ESAB E309L-16 5/32"...rookie questions

Date 08-12-2010 16:07

Looking at the parameters shown on ESAB's site for the 5/32" rod: 100-145amps A/C or D/C for the Flat position(1F)

I'm a rookie when it comes to using this rod, but there is no way that I can get the arc started and keep it lit down this low with A/C or D/C...I can long arc it and keep it going, but just barely...and the material isn't filling in behind to where I can even build a puddle....way too cold, and what material that is being placed is blue and straw colored.

I pushed the parameters aside and set it up around 180amps DC- and it starts and runs easy and smooth, lays a nice silver colored 1/4" fillet weld with a decent profile. I'm going to let this cool and saw it up/etch it after lunch to see what the root looks like.

What is a normal machine setting for this rod?

EDIT: attaching the link to the parameters
http://products.esabna.com/EN/home/filler_metals_catalog/filler_metals_product_detail/q/display_id.id4367f2a9504b95.18661276/category_id.378/path.filler_metals_covered_electrodes_stainless_steel_e309_arcaloy_309l16

By jwright650 (*****)

Date 08-12-2010 18:32

Well.....I'm keeping it set right there, the penetration looks good, profile looks good.....but it is way above the mfg's recommendation.

By 803056

Date 08-12-2010 19:55

Hello John;

Welding with excessive amperage will overheat the flux covering and cause the covering to crack. It will not improve the fusion in the root.

Try depositing a fillet weld in the corner between two 1/2 inch plates (a T-joint). Make sure the corners of the 1/2 inch plates are square cut (saw cut is best) and root opening is tight. Check to see if you have fusion to the root when you fracture the fillet weld.

I am interested in knowing how you fare.

Best regards - Al

By jwright650 (*****)

Date 08-12-2010 19:57

Al, It sure doesn't act like excessive amperage when I'm welding. Arc is nice and smooth, no spatter. let me see if I can post up a pic of the T-joint that I welded earlier.

By 803056

Date 08-13-2010 00:32

I see nothing too shabby with that fillet weld. Did you try to do a fillet break test on a section?

I am interested to hear if you had fusion to the root of if you found incomplete fusion with a little slag line running down the root.

Best regards - Al

By jwright650 (*****)

Date 08-13-2010 13:53

Al...I put it in the press and bent it over and it folded all the way over on itself before the base metal tore....the weld just stretched.

By 803056

Date 08-13-2010 18:16

Yea, but did it have fusion to the root or ar you saying the plate bent and the weld didn't?

Al

By jwright650 (*****)

Date 08-13-2010 18:28

Everything stretched as I bent it over and it finally gave up tearing away the basemetal of the vertical plate with the weld still in tact. It tore 1/8 to 3/16 away from the weld. Root didn't let go, so I couldn't see any LOF or line of slag along that part.

I'll go look through the scrap and see if I can find it....

By eekpod

Date 08-13-2010 18:40

looks acceptable to me, maybe a typo on ESAB's end? Ive had it before whereI contected them becasue soemtihng didnt make sense and sure enough it was a typo.

Chris

By 803056

Date 08-13-2010 18:51

Interesting.

I've worked with several contractors qualifying their welders using fillet break tests for dissimilar metals using E309-X. The only 309 electrode that managed to obtain fusion to the root and that was the E3XX-15.

Best regards - Al

By jwright650 (*****)

Date 08-13-2010 20:31

Al...dumby me. I went over on another machine and set up again. Guess what? That machine ran totally different, actually ran within the mfg's recommendations and was fairly smooth on A/C, but it was still the smoothest on DC- around 140amps. I need to look into that first machine and see what's up.

By DaveBoyer (*****)

Date 08-14-2010 03:27

Glad I read Your last post before posting Myself. I was going to ask if that was measured amperage, or just what the machine was set at. I know You are a sharp cookie, and see that You figured it out Yourself.

By jwright650 (*****)

Date 08-14-2010 10:16

LOL...Dave no, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer by no means....but I should have known better and knew when I was welding that far above the mfg's recommnedations and the rod wasn't glowing red or bending over in submission that something was amiss with the machine.