ok correction, the mild steel stick rods i have are 1.5mm
here's how tdays test went
hacksawed afew sections from me 60mm dia 2mm thick mild steel pipe in garage
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first tested penetration at welder setting for 1.7mm
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then at 1.5mm setting, good even penetration
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tacked two pieces
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lay down first 2cm run, goes real good, or beginners luck?
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continued laying short beads to get this and then at the last moment it burns through.
i found if i move along too slow or weld longer than 2cm, heat & metal will build up on the other side and gravity pulls the heavier blob through.
too fast and it looks splotched with no penetration.
if there's a gap between the two pipes the molton blob is likely to drop through
if the gap between the pipe is perfect n tight, its more likely to achieve a good weld shown above.
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prolonged heat is making it burn through and need a more consistant heat management technique.
so i tacked the next piece and continued tacking it in 1/2sec pulses to keep heat low (push in to weld a blob, release to cool and move to next spot, repeat)
much more consistant and not too much penetrating blob on the other side
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continued tacking till all the gaps r filled
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grinded flat
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painted and it looks seamless. tested join by wacking with hammer and its solid(Y)
found my ideal technique
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