Bird Crap Welds...

[Rot Box]

I weld a lot at work (mostly Tig), and my welds must be close to perfect because I work in a food industry. Basically you could say I'm pretty good at welding, and I know the importance of good prep work...

But can anyone tell me why my welds look like bird crap every time I weld something cool onto my Pickup???? Like tonight I just finished welding on my sweet new Marlin rear bumper, and the welds look like CRAP!!! mabey I just get excited :sick:

Anyone else know where I'm coming from???

 

[Rot Box]

Yeah now that I think about it I sounded like I was asking a question...

I meant to say: I only weld good when people don't have to see it or it's not important

 

[Tacoma]

Suuuuuuure you do.

 

[78mitsu]

post some pix, help to see what they look like you're useing a mig?

 

[Kris K]

If it helps any my welds look like a wod of gum.

 

[Meat_]

...But can anyone tell me why my welds look like bird crap every time I weld something cool onto my Pickup????...

Your welder sucks?

 

[Rot Box]

I'm starting to think that it's the brand new USA steel being welded to a 30+ year old Japanese frame...

Or the welder sucks... Shoulda used my Miller

BTW: I've doing a promotion for Miller Lockers they are far better than Lincoln Lockers. $100ea while supplies last...

 

[RockMonkey]

Maybe you're forced to weld out of position on your truck (upside-down, vertically, etc...), when you're used to welding in an easier position? Or your welder sucks. I have found that different welders weld differently. I can make decent welds with one machine, and then make crappy welds with another machine until I get used to it, and then I go back to the first machine and my welds are crappy until I get used to it again.

As Bart would say: Different welders work on different rigs differently.

 

[Milner]

I have also had some crappy wire before....4 different people tried it before I through it away, but not before I did most of my 4 link brackets
Put a new spool in and it was back to normal.
Leason: never buy welding wire at NPS.

 

[mbryson]

....... Leason: never buy welding wire at NPS.

I laugh with you....(for I have been there....I went back to flux core to get solid penetration)

 

[Rot Box]

Poor wire, bad position, wrong brand of welder, welding at 11:30 at night in the dark eek2: forgot to mention that), lack of experience, crappy metal. There are a lot of things that will make a poor weld.

Me? I'm just bad luck...

 

[notajeep]

I would have done it for you. And I live just down the block. :greg:

 

[Shawn]

Leason: never buy welding wire at NPS.

amen to that!!!

 

[rollover]

Sometimes those NPS bargains cost a lot!

 

[Utahcryogenics]

I do NDT work, and believe me not all crappy "looking" welds are bad, and not all amazing "looking" welds are good either!

I would say you summed it up in your last post.

Prep
Wire
Metal
Windy conditions in your work area
Dusty conditions in your work area
Drowsiness
Insufficient amperage
Incorrect wire speed for amperage used
Poor ground
Poor cables
User error



Yeah that sums it up

 

[Rot Box]

I know a guy that can make some pretty nasty welds. In one situation he was making an "ultra custom" hi-steer kit for his Toyota. As it turns out Cast does not weld to Cast very good expecially with a Mig welder....

Needless to say his steering has only broke on him about 4 times...


























And these people are alowed to have kids

 

[Utahcryogenics]

Yeah welding cast is not fun.

Believe it or not though, Vandall welded a truss to my 8.8 diff, and it heald for the life of the truck, and to the best of my knowledge it is still holding strong with no cracks, or inclusions. Pre and post heat is the key there, but its still no fun.

 

[mbryson]

.......And these people are alowed to have kids

but only in Trenton, right?

 

[notajeep]

There is that borther\sister exception in trenton.

 

[mbryson]

There is that borther\sister exception in trenton.

That's different than the Cove exception, though (as I type this in Hyde Park...)