Tips for Good Welding Penetration - Kevin Caron

From www.kevincaron.com - How do you know if you've gotten good penetration when welding? Sculptor Kevin Caron shows what good penetration is and how to know it when you see it.

[@elizabethcameresi6314]

Thank you- this totally saved me a ton of time. I had the voltage too high thing going on, talked to other welders and they couldnt seem to help me. I was grinding out every weld. Killer

[@TorTor323]

Thank you for making your knowledge accessible and easily digestible for us green welders

[@zeronnine6465]

I like how Kevin explain hes lessons, can very well understand and sometimes pause for a while; like thinking a better way that the people will visually see and understand. Thanks Kevin!

[@KevincaronSculpture]

You are welcome! Thank you for watching!

[@KevincaronSculpture]

@kevincaron I will take you up on the advice soon. I am starting to get a sore head from banging it on the head stock trying to figure out how to make the parting tool work. Just get lots of chatter and not much cutting. Made sure it is in the center of the stock and been playing with the tip. I will get there someday. Always have the chop saw if I really need to. Thanks for posting.

[@nimixes1]

What a great teacher. You really do seem like a good all around person! Thanks for the tips, im heading out to the shop for some more fun with my first welder!

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@leviticusramos4470]

I'm a new welder and I'm so glad I found you.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Thank you for watching.. Glad to help..

[@travisabel4252]

This was the exact video I was looking for. I just started welding and when I look at my finished welds I try to figure out what's wrong, even though I don't know what I'm looking for. Thanks for the video

[@ShitILike94MFs]

Same level I’m in going to school late September but I’m practicing as much as I can on my own keep it up

[@TheCreedBratton]

sweet vid. thanks for taking the time to share and teach

[@celairgilfaenmirion]

Thanks for the explanation. Just learning to weld and hearing/seeing the difference helps a lot. I'll try lowering my voltage.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Thanks for watching.

[@theflyinwop]

Good video as always Kevin.That last pass with the mig sounded like an "old woman passing gas as she walks down the street".Skipping and a missing,sounds like one of my welds after a couple of Johnnie Juice on the rocks Paisano

[@weldmama]

hi kevin, i'm a newbie welder too, i was wondering if you could include in a video how to look after the surface of your welding table...yours always looks so clean and flat, i keep getting a lot of spatter on mine. love your work and appreciate you sharing your wisdom with us. good stuff!

[@KevincaronSculpture]

@ixfxi You are welcome. Thanks for posting....

[@KevincaronSculpture]

I was wondering when someone would ask! In my opinion, not enough feed metal on the 24 volt weld had a lot to do with it. A wider and deeper chamfer would have also helped with the 19 volt weld. Great question!!! Thanks for posting.

[@GunfighterBo]

Really good examples. Thanks

[@VisorBlue]

Nice, thanks. That big table sucking up the heat is a factor. I'd love to see/hear one on adjusting the wire feed and amps to get the good sound and weld. Also, one on adjusting gas for good weld protection.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

@VisorBlue Great idea!!! I will add that to the list.

[@rob12449]

very important question and some good ideas to follow.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cs8715]

You sir have done my instructors job for too long!

[@sarcasmo57]

Seems like solid advice.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Thanks for watching and posting.

[@CharlesStruble]

Kevin, excellent excellent info for all of us wanta be's. (wanta welds?) Voice, great closeup work. I picture you standing on your crate (only one...) reaching out with a lens during the welding part. Be careful! And thanks guys!

[@CharisWilliams]

Nice work!

[@KevincaronSculpture]

@genghisman39 Have to try that one. Thanks for the tip....

[@ahhwataday]

I took some classes, they were a lot of fun.....too bad it was 9 years ago and I havent been able to do very much weldng. Im getting into it again tho

[@srcjim]

wow thanks i needed that explained! Great !!!!

[@KevincaronSculpture]

@cgis123 Hi Matt! Yeah, that's just a soap stone pen. Picked it up at the welding store and a supply of refills. If you get one, don't drop in on the table. The stone will break inside the pen and you just get little pieces. Been playing with the lathe and the mill a lot. Making tooling for the lathe with the mill and just having fun turning stuff. Have a paying job for the lathe now. Going to make a wine goblet for a guy in TX. out of copper. Going to line it with a stainless liner.

[@mrantone916]

Oh man i just got a , Titanium inverter 240v/120v arc welder at h.f. freakin runs great!

[@dmacosta1]

Thanks for posting

[@Diving1969]

Thanks for explaining good

[@KevincaronSculpture]

My pleasure

[@Okicombo]

I like your videos, straight and matter of fact. I have a question. What is the best way to weld a really thick piece to a really thin piece? For instance, 1" steel bar to .063" sheet metal.

[@joegranger1429]

yes, i see the port-o-cool. i got one, and it is a life saver

[@northernredneck7674]

good video thanks!

[@2LateIWon]

awesome!!

[@KevincaronSculpture]

@weldmama Another great idea for a video. The voice is making a list has we speak. Stay tuned........

[@KingMcAl]

This is alot better than i ever done it..

[@SamCyanide]

thanks. I'm building a skidplate with 1/4" steel for my budget 4 wheeler and I definitely was not getting enough penetration with my 100 amp mig lol. The 200A tig/stick I have coming should rectify that issue...

[@KevincaronSculpture]

OH Yeah!!!! Thanks for watching and posting.

[@genghisman39]

I've heard that you can actually use Drano as the chemical etcher to check the penetration.

[@cgis123]

Hey Kev, Just a quick question mate, What is the chalk/pen you are using to write with? Is is just soap stone/chalk? Also how are you gettimg on with your lathe and mill??? Remember my offer is open for any advice I can give, You have given me so much its only fair....Say g'day to the missus from me Matt over in Australia..Again fine work m8ty

[@northernsoul8041]

What mode of transfer do you think you are using Kevin??

[@MrBikercat]

just saw this video. does this also apply to stick welding? thanks. I found the video very informative. I'm new at this, so I'm not sure about what I'm doing.

[@MrBikercat]

***** thanks

[@vincentr007]

So, I am working with a Millermatic 140 trying to get really good at welding 0.120" wall DOM tubing to itself as well as 1/8" thick steel plate. I see in your video that your "cold" joint was at 12V. Mine i think maxes out at 10V, so maybe my problem all along is my welder isn't powerful enough to do this thickness? I have tried beveling the edges, adjusting wire speed, voltage, gas flow rate (75/25), and hand speed to no avail. Weld looks nice on the outside, but the only way we've been able to get the base metal to break before the weld is when we leave a gap of 0.030" or less all the way around. We will try preheating the base metals prior to welding next. Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Try smaller wire in the welder.. Like .024. May give you a little more heat.. Or get a bigger welder.....

[@jennys6087]

That's for the tips on penetration! Thanks.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Did a video about this awhile back How to Weld Thin Metal to Thick Metal - Kevin Caron Look here...

[@KevincaronSculpture]

@theflyinwop Now there is a mental picture to carry around for a while! Thanks for the laugh....

[@kimura2Loc]

do you see James Garfield's face @4:20 on the last weld (middle lower left side).

[@KevincaronSculpture]

@J1I9M7M4Y Yes!!!! You guys are paying attention! You are correct. The table was sinking most of the heat out of the weld. That's why the weld would not go all the way through. You Sir should move to the head of the class. Thank you for posting.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

@cgis123 Thanks! I will go check him out.......

[@KevincaronSculpture]

@cougarman07470 Thank you Tony. I am working on a new video just talking about the sound. Stay tuned......

[@breinbjerg22]

hey. I was wondering if welding with two tig torch on a plate, at the same time, is that normal in the states, to get full penetration on stainless steel. In Denmark we call it Argon / Argon. This is where one of the welders have the fillerrod and the other heat up the matrial from the backside, to make a good penetration and good shielding. We use it all the time in Denmark. Thanks

[@breinbjerg22]

***** I don´t have a camera right now and the on in my phone is broken but i will see if I can come up whit something

[@justaguy328]

As i'm just learning welding, it's nice to know that instinctively I was doing it right by looking at just beyond the arc to see the weld puddle. In the beginning, I was focusing on the bright spot, but it just made sense to look just past it to get good welds. I am a self taught guitarist and a lot of things I learned were by just finding out what works through practice lol.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Right on! Welcome to the club and thank you for watching and posting.

[@machonsote918]

Sorry, but I didn't see anywhere in the video where you show proof of "penetration". At the end, you drew something that you're "supposed" to see (while welding) as "proof of penetration". I recently bought a 110 volt Hobart Mig welder and I'm having a hard time trying to weld a solid 3/4" circular rod to a 1.5" pipe (1/4" thick). The rod is about 1 foot in length and the part to be welded has been cut 45 degrees. I don't know if it's the "roundness" of both the rod and pipe, but when I finish welding, there's a lot of solder between the rod and the pipe making me think "it's welded". Once the pieces separate (after failing under stress), most of the "solder" tends to be on the rod, although I've had it once on the pipe. I've become a really good "Grinder" because I'm having to clean the material out so I can try again. I always thought that "welding" is sort of "fusing" of two pieces of metal in such a way that you melt them both and they become "one"......like marriage. ------------------------------------ Could it be that a 100 volt Mig welder is not strong enough for this? When I "clean" the sites (by grinding), should I be able to see how much penetration was actually achieved? I was thinking of setting the voltage really high with low speed so more time is spent at a spot with lots of heat so the metal can melt on both the rod and pipe and fuse them together.

[@cgis123]

@kevincaron Chatter can be caused from not enough rigidity....Try as little tool out as possiable and lock in al your carriges except the one you are using. Parting can be troublesome when you are just beginning. You might like to try tuba cains videos here on you youtube as well, he has some very useful tutorials..Good luck Matt

[@MrTurtleneckbreath]

1st and second wanted to bend at the joint while #3 bent the parent. Bring up the volts and go as hot as you can weld that job. Start too hot and come down rather than start cold and come up. Coming up, it's quite easy to get a good looking bead but crap peno. Coming down, when you get your good bead, you've got good peno.

[@michaelriccardi424]

How do you touch the metal as you put the first weld on at 2:00? Is the glove that good at protecting you? I heard of tig welders getting shocked thru their gloves.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Only time I might feel a tingle is with wet\sweaty arms on the bench. Through the glove, no problem.

[@imbro84]

@cgis123 "tuba cains" ?? Can't find those videos.

[@ccapehart1980]

helium is used for stainless mig and helium argon is used for mig aluminum

[@antben]

What I find strange, both in my welds and these ones is that, even with too much current, the 2 plates remain separated. I thought they would really melt together.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Not enough current to get total pentation. Mistake on my part, should have turned up the machine and tried again.

[@pablomedrano5896]

I always seem to like shake a little it pisses me off I took a welding class for school I tried it out I've gotten some good welds but only sitting down when I stand I seem to be shaky a lot got any tips for a noob welder ??

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Try bracing your hand on something.. Run a finger along the metal or put a rolled up glove under your hand.. I have even used a broom handle as a prop.

[@jerrybobteasdale]

Weld in a comfortable posture, with the work at the proper height. Don't try to weld with your arms extended too far. Weld using 2 hands. Brace your main hand with the 2nd. Hold the cable with one hand to lessen the weight on your main hand that holds the electrode. Perhaps drape the cable over your shoulder.

[@JustPietzche]

Keep your elbows tucked in to stabilize your arms against your body, or prop your arms on the table. If your table is too low, you place something non-flammable on the table that you can rest your arms on, or place a pedestal on the floor so you can prop your elbow on your knee.

[@spencerknifes5260]

i need help. well i want to start welding as a hobby, but i don't know if i am making it strong enough to hold 400lb. can anyone help me P.s its a gi kart that i ama going to be working on. thanks :)

[@KevincaronSculpture]

I would say that moving quicker would give you less penetration. The name of the game here is just getting a great weld that will hold under all circumstances. Sadly, if I remember correctly, that video was a better example of how to not do it than do it correctly. I should have left a small gap between the plates to allow for more penetration and turned the amps up a little more. Like I said at the end of the video, "Practice , Practice and more Practice"...

[@pseudoacronym1557]

Hahah. At 0:52 he sounds like John Ratzenberger in toy story

[@robotmotor]

the problem if i want to weld thick metal to thin metal i buy stick welder made in italy and for one week until now i dont know how to weld the weld its too much thick !! stick welder very hard to learn

[@tijuanacerca]

19 volts for a 1/8 metal thicness its good you can even tell on the sound !!! =)

[@Billy982810]

Hey Kevin.. How do you know when your in good with a girl?

[@chinoatx04]

Why did it not make a full penetration ? Shouldn't there be metal on the back side also.

[@alberte.3059]

Who is Mrs Helper?

[@KevincaronSculpture]

The wife, aka Mary.

[@eflanagan1921]

The interaction makes it more interesting and therefore more educational.

[@177BCardinal]

@@KevincaronSculpture Darn good cameraperson!

[@terrygould7968]

But keep well on wire friend of mine found a better wires for me and work working and yes he does and right wire works too

[@FedidaMakloufJules]

Thank you for your visit. Have a nice day! Friendship.

[@alberte.3059]

WTF???

[@DeathDealer361]

well obviously he wasn't giving a good push towards the center of the butt joint or filling in the "key hole" deep enough to get the good penetration. I know it is somewhat wrong with back hand GMAW welding but, you can see how deep you can push the wire more fairly.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

@Billy982810. She will help you make videos for KZbin!

[@tomf4547]

No penetration. My instructor wants a constant bead at the root. Almost impossible especially with stick on 6mm plate😮

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Always learning.

[@jerrybobteasdale]

Good penetration is when the joint's metal is melted to the full thickness. If you can see the weld's back side, it shouldn't look like a crack. You should see the weld peeking thru the backside, hopefully in a very uniform fill. MIG can do a poor job of penetrating with a decent-looking bead. Crosscutting a test weld open with an abrasive wheel will help you visualize penetration. For real strength, penetration is crucial.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

So true!!

[@eriklarson9137]

Wow! It's like you watched the video and stated exactly what he said. Like it was your own idea. Amazing!!

[@jerrybobteasdale]

Thanks Erik.

[@harsimrans6779]

that sir should be a professor in university

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Watch it again and listen to what I am saying...

[@J1I9M7M4Y]

If you had done the last weld with the pice of metal hanging free without a table under, you probably end up with a hole in the piece you welded.. :)

[@Gangstar41145]

That was the point. lol

[@KevincaronSculpture]

So I take it you will be riding in this go kart? Before you start making things that you can really hurt or killed on, maybe you should start smaller. Or take a class or two at your local collage. ' Not to put you off but this is not the best piece to learn on.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Read and listen,,,, Dude.

[@joegranger1429]

if you take your gun and back up instead of pushing, you will get more pepetration on a but joint

[@GoldenArmWelds]

This guys said "huge" and trump automatically came to my mind lol

[@cgis123]

@imbro84 Try a search for this user, As he is Tubal Cain......mrpete222

[@arvzaguid2641]

so simple draging hahahaha

[@esalazar8257]

bevel the plate maybe u will get bettr penetration. kool vid though.

[@edgarssmits9644]

Again the same, better you will name this video heat input depending from voltage. There are no penetration at all in your test pieces.

[@2000blackthorns]

you diddent even penetrate the first 3 all you did is make a beed????

[@ericcab67]

Dude you I take it you dont have your cert.? You need to get some schooling before you try to teach others ....sheesh

[@nuffdoggiggey4103]

Lack of pen all 3 .

[@arvzaguid2641]

i dont like