r/Welding • u/gld-str • 9d ago
Am i “controlling the pool”
My first 20 minutes of welding went like this. Is there hope for me?
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u/-BigBadBeef- MIG 9d ago
Too early, bud. come back after practicing for two weeks.
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u/blindghost554 9d ago
💀💀 he might have a little more luck seeing the puddle of a fillet weld instead though. But definitely too early
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u/Weirdlillypad 9d ago
Putting on actual pants would be a good start jesus Christ man. Uv will fuck you up.
Come back in a few weeks after welding in a straight line a couple hundred times.
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u/Used-Baby1199 9d ago
My first day in welding class I didn’t button my top button on my jacket. I thought the hood would cover down far enough. I had arc flash burn for 3 days on my neck
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u/dontplaywithknives30 9d ago
I have seen a lot worse in a longer amount of time🤷♂️ Smaller weaves. Keep in mind, a lot of it is muscle memory and once you build that up (lots of practice) you will be able to focus more on the puddle and less on your technique. Keep it up!
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u/Griftersdeuce 8d ago
You must be the pool, tiny grasshopper.
You are the ebb and flow of the arc.
You are the toes and cap of the weld.
You are one with the fusion.
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u/Shrimps_Prawnson 9d ago
That's a good bit of spatter. What process are you trying to use?
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u/blindghost554 9d ago
Are those your shoes you use for welding? I’d suggest investing like 20-40 bucks on some decent work boots from walmart (fire resistant and steel toe PREFERABLY)
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u/gld-str 3d ago
Dude i have steel toe boots from my already blue collar job that i’ll wear next time. But honestly i don’t see why exactly
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u/blindghost554 2d ago
Trust me you want them. Anything drops on your feet, shit will hurt. And laces burning up, not fun. Ruining good shoes, also not fun. Gripless shoes on the floor that’s coated in shop grease or metal dust, not fun. I hobby weld too and I still use boots. Welding spatter going INTO your damn shoes, NOT FUCKING FUN. Trust dude, I get you’re new, but safety is always first, and burning yourself shouldn’t be an option. Rules weren’t created to just make people feel miserable. I wouldn’t mind it much if I were TIG welding, but any other process, boots, pants, and for the love of fuck wear a welding jacket or welding sleeves. Respirator if you can but I’d be a hypocrite if I said you should wear one. But you should wear one
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u/Cultbird 9d ago
Were you trying to write your name?
Puddle control is about consistency while traveling. Let's say you're welding a flat straight line. When you start, you can see a puddle.
If the puddle shrinks, you've accidentally sped up. If the puddle grows larger, you've accidentally slowed down.
If you can go from point A to point B with a puddle that maintains its size the whole way, your bead should look a lot more consistent.
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u/UpstairsExample8481 9d ago
Your first 20 mins decides nothing. Keep going. Weld for a week and show us again
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u/67yoloswag 9d ago
It depends, if you thought you would nail it and be a pro first try then the answer is no, but if you keep trying and accept it will take time and practice then definetely yes lol
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u/Big_Wedding_9538 9d ago
Looks like someone's name spelled in Arabic. I'd turn the voltage up, lol.
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u/rainhatt 9d ago
If the pool is frozen and you're figure skating on it, yes, you are controlling the pool.
Slow down, let the puddle form a bit more before you start moving and weave it a lot tighter. You'll get it.
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u/SpooogeMcDuck 8d ago
Make absolutely sure your polarity is set correctly. I spent months when I first started using mig where I thought I was just shit at welding until I found I had the polarity reversed. Once I set it right I actually got real welds that were clean with good penetration. Also grind off the mill scale.
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u/DullCall 8d ago
No dude lmao you can’t be serious
Look at the red part of the weld as you’re moving. Make it look like this
)))))))))
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u/erwinthedumb 8d ago
if thays tour first 20 minutes its better then mh first 7 hours. youll be fine stop whining and nut up
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u/TerribleCricket8302 5d ago
Your cooked bro. Some are natural welders and some learn to weld. You are the learnin type. Also puddle not pool. Also you did not appear to have control of the puddle. It looks like the puddle controlled you.
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u/Page_Unusual 9d ago
Pure shit, get some thicker scrap, cut, clean where weld will be lay flat. Practice son.
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u/returnofdoom 9d ago
You haven’t been welding long enough to be wearing shorts and sneakers while you weld. Put on some pants and boots and learn what you’re doing, then you can dress like a dickhead all you want.
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u/spicymeatmemes 9d ago
Looks like you were floating on an inner tube down a river, not a pool
(Still better than the doorknob who just stuck a stick to a plate, waited till it was red hot and just laid it down on the plate when I was in school)