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Up Topic Welding Industry / General Welding Discussion / Dual shield overhead
- - By Wrench Tech (**) Date 04-06-2009 13:21
I've never liked welding overhead with dual shield wire.  An overhead fillet is no problem but straight up drives me nuts.  It's not like I can't make the weld but a lot of the filler material seems to fall out and, of course, it lands right inside the gas nozzle.  Every two inches or so I have to stop and clean this out.  When I find myself having to weld straight up I just get out the sticks and do it.  I know it can be done.  Any tips?  Thanks in advance.  Tom
Parent - - By aevald (*****) Date 04-06-2009 13:44
Hello Tom, I generally set the machine for flat welding and then increase the wire speed slightly. I also try to watch the position of the ground and weld away from it whenever possible. If you are running between .045/.062 diameter wires, I would run around 1/2 to 5/8 visible wire stick-out and begin with a slight drag angle on the start of the weld and transition to a slight push towards the completion of the weld. These suggestions are pretty simplistic but should get you headed in the right direction. Best regards, Allan
Parent - - By Lawrence (*****) Date 04-06-2009 15:48
Alan is correct..

It seems a little counterintuitive, but the newer Gas Shielded FCAW wires run overhead better when they are toward the middle or high end of the WFS range.

Go the the Manufacturers data sheet and choose amperage and voltage someplace from the middle up.

For .45 FCAW  I like about 350 ipm at least for overhead. 

With the parameters set properly you should get pretty much no drips at all..... Which is a great relief when compared to what your going through now..
Parent - By Wrench Tech (**) Date 04-07-2009 00:27
Thanks for the help.  I'll try this at my next opportunity - tomorrow most likely.
I've been turning my voltage way down - wire speed at about 200 IPM.
By your advice, I haven't been doing things right at all!
Parent - - By Wrench Tech (**) Date 04-07-2009 02:02
No, I couldn't wait until tomorrow.  I went out and gave it a shot right after supper.  Thought I'd tried every heat and speed possible but I guess not.  What a difference.  Thanks again for your advice.  Tom.
Parent - - By TimGary (****) Date 04-07-2009 14:14
Once you get the parameters set right (run it hot and travel fast), drag the puddle along at about a 20 degree gun angle and any drips that you still have will not land in the nozzle.
They'll fall and land inside your elbow or your boot tops instead.
I've learned to always wear pull on /off boots while welding overhead.
Trying to untie and remove a boot with a half teaspoon full of red hot slag inside with your foot is challeging.

Tim
Parent - - By TozziWelding (**) Date 04-07-2009 21:09
I run .045 Triple 7, at 26 volts, 300-320 wire speed, it just sprays in there nice.
Parent - By Wrench Tech (**) Date 04-08-2009 00:28
That's about where I was today.  Much improvment. Thanks
Parent - - By Wrench Tech (**) Date 04-08-2009 00:26
I hear you.  Long gloves.  Leather uppers.  Slip on boots.  Hot and fast.  Thanks
Parent - - By makeithot (***) Date 04-08-2009 00:41
I run OH wire everyday and like it hot 400 fpm for wire feed 31 to 35 volts depending on material thichness. I don't like alot of wire stick out as I find it makes the puddle harder to control. I also find that drag technique is best or run 90 degrees to the plate there is hardly any filler lose if you travel fast. takes a few runs to get used to but the results are picture perfect. this is on material 3/8" or thicker.
Parent - - By Wrench Tech (**) Date 04-08-2009 03:13
Yes, I figured out that i'd been approching the problem all wrong.  You still working on those conveyors of Jack Cewe's?  Hope you`re keeping busy.  Still busy here but I can see the end of this job near the end of the year.  Tom
Parent - By ZCat (***) Date 04-08-2009 15:21
I always had problems with this when welding on pipe. Trying to get a filler in without blowing thru the hot pass and root, or welding smaller diameter pipe in position. Turn it up hot enough to get past the globs and you open up a whole new can of worms. 
Parent - - By makeithot (***) Date 04-09-2009 00:27
Still have a crew up there, but cut the top of my left thumb off yesterday, it got slammed into the forklift door as I was backing up the hill and the lacht that holds it open let go. Will most like be on the stand around supervisor crew for a few weeks. It didn't come right off so I managed to stuff it back on before the shock wore off and line up the bone, the doc said I should think about taking up surgery because not often do they get but back so well aligned all they had to do was but in the stiches, the xray showed the pieces in perfect alignment So I am hopeing that it will mend up well. Another lucky part was a friend of mine ran out of work so I managed to get another pair of boots on the ground this morning so the truck is still bringing in some money so with two rigs running things won't be so bad just a little less of it. Thank god I paid that compo bill. Told the Doc that welding and surgery have a lot in common the biggest difference being is I have to fix my mistakes he has to bury his, for some reason he didn't see the humor in that as well as the rest of the people in the room must of hit a nerve.
Regards, Richard.
Parent - By jrw159 (*****) Date 04-09-2009 12:30
Richard,
  I am sorry to hear about the accident. Glad it lined up OK for you though. Also good to hear you kept things rolling along. Take care of yourself out there.

jrw159
Parent - By Wrench Tech (**) Date 04-09-2009 13:28
Ouch, man that sounds painfull.  Guess it could have been worse... could have been better, too. 
There's no accounting for some people's sense of humour, or lack thereof.
Hope the healing process goes well, my friend. 
Hang in there.  Snipped the end of my left index finger once.  Missed the bone though.
Stuff like this passes.  Tom.
Up Topic Welding Industry / General Welding Discussion / Dual shield overhead

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