Project 1 from undercut. Category: General Welding repair

[undercut]

Well, one of my relatives broke their folding chair. Not terribly expensive chair at that. Good opportunity for to make some sparks and attempt a weld. Sorry, I forgot to take the "before" pictures.

Special Challenges - The tubing that was used was pretty thin. The original welds weren't much more than tack welds, one on each side of tubing for the leg rest that attached to the legs of the chair. Also, I had yet to discover that the Harbor Freight 80 amp inverter welder that I had recently bought was defective!

Process - SMAW - used 6013 1/16 at "some amperage". Apparently the amperage control was the first to exhibit problems. Turning the knob one way or the other didn't seem to do much. Blew a few holes right off the bat. Managed to move fast enough to repair the holes and eventually welded the tubes together but then the welder went very, very cold and left pock marks and stuck when I was getting near the end. Ground down the rough spots.

Materials Used - Nothing other than the tubing from the chair and the electrode.

Sorry this one wasn't exciting .... Was hoping it would be a good starter project to practice on. Returned the Harbor Freight welder. Want a new welder!



Final outcome (before painting).

[CGCINC]

Not knowing where your at with amperage Might be a problem!

At least you overcame your troubles and Succeeded!

[undercut]

Not knowing where your at with amperage Might be a problem!

At least you overcame your troubles and Succeeded!

Hey, thanks! The chair was on its last legs (pun intended!) so it was a good guinea pig. Was not a good introduction to welding. Near the end, the arc would sputter and there were pock marks everywhere as I tried to finish the thing off.

After a long hiatus, I will once again start the learning curve of "watch the puddle, not the arc". So much easier reading than doing!

[Brian Ski]

Is it OK to want to break something just so that you can weld it back together?

Ah so now we know how the chair got broke!!!!!

Got a couple cheap chairs here... They are brand new... One fell apart like yours and another the spot welds for the backrest came loose.

[undercut]

Ah so now we know how the chair got broke!!!!!

Got a couple cheap chairs here... They are brand new... One fell apart like yours and another the spot welds for the backrest came loose.

Someone in the forum suggested that I get a plasma cutter. Then I can cut things apart and put them back together again forever! Hope I don't offend that person because I forgot who exactly it was ... but it sure made me laugh!