More Patch Panel Video, real time this time Options

[McMark]

Came down with a cold after my last video, so I was out of the shop for a couple days. Back at it today and made the promised 'real time' video of welding and grinding.

Ask any questions you have about the process.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5YEjjqgF_k

[McMark]

Definitely all spot welds. Each new spot weld is targeted on the edge of the last one. Basically 50% overlap from one weld to the next. I do it really quickly because I have 10+ years of muscle memory-- so my fingers and hands know exactly how far to move the gun/nozzle after each weld, and as I go along my subconscious is evaluating how the last tach weld went and what adjustments I need to make. For example, if I run into a bit of thin metal, it can blow through, so I instantaneously change from the normal stacking of tack welds to make a few smaller tacks to build up material in the 'weak' area and then a slightly larger tack to close everything up -- larger because the added material increases the thermal mass and it takes a bit more 'dwell' to heat up the thicker material. But all that is happening in less than a second. If you're starting out, your pace will/should NOT be as fast as mine.

Also, I run my welder at full heat and mid feed speed. I like my tack welds to go in hot and fast. Adjust the feed speed to minimize grinding as much as possible, while throwing enough material at it to build a nice tack weld. This will differ depending on your welder. The one I use most is an old Lincoln WeldPak 100, so full power on that is no where near full power on a 220v MIG.

[worn]

Yeah, sounds familiar. It's just that you are much better at it. I have at times blown through and ended up tacking weld in a circle around the thin spot to make enough metal to build on. That often leads to cutting up the cardboard around a case of coke. They make great patch patterns. I used to have an old box where I tossed the old patterns in as souvenirs. Of course what beverage leads to the patch pattern depends on the user. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

starting to snow here.