Where can I improve

[u/Mosquito_Reviler]

I have been welding for around 4 months, helping here and there. I usually cut the material, but every now and again my boss will have me put something together. Before this I had never once worked in any sort of trade before.

Today I helped weld together this porch that we are making for a customer.

I think I need to be a bit more consistent on my speed. Looking for any commentary on my welds, what it is that I could maybe be doing better?

[u/Fatandmad]

You doing really good for 4 months the biggest thing I see is you just need to slow down a little bit but it sounds like you know that already. Keep practicing and enjoy the process next you'll be doing TIG and stick welding

[u/Carry2sky]

Best I can tell, slow your pace and your wire speed so you can get a little bit more penetration.

[u/ripyurballsoff → u/Carry2sky]

Your starts are a bit cold. You may need to turn up the heat, or pre heat the metal.

[u/20PoundHammer → u/ripyurballsoff]

Is preheating a thing for residential fab shops like this? As others said, shallow penetration on some of em, can be solved by slowing slightly, but length and number of welds will hold this functionally fine unless mother-in-law is 600#s and twerks lots.

[u/ripyurballsoff → u/20PoundHammer]

I mean pre heating is a thing any time you want the weld to be perfect. If he did penetrate enough it should be fine though. But if we’re doing a thing we should try to do the best job we can !

[u/stiucsirt]

Can’t give you any tips but those welds look better than some of my friends who have been doing it for two years. Take that as you will

[u/RichMahogany2023]

Dont come out of your puddle so far. Just move and pause move and pause. Should help with your speed and consistency

[u/EyesOfEris]

Thought this was a caged in bed frame for a minute

Perfect for keeping the sex slave contained

[u/servetheKitty → u/EyesOfEris]

It’s not?

[u/servetheKitty → u/EyesOfEris]

It’s not?

[u/Stanky_Pete → u/servetheKitty]

[u/petezel → u/EyesOfEris]

The poly community would freaking love this. Alaskan king mattress(es) ahoy

[u/Moist-Cut-7998]

Hard to tell from a photo but the last photo doesn't look like you are getting much penetration into the material, it looks like it's sitting on the surface. Could be a speed thing or settings.

[u/geralt_of_rivia_alt]

Slow downa tish & heat up a bit

[u/SpaceCadetMoonMan]

Penetration practice

If you really want to blow your boss away with your new skills, you can sign up for a community college welding class and learn some more skills on some equipment you might not have access to

[u/Informal_Drawing]

You must have some wild sex to need to over-engineer the bed frame like that.

[u/Middle_Antelope2598]

Looks to me like your welder settings are fine,try staying in the puddle longer before stepping ahead. Also pay attention to the angle of your nozzle so both peices have the same weld thickness. Pre-heating that is not necessary for that build,unless your using a machine that is under powered(yours is obviously not) and would be a significant added cost in both labor time and torch fuel. Your welds don't look bad at all for short time you've been welding. Best of luck to you welding and whatever else you find yourself doing.

[u/AstronautPlenty8588]

Keep your lens clean. Always set your welder on a test piece before you weld your project. Practice with different weld settings on different scrap pieces, mainly on different thickness metals. Never weld through rust, prep your metal before you weld. When possible (with scrap), destroy some of your welds with a hammer, press, or grinder to determine if you are getting proper penetration. Enjoy your work.

Keep your face clean shaven so your mask wont leak. If not, your lungs will pay a heavy price.

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[u/damnvan13]

Ask me this in 20 years.

[u/Tortsofold]

Looks good. Maybe get in the habit of wrapping your corners with welds a bit.

[u/HiTekRetro]

Midget cage match???

[u/Electronic_Share1961 → u/HiTekRetro]

I thought it was a jail cell for midgets at first

[u/HiTekRetro → u/Electronic_Share1961]

That's just silly,, How "big" of a crime could a midget commit?

[u/Technical_Idea_7474]

doing great maybe slow down a hair try a few different speeds you’ll get it in no time

[u/Bigsteve7877]

So what is this going to be when you are finally finished with it

[u/Goingdef]

Does it measure out square? If so you’re doing great.

[u/iamphloyd]

Smoother movements will make the weld look more consistent. Watch the puddle and keep moving.

If that last photo is a down hand, then up your heat a bit and see how that works.

[u/Imjustd1Fferent284]

Improve by finding a better job with more pay. If you settle for less you start to become less. I speak from experience.

[u/Trees__Bees]

Probably just need to practice on another one. Since it’s just practice, junk, I’m willing to haul it off for you. Won’t even charge you.

Just messing with you. You’re doing great

[u/Miserable_Action_421]

Little more heat for a smoother weld

[u/OtterHalf_]

Looks great now try stick welding

[u/dont-difine-me]

I would say, just slow down

[u/Mosquito_Reviler]

Thank you all for the comments and suggestions. What I gather is that I should slow down and bring the heat up a bit. Next time I weld I will try it out.

[u/ChoochieReturns]

Just slow down and you're 90% there. The final 10% will take the rest of your life.