Buying steel for coupons

[deereman75]

I have finally ran out of scrap steel for practice pieces. With the amount of fillet welds I am needing to do for practice, and testing, I have decided to just buy it.
I am looking for a bit of advice before I shell out the cash.

I am thinking of going with 1/8x1 hot rolled flat bar. It will cost me $0.86 per foot.
Any other suggestions? I mainly run 1/8 rods.

 

[Shield Arc]

If you buy 3/8 or 1/2-inch thick by 6-inch flat bar you can cut or grind a bevel on it for doing V-butt plates. Cut and bend the coupons. You can even use a compact bender to bend the coupons.
If you weld for a living you will do this hundreds, if not thousands of times.


http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/211592-6013-test-results.html

 

[Arc weld]

Get at least 1/4" flat bar. I think 1/4" x 2" and some 1/4" x 1" to weld onto it would work for fillet welds. Make a few pieces so you can let them cool off between welds. You don't see too many tests for fillet welds. Most tests are on butt welds.

 

[deereman75]

Okay, the experts have spoken.
I will call metal supermarket on Monday for a quote on 3/8x6 inch bar, and some 1/4x2 bar.
I am also thinking of picking up some angle to make a burning bar. That should make torching them to size a lot easier....

I'm not sure if I should use the torch, or the 9 inch grinder to bevel the plate.

I'm thinking of 5 feet of the 3/8x6 bar, and 10 feet of the 1/4x2


Anything else I should get?

I might have to build a cutting table.....

 

[deereman75]

Oh, shieldarc, what was that welding book you recommend as the first one? I want to order it.

 

[Shield Arc]

On the thinner material you'd be surprised how fast a 9-inch grinder will bevel coupons!
If you use angle iron for a burning bar, sand it as smooth as you can with a fine grit disc. Then rub soap stone on it, so the torch will slide easier.

 

[Shield Arc]

Oh, shieldarc, what was that welding book you recommend as the first one? I want to order it.

I don't remember:confused3:. But this is a very good book to have! Some people call it the welding bible.
http://www.jflfoundation.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=PH

 

[deereman75]

I will dig through the old threads, and try to find it.
I have seen you post parts of it a lot.

 

[deereman75]

Metals and how to weld them was the one I was thinking of.
I think I will order both of them.

 

[Shield Arc]

This is a good book too. It has a small section on heat shrinking material. Good skill to have when working with metal.