Re: Having trouble Tig welding horseshoes
Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2017 3:23 am
Thanks Dave. I'll try more heat.
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I agree with 309. I've used it on horseshoes too and it welds very niceOtto Nobedder wrote:I'm in the "metal quality" camp on this, especially after the comment about sparks around the weld.
Higher quality shoes are available, but to work what you have, the fix is simple. Weld, grind, weld again. (Only where needed, of course.) You can grind about half the depth where it's porous, and re-weld.
I also recommend 309 for filler in all passes, because it resists porosity in poorer quality base metals, and this application is non-critical.
Steve S
That's why I am staying in the camp I am in. Horseshoes can't be brittle so they can't be cast iron but I bet they are forged steel and it should weld just fine. Farriers still have to heat and custom fit pre-made shoes because you can't take your horse to Shoe Carnival and let him try them on so I am betting its a torch nut error.MinnesotaDave wrote:I agree with 309. I've used it on horseshoes too and it welds very niceOtto Nobedder wrote:I'm in the "metal quality" camp on this, especially after the comment about sparks around the weld.
Higher quality shoes are available, but to work what you have, the fix is simple. Weld, grind, weld again. (Only where needed, of course.) You can grind about half the depth where it's porous, and re-weld.
I also recommend 309 for filler in all passes, because it resists porosity in poorer quality base metals, and this application is non-critical.
Steve S
I've never had to grind welds on bulk ordered new horseshoes so something other than metal may be wrong?
Or maybe I've just been lucky
You're probably right. If it was me...I would just Silbr the things and be done with it. I think the nice gold color would make it look cool. I can't believe we spent 4 pages fighting over horseshoes...oh wait...yes I canPoland308 wrote:They very well could be some kind of cast steel or pig iron. Forged in outer china from old tin army badges and medals. Shipped over in an open wood crate on the deck of a ship. Rusted for months in a ship yard then sand blasted and sold on the cheap. Looking at the closeup pick you can see it has a poor quality to the metal that looks more than surface deep. Perfect for art. But probably looked over or tossed out by the ferrier.
You did not form a proper puddle on both pieces - if you look at the toes of your first pic you can see a distinct lack of fusion.donzi426 wrote:Today I tried something and I believe it works. Didn't clean or sand the horseshoes. Raised the heat to 180 Amps. Raised the gas flow to 20 CFH (lowering it just caused a mess). Used 70R-6 filler rod. Concentrated on the arc angle and bingo. Pretty nice weld. The second side wasn't as pretty, but I think by doing the first side it must release some of the contaminants in these shoes. See photos. I want to thank everyone who contributed to my post. Those suggestions did help.
A grinder and paint will make you the weldor you ain'texnailpounder wrote:donzi426 wrote:You're right Dave. I do need more practice on fillets. Back to the drawing board:-)[/quote Or use mig. Mig works on anything. Once you paint your project, a couple of iffy welds won't matter to anyone other than another welder looking to start some shit
Good to know, now if you have other issues I guess you'll already have a good start with trouble shooting tips.donzi426 wrote:Just wanted to post an update: I found out why I was having trouble tig welding horseshoes. Today I decided to do some more horseshoes, determined to get it right. I do most of my welding in my one car garage so my welder and welding table are side by side. When I closed my garage door I felt a breeze as if the door was open. Low and behold I felt a breeze flowing over my table. It was the side vents of my welder that was shooting air past the area where I weld. I placed a barrier between the welder and table and low and behold I was welding horses without a problem. My bad!!!
Anyway, I want to thank everyone who tried to help with my problem.
donzi426 wrote:Just wanted to post an update: I found out why I was having trouble tig welding horseshoes. Today I decided to do some more horseshoes, determined to get it right. I do most of my welding in my one car garage so my welder and welding table are side by side. When I closed my garage door I felt a breeze as if the door was open. Low and behold I felt a breeze flowing over my table. It was the side vents of my welder that was shooting air past the area where I weld. I placed a barrier between the welder and table and low and behold I was welding horses without a problem. My bad!!!
Anyway, I want to thank everyone who tried to help with my problem.
Gosh that only took 5 pages. It happens. My mig welder quit welding on me the other day. I tore it apart and cleaned it out, cleaned out the liner and did everything I could think of and it still wouldn't weld or give me an error code. After I got the manual out, all I had to do was change the contact tip She welds like a dream again for 69 cents.donzi426 wrote:Just wanted to post an update: I found out why I was having trouble tig welding horseshoes. Today I decided to do some more horseshoes, determined to get it right. I do most of my welding in my one car garage so my welder and welding table are side by side. When I closed my garage door I felt a breeze as if the door was open. Low and behold I felt a breeze flowing over my table. It was the side vents of my welder that was shooting air past the area where I weld. I placed a barrier between the welder and table and low and behold I was welding horses without a problem. My bad!!!
Anyway, I want to thank everyone who tried to help with my problem.