WELDTECH WT200MP - Arc Welding Techniques for Beginners; Basic Bead Laying Practice; Welder Positioning and Arc Striking

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Corner Weld
(Fig 1-19g)
Tee Joints
(Fig 1-19h)
Edge Joint
(Fig 1-19i)
Plug Welds
(Fig 1-19j)
Arc Welding Techniques
- A Word for Beginners
Forthosewhohavenotyetdoneanywelding,the
simplest way to commence is to run beads on a piece
ofscrapplate.Usemildsteelplateabout6.0mmthick
and a 3.2mm electrode.
Clean any paint, loose scale or grease o the plate and
set it rmly on the work bench so that welding can
becarriedoutinthedownhandposition.Makesure
thattheWorkLead/Clampismakinggoodelectrical
contact with the work, either directly or through the
work table. For light gauge material, always clamp
the work lead directly to the job, otherwise a poor
circuit will probably result.
The Welder
Place yourself in a comfortable position before be-
ginning to weld. Get a seat of suitable height and
do as much work as possible sitting down. Don’t
hold your body tense. A taut attitude of mind and
a tensed body will soon make you feeltired.Relax
and you will nd that the job becomes much easier.
You can add much to your peace of mind by wearing
a leather apron and gauntlets. You won’t be worry-
ing then about being burnt or sparks setting alight
to your clothes.
Place the work so that the direction of welding is
across, rather than to or from, your body. The elec-
trode holder lead should be clear of any obstruction
so that you can move your arm freely along as the
electrode burns down. If the lead is slung over your
shoulder, it allows greater freedom of movement
andtakesalotofweightoyourhand.Besurethe
insulation on your cable and electrode holder is not
faulty; otherwise you are risking an electric shock.
Striking the Arc
Practice this on a piece of scrap plate before going
on to more exacting work. You may at rst experi-
encedicultyduetothetipoftheelectrode“stick-
ing”totheworkpiece.Thisiscausedbymakingtoo
heavy a contact with the work and failing to with-
draw the electrode quickly enough. A low amper-
age will accentuate it. This freezing-on of the tip may
be overcome by scratching the electrode along the
plate surface in the same way as a match is struck. As
soon as the arc is established, maintain a 1.6mm to
3.2mm gap between the burning electrode end and