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Not totally necessary; the more important thing is to get your material at room temp
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That is not true, Ive copied an excerpt from an AWS code that I happen to have here at home, most of my tech library is at my office.
Please note the instances where "shall" and "preheat" are used.. Also take note of the paragraph where field welding is mentioned, I would go out on a limb and say most people welding at home are doing so in field conditions, and hence they should apply what most codes require more vigorously.
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Errrrr...sort of. Higher amperage welders allow deeper penetration into the material itself. You don't want to stitch weld a weld-bead to a weld bead-to weld bead-to weld bead (get the hint?). What you are doing is laying bead atop bead, and never really getting into the material to a decent depth. Not only is it not the soundest way to go, I'll laugh when I see it.
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OK laugh.. Ill have to post some scans of a few PQRs and WPS that show multiple passes.. say joining 1.5" material to 1" material. Im sure you know that many weldments are made up by multiple passes ... Joint preparation, preheat, interpass temp, and post heat are all critical.
One reason a hobby welder ie a 110v Lincoln/Hobart/Miller wont be used for heavy weldments is economics.. It would take many more passes @ 1/8 than a more powerful machine depositing passes @ 5/16
Should I also show you that the WPS shows 24 volts specified forgot the amperage.. have to pull out the WPS.. I also have radiographs, and ultrasound reports of these welds..
Preheating is also a good practice when welding non-ferrous metals..In fact I can pull a bunch of codes that say so....
Hobby welders should strive to try and meet the requirements of the AWS/API/ASME code... it will do them nothing but good..
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You don't want to stitch weld a weld-bead to a weld bead-to weld bead-to weld bead (get the hint?).
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Do you get the hint?...
I dumbed down my original post... because yes you can weld over 1/4 in with a 110v at home MIG.. it will take more time but you can do
If you forsee doing lots of greater than 3/8 welding in the future maybe upgrade your equipment