Fixture Stand Support, Bolts to Concrete

[erikmannie]

I’m so rusty at MIG welding! I spend so much time doing stick and gas welding that my MIG machine is very neglected!

I rolled out the Millermatic 252 (which I have never had a single problem with), & brushed off the dust and cobwebs. Of course, I had to Google the settings (actually, I use an app). I have always used .035” solid wire.

The C25 is set to 30 cfh. That is what it was set on the last time I was using this machine.

Seen below is what the Miller app told me, the mid-range settings that I tried, & the test beads (1 stringer & 1 butt joint) on material that I was too lazy to clean.

When I weld on my project, it will be bright shiny metal!

 

[erikmannie]

I will be grinding the outside welds, but I will post pictures of what they looked like before I ground them down flush.

I am inclined to stitch weld the outside beads because I need to make sure that this base that I am building is strong. I want to *see* the fusion.

The inside welds are going to be a series of small tack welds because I don’t want to block the washer.

I am going to post a picture of the clearance between the angle iron and the washer.

 

[erikmannie]

Oh, nevermind. I would not expect the toe of my weld to extend that far out.

That gap is 1/4”. I will make a mark and not go past 1/4”.

if I do, one can turn down that washer.

 

[erikmannie]

I started working on this “welding” (more like “spending”) project this morning at 8 o’clock. Two trips to the steelyard took almost four hours (bI got to spend about three hours with my dad hanging around the steelyard). I have had less than 60 minutes of downtime the whole day.

Finally, after almost 10 hours. I get to the fun part (welding).

I am trying nonchlorinated brake cleaner instead of acetone.

 

[erikmannie]

I put on bit of a bevel on the 1/4” wall angle iron.

 

[erikmannie]

I only used stone on a 4 1/2” angle grinder for the weld prep. That is, no flap disc & no wire wheel.

 

[erikmannie]

Whew! I should have checked the contact tip before I started welding: it was clogged.

I did not realize this, so I kept pulling the trigger, making a big rat’s nest inside the machine. I had to untangle everything, pull out the solid wire backwards, & completely and reinstall the roll of wire.

It’s a good thing that I had a spare contact tip on hand.

Note to self: check the contact tip before you start welding.

 

[erikmannie]

I know these look horrible. They are barely punching in to my satisfaction. I know I used too much material. These are stitch tack welds. My voltage is 19.0, & my WFS is 340 ipm.

 

[erikmannie]

Here is the back side after I stitch welded the other side. The point of this photo is to see how much heat was put into the joint.

I am not at all impressed. The definition of insufficient penetration.

 

[erikmannie]

Oh, my goodness. This is a picture following the picture above. We will just let it speak for itself.