GMAW feedback please

eCRX · Jul 26, 2023

I'm building a power rake and don't have much welding experience. I'm maxing out my fabrication skills to be perfectly honest and most of the reason for building my own power rake is to learn how to weld.

Power Rake Build - 54"

I started designing\modeling a power rake over the winter. (Got frustrated with sketchup so I purchased a student version of solidworks.) A couple weeks ago I started the build. It will be used by a GC2300 (22.5hp) and my brother-in-laws 26hp (L2650?) Kubota some info: 54" x 6" sch40 main...

www.tractorbynet.com

Would appreciate some feedback on my welds. Mostly just want to know which weld looks the best, and which one looks the worst, and why - so i can use it as my reference. I'm saving the most critical part for last... I need to weld 80+ (AR400 1/4") teeth to the SCH40 drum so I'm hoping to be good enough by the time I get to that stage.

Thanks in advance!!

LD1 · Jul 26, 2023

They all look like they will hold with proper design. However the last two look the worst in terms of strength. They look a little on the cold side especially at the toes of the weld.

5030 · Jul 26, 2023

Frontside means little. look at the backside to see if you are getting adequate penetration.

mrmikey · Jul 26, 2023

I see nothing major wrong, least nothing that a bit more practice wouldn't improve. Fill your craters in when you stop, either pause for a bit or whip the puddle a couple of time before breaking the arc. I've seen a heck of a lot worse holding a lot more.