This look familiar by any chance? If you’re a regular reader you’ll realize that this is the standard Arc welding test from Fas. And this time I’m happier with the outcome. Feeling good about it this time.

So I did all of my exercises for the day so I started playing around.
I welded four piece together to make a box section, then I welder that to flat plate.

Unlike gas welding, you only get one shot at an arc weld.
I nailed every weld on the above picture. Water tight and everything.

Doesn’t it look like I’m welding with pure silver?

Those are some fine welds there.

It’s just like riding a bike, you never forget. Just need a little practice.

Well The Mad Welder is back.

I’m back arc welding again. Man, I much prefer arc welding.

Tomorrow, some pics of my progress. Getting close to the end now.

I shall allow the pictures of my completed test pieces speak for themselves.

Stick welding is great, and I’ll definitely have to revisit it. Possibly as a career.

Laying perfect weld is always awesome. However, today was a remarkably stressful day because next week is the test. Trying to get each and every weld perfect can really stress you out. And when you’re sitting or standing at the same table for hours in a boiler suit next to metal you’re purposefully heating up by running 108 amps through it… gets hard to concentrate sometimes.

Check out the results of the pressure after the jump.

That little hole there on that otherwise perfect weld. That would cause me to fail next week’s test.

On the up side – first outside corner weld I’ve ever done, and it looks great.

Today was a good day.

We kept on welding the three composite runs the same as we were doing last week: One foundation run, and two further runs for strength.

However there was a slight twist. We were welding a curved piece of metal, and I personally think it was easier than welding a straight piece. Though today – I welded some fantastic straight joints.

Best click after the jump for proof

Told you so.

Double week next week. It’s going to be a long one.

This week we were doing multiple layers of weld on single joints. The top weld in the picture is a single weld, the bottom joint has one weld on top of the other, and there’s a third one to come.

Check out more pictures after the jump.

Three plates welded together, three welds on each join.

Also welded up a couple of t-joints. Sam again on the three welds.

Had an excellent day of welding today. And to make up for the missed class last week, we get a double class next week. 9am to 3 or 4pm. Gonna be a long day.

This here’s my booth. After the jump the first pictures of my first welds.

My first plate of welds. I’m rather proud of it actually. What I’m learning is Manual Metal Arc Welding; Sometimes called stick welding.

You basically take a stick of filler metal coated in flux and run 105 amps through it. Then you earth the piece of metal you want to weld, then strike an arc (by tapping or dragging the rod across the metal) and lay down the filler.

Here’s a video of basically what I was doing today.

I’ll update weekly for the next 8 weeks as my welding course progresses. Learning, progressing… all for free. God Bless Fas.