First Test Piece

The pad weld was to get used to the Manual Metal Arc (MMA) technique and after 3 layers I was getting quite good. A clear sign of a good weld is whats called a scorpion tail, this is when the slag lifts off the weld as it cools and basically removes itself. Getting a scorpion tail is immensely satisfying and as I started my 4th layer I tried to get the biggest tail I could, this is one of my best.

After finishing the final 4th layer I moved onto the first test piece. Unlike the pad weld, which was on 10mm mild steel, the test piece would be on 5mm. A lap weld in the vertical/horizontal position with just one fillet of weld to join them. This is a side view of the lap weld.

After finishing the weld it is then tested by a destruction test to see how deep the weld goes and how it will break. A section is cut out of the middle and them the weld is pulled apart, it will then either pass or fail a visual inspection of how the weld broke. If passed all the pieces are then tacked back together ready for the college assessor to randomly pick out and inspect. If it fails then you go back and try again after figuring out what you did wrong before. 

My first test piece passed and hopefully I'll start on my second next week.

First week

Mostly just about Health and Safety and more Health and Safety.
Welding is very dangerous unless you follow the proper H&S rules so its important to take it all in. Some people think its more important than others though and theres already been some people being cavalier with their eye protection.
Then we started on a little bit of the theory side of welding, which I find really interesting and am very keen to learn. Unfortunetly there are others who just want to do the practical work and moan the whole lesson about wanting to leave early.
On the practical side of things everyone seems to be at the same level with MMA now. First assignment is a pad weld which is doing lots of lines overlapping each other building it up. I think mine is going well but I noticed my piece of mild steel has more distortion than the other students. Right now I'm not sure if thats a good thing or a bad thing with such a large area being welded. I think its a bad thing, Ive possibly not turned down my amps as much as the others, will find out next week.

Never Give Up.