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After researching for a few weeks, making sure I understand the safety, I bought a small MIG welder/Flux Core Arc Welder:

http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/mig-100e-flux-cored-wire-feed-welder/A-p8538886e

Here is my attempt at mounting a tube onto a sheet, both steel at 1/8" thickness:

http://imgur.com/a/102xe enter image description here

My technique was basically to come down at a 45deg angle and slowly move across the sides, for about 60 - 90 seconds total. I kept the tip of the gun very close to the metals, kinda just dragged it along. I chose the wire feed speed as recommended for the metal thickness according to the manual.

It felt strong but then to test it I tried stepping on it sideways. After I applied enough force (less than my bodyweight though) the tube broke off =(

What techniques should I use to weld this connection better?

Any useful vids would be great as well. Thanks!

|improve this question
  • It's a bit tough to teach somebody to weld in a short answer. You should try watching some YouTube videos, and/reading some books on welding. You'll also want to read the user manual for the welder, and become familiar with its operation. Then practice, practice, practice. – Tester101 Oct 29 '16 at 18:12
  • From my limited experience, it looks like you didn't clean the parts well, the current is too low, you're not close enough to the joint, and you need to work on your technique. – Tester101 Oct 29 '16 at 18:15
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Because you're just piddling globs of molten welding rod on top of the steel. That's not welding, that's metal deposition. You need to read more on how to weld and get more practice, because the concept hasn't really (forgive the pun) penetrated.

Also, it helps to grind or media blast the mill scale and other contaminants off the area you're welding.

|improve this answer
  • After a better hand at welding that comes with practice, beveling the edge of the tube a bit will allow a deeper penetration of the weld – Jack Oct 29 '16 at 16:14
  • @Jack beveling the tube is the least of the problem here. Seems like there's no penetration at all in that weld. – Tester101 Oct 29 '16 at 18:19
  • Yes indeed, that's why the mention "after a better hand at welding". It truly is an acquired talent. – Jack Oct 30 '16 at 0:13

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