High Speed Welding (Sheet Metal)
Welding sheet steel (18 through12 gauge) requires electrodes that weld at high travel speeds with minimum skips, misses, slag entrapment, and undercut.
Procedures
Groove welds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 20 Edge Welds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 20 Fillet Welds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 21 Lap Welds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 21 Corner Welds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 22 Burnthrough Spot Welds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 23
Alternate Electrodes
When the recommended electrodes are not available, or if preferred, the following electrodes can be substituted using approximately the same procedures:
Electrode | Class | Alternate |
Fleetweld 5P | E6010 | E6011 |
Fleetweld 5P+ | E6010 | E6011 |
Fleetweld 35 | E6011 | E6010 |
Fleetweld 7 | E6012 | E6013 |
Fleetweld 37 | E6013 | E7014 |
Welding Techniques
Generally, use the highest current possible that will not burn- through, undercut, or melt the edges of lap, corner, or edge welds. Fast welding depends upon the operators skill at staying on the joint and traveling at a uniform speed. A few days practice may be needed by good welders when first starting sheet metal welding.
For maximum welding speed, minimum distortion and flat welds generally position joints for welding 45° to 75° downhill.
The procedure tables assume tight
1.Reduce the current.
2.Increase the drag angle.
3.With E6010 or E6011 electrodes use a quick whip technique with a slight circular motion in the crater to bridge the gap.
4.With E6012 or E6013 electrodes, use a small quick weave technique to bridge the gap.
