Ni Hao Oldman!!! ( Welding update )

[smokeshow]

So Since I last posted about my welding experiences, trials and tribulations...

I took tests for GTAW (TIG) 2G (horizontal) passed one and then, it began.. LOL... I took several test more.. and several more.. and some more.. LOL... no really, I took quite a few tests in this position, all the while getting tears down the center of the weld.. (if a weld is no good it will tear on the edges from lack of fusion, when it tears down the center there a few possible things that can cause it but usually it is the weld below it that is not good) that being said, I took around 10 test with instructors watching every weld and inspecting it bead by bead. And yet, I conitued to fail. Not a clue as to truly why. (Honest opinion, budget cuts and we got contaminated metal to use.. and cheaper tungsten) So after several of these tests, they moved me on to 3G (Vertical) and I passed it in two test plates. Which is the absolute best possible. (because you have to pass two tests in order to pass that position) Moved on to 4G welded up a piece of angle for practice and cut it in half to inspect how well the beads were tying in, and I had only two pin holes.

So after finishing that up, I decide to practice some stainless (which is what I will have to weld next) well I took some pics of my first two beads of stainless EVER!!! LOL... but in all seriousness I think they turned out ok...


First Bead EVER in stainless...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/Smokeshow/Stainless/100_5271.jpg

Side View
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/Smokeshow/Stainless/100_5274.jpg

Color (the tint of stainless with proper gas shielding)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/Smokeshow/Stainless/100_5278.jpg
Can't really see in that picture for some reason, but it has that "bluish/purple gold" tint


Second Bead Ever In Stainless..

Front
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/Smokeshow/Stainless/100_5272.jpg

Side
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/Smokeshow/Stainless/100_5275.jpg

Color..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/Smokeshow/Stainless/100_5277.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/Smokeshow/Stainless/100_5279.jpg

[OldMan]

Rock out Smoke!!!

Those look really good... I wish you were here. I could use that help on a floor board.... :(

[Frankie Figs]

Those welds are hawt :naughty:

[MiDiablo]

Lookin' good Big Smoke! Keep on truckin bro, and you'll be building me some turbo manifolds before you know it :crack:

[$hawn]

looks good! us here in he real world never get to weld shiny new metal like that :(

[smokeshow]

Shawn, I will post a pic of the bottom side of it for ya...

[smokeshow]

Here is a pic to kind of give you an idea of the size of the bead.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/Smokeshow/Stainless/100_5280.jpg

Here is the bottom side... ( sorry for the poor pic )
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/Smokeshow/Stainless/100_5283.jpg

Shawn,
Brett and I talked this morning about it, and metal prep is one of the keys in TIG and MIG welding.. The cleaner the metal the better the finish. ( kind of like paint work, the more prep work, the better the finish work ) So to answer some questions, no metal comes looking nice unless you pay that price... LOL.. If you look close in the pics, you can see the sides or not shiny/polished like the rest...


JP,
I have been toying with a turbo 5.0 set-up in my mind the last couple of weeks... and a few other Tig'ged mustang parts...

Frank,
Thanks bro...

[DrDirt]

Looks good to me, Smoke! I can't put down a bead of bathtub caulk that looks that good.

[GNs-r-slow]

Very nice!!

[smokeshow]

Forgot... GTAW 308 3/32 1G

[95coBraSVT]

Looks good.

Re: your 2G tests: If you took the tests and failed in that position, and then took a lot more and failed in that position, then changed positions and passed, then you failed the 2G position test. It was you, not the metal. I hate to be a stick in the mud, but it's reality. Also, you chose the metal out of the bin, and you prepped the metal. So the only person to blame is...yourself. Sorry :( I had similar problems with E6010, but I finally got it, and you will too. When you figure out the problem, you will think "Man...Why didn't I think of that before!?"

As $hawn mentioned, in the real world, you never get nice shiney metal like that. If you try to take the time necissary to prep that nice, MOST places will fire you for taking too long. They will like that you lay a nice bead, but if you take too long on prep, they will fire you. All you have to do is wire wheel it a bit, and zap it together. Cert tests are different. For those, you take as much time as necissary to prep. No-one will fire you for it on a cert test.

So in conclusion, keep it up. You're becoming almost as good as me. :) LOL Hopefully you'll be better than me. Look into the ironworkers union now though. Welding is one of those jobs that will almost always be in demand SOMEWHERE, but union jobs always pay more. LOTS more.




P.S. I didn't know you spoke Mandrin. ;)

[smokeshow]

Actually, I have considered that many of times... trust me I always blame myself first... I just would of thought three instructors would notice something... Honestly, the best thing I can think of is that my root pass is not fully penetrating and then tearing.. therefore showing up later??? So I have thought of not walking the cup, but have yet to try that. Side note, the instructor now picks the metal for us, and which piece gets bent which direction. And you are right, I will not have that much time to prep, and in which I would only prep a smaller area slightly bigger than the desired bead. But I truly don't know if it is just me or contamination, because we have to grind our tungsten on the same wheel that they use to bevel some pieces...

Anyways, thanks for that input/complements... and constructive criticism is a plus to me... it shows that I am improving but yet still have room to get better....

Side note, I learned it from a CD that Lil' Smoke got from Chic-fil-a... we also have a russian one...

[351coupe]

Looks killer Doug!!!Ready to do my turbo headers yet?How bout my cromoly cage?;)

[MiDiablo]

Hey, get in line for your turbo headers :poon:

[OldMan]

Side note, I learned it from a CD that Lil' Smoke got from Chic-fil-a... we also have a russian one...

:-o

Ruskie!!!! :nerd:


Bring it! :lol:

[Adrenalin]

Kickass! looks like some badass welds to me!

[95coBraSVT]

<- worked for a few chinese speakers. Thats how I learned what I know in Chinese. The Japanese....well...look at my sig and it SHOULD be apparent. :)

[smokeshow]

Turbo headers require a "said" turbo header welding machine. Now if you guys want to pitch in together and start the Help Smoke Get A Welder Foundation. We can add pay pal to my name and start it up... LOL... But I would gladly weld/fabricate stuff for friends/family... others have to pay the normal price... if not an inflated price... LOL

[$hawn]

we can make you a jig outta some 2x4s :mullet:

[smokeshow]

I would also need a blueprint or schematic of some sort.. or even pictures... if that is how you would like to tackle it.. we mght could work something out...