[TheForge] RE: Welding

[John Husvar]

On Dec 15, 2005, at 11:43 PM, frosty at customcpu.com wrote:

> How have I've maligned 7018?

Well, I didn't read it that way, but it could have been, I suppose.  
Anyway, I agree. It's good stuff, even in the 3/32 size for thinner  
stock. It just takes some practice to get proficient with it.

> I wasn't speaking of accomplished welders. An accomplished welder  
> doesn't cold
> lap a weld, or overamp, undercut, etc. either.

Well, most of the time. :)

I had a rash of footrests come in from one of the largest and  
probably the oldest still operating wheelchair manufacturer. Some of  
the prettiest Lawyer's Welds you ever saw; they were absolutely  
beautiful, on the side where they penetrated. I ended up sending back  
several pairs of footrests. (Fortunately _only_ footrests) All had  
badly welded right ones that fell off within days of delivery to  
users. Talk about your bad advertising! I wonder: Do they start their  
new hires on right-side footrests? :)

Since this company claims to hire only experienced personnel, and I  
have no reason to doubt it -- or didn't anyway -- even the top guns  
can have a bad day with MIG. :)

> Sure the beginner can cold lap a weld with other rods but I've  
> found mig to be
> the worst with 7018 maybe second or third for poor welds that look  
> good. It's
> not the rod's fault poor or inexperienced welders misuse it. As for  
> singling
> out 7018 I suppose it is unfair but I haven't used all that many  
> different
> rods.

<chuckle> Other than restarting it after tacking or making short  
stitches if it cools, it's fine rod to work with. I usually just  
scratch it across some concrete or an unconnected piece of stock for  
that.

Even a minimal weave, as long as it's consistent, will produce good  
looking, strong welds. You can darn near just drag it back and forth  
across a butt joint at the correct amperage. Fillets are another  
story and overhead can be painful if you're not careful. :)

> Now that I think of it the knotheads I used to work with insisted  
> on using
> Super Missle weld on everything till I finally hid it. In just what  
> universe
> does someone need 140,000psi SS rod on mild steel?

In the Super Missile X-Box Alternative Universe, right down the  
street from D&D World?

For throwing Super Missiles off equipment blades? Didn't you repair  
graders and snowplows, etc? They can produce some pretty fair, if not  
Super, missiles.

> Anyway, 7018 is my hands down personal favorite rod. I've burned  
> more of it
> than all the other rods put together except perhaps Lincore-50  
> hardfacing wire.

I like it too. My wife, on the other hand, doesn't especially like  
the odor if I put a pound or two in the oven for a few hours. 7018:  
Bake at 350 for 2 hours before serving. :)

Gotta build me a rod furnace one of these days!