Need a bit of advice. I'm welding 4130 and presumably will move on to other high-carbon steels of more expensive varieties at some point. I'm having a lot of trouble getting welds in the acute angles formed by junctions of multiple tubes - we're talking about perhaps 45 degrees. I can't get a decent pool to form, and I can't seem to get a fillet going regardless of how much rod I add. I know practice will help, but it'd be easier to do so if I knew what I was trying to accomplish better - can anyone help?
Materials:
4130 cromoly tubing, 1 1/8"-1 1/2" diameter, .035"-.049" wall thickness.Welding setup: Miller 150STH, amperage control via pedal. Coarse amps ~50. Argon @ ~30 cfh. #5 cup, 1/16" electrode
Should I go to a smaller cup? Extend the electrode further beyond the cup? Give up and cry myself to sleep?
Thanks, guys!
-Walt