back smooth and left that nice bead shape I knew I was in the zone. Once you start paying attention to those little details it just clicks.