Welding

Welding

Department H - Section 920
Premium Schedule B

►ALL STATIC EXHIBITS MUST HAVE RECEIVED A PURPLE RIBBON AT THE COUNTY FAIR TO ADVANCE TO THE STATE FAIR.

This category helps 4-H’ers learn the basics of welding. In addition, 4-H’ers get the opportunity to present their knowledge on the topic and display what they have made. Involvement in STEM Welding gives participants first-hand experience in a skill that can be used for a lifetime. For help getting started with this project contact your county  4-H office.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The name and county of each exhibitor should appear separately on the back of each board, poster or article and on the front cover of the notebooks so owner of exhibit may be identified if the entry tag is separated from the exhibit.

Demonstration boards should be sanded and finished to improve their appearance. The finish on a demonstration board will be judged as a woodworking exhibit.

Reports should be written using the scientific method whenever possible (Background, the Question or hypothesis, what you plan to do and what you did, Method used and observations, Results: what you learned.) All reports should be computer generated and enclosed in a clear plastic cover. The reports should be attached securely to the display. 

Please refer to the General Rules for the policy regarding firearms, items with a blade, and other related items.

Please refer to the General Rules for the policy regarding use of copywritten images. 

Team Entries  To qualify for entry at the Nebraska State Fair team exhibit the exhibit and all supporting information must clearly be the work of a team instead of an individual, and must have at least 50% of all team members enrolled in 4-H. Additionally, all enrolled 4-H members on the team should complete and attach an entry tag to the materials. A supplemental page documenting the individual contributions to the project should be included. The entry will be judged as a team, with all team members receiving the same ribbon placing.

Posters in this department can by any size up to 28 inches x 22 inches when ready for display. Example: trifold poster boards are not 28 inches x 22 inches when full open for display. 

Several classes require a display board which should be a height of 24 inches and not to exceed 1/4” thickness. A height of 24 7/8 inches is acceptable to allow for the saw kerf (width) if two 24 inches boards are cut from one end of a 4 foot by 8 foot sheet of plywood. Nothing should be mounted within 3/4” of the top or bottom of the board. (Example: Woodworking & Electricity.)

  • Fabricated board such as plywood, composition board, or particle-type lumber may be used for demonstration displays.
  • Demonstration boards should be sanded and finished to improve their appearance. The finish on a demonstration board will be judged as a woodworking exhibit. 
  • Demonstration boards should include an overall title for the display plus other necessary labeling.
  • Reports should be written using the scientific method whenever possible (Background, the Question or hypothesis, what you plan to do and what you did, Method used and observations, Results: what you learned.) All reports should be computer generated and enclosed in a clear plastic cover. The reports should be attached securely to the display. 

Scoresheets, forms, contest study materials, and additional resources can be found at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hstem

All welds exhibited in class 1 or 2 must be mounted on a 12 inch high x 15”inch long display board of thickness not to exceed 3/8 inch. Attach each weld on a wire loop hinge or equivalent, so the judge can look at the bottom side of the weld when necessary.

 Each weld should
 be labeled with information stated 
1) type of welding process (stick, MIG, TIG, Oxy-Acetylene, etc.) 
2) kind of weld 
3) welder setting
4) electrode/wire/rod size
5) electrode/wire/rod ID numbers. Attach a wire to display board so it can be hung like a picture frame. No picture frame hangers accepted. 

Fabricated board such as plywood, composition board, or particle-type lumber may be used for demonstration displays.

Demonstration boards should be sanded and finished to improve their appearance. The finish on a demonstration board will be judged as a woodworking exhibit.

 Reports should be written using the scientific method whenever possible (Background, the Question or hypothesis, what you plan to do and what you did, Method used and observations, Results: what you learned.) All reports should be computer generated and enclosed in a clear plastic cover. The reports should be attached securely to the display. 

 If no plans are included with welding art, welding article, welding furniture or composite weld project item will be disqualified. 

Welding Joints

  • All welds should be made with the same electrode/wire/rod size and number.
  • Welds should be made only on one side of metal so penetration can be judged.
  • Welds should be cleaned with chipping hammer and wire brush. Apply a coat of light oil (penetrating oil) to the metal to prevent rusting. Wipe off excess oil.
  • It is suggested that all welds be of the same size and thickness as metal. These pieces, referred to as coupons, should be 1.5 to 2 inches wide and 3.5 to 4 inches long. A good way to get this size is to buy new cold rolled strap iron and cut to length. The extra width is needed to provide enough metal to absorb the heat from the welding process and prevent the coupons from becoming too hot before the bead is completed. Narrower coupons will become very hot, making an average welder setting too cold at the bead start, just about right in the middle, and too hot at the end. The correct way to weld narrow strips is to make short beads and allow time to cool, however this project requires a full length bead.

Stick welding

  • Suggested coupon thickness – ¼ inch if using 1 inch rod. Suggested rod-AC and DC straight or reverse polarity – first E-7014, second E-6013.
  • MIG welding Suggested coupon thickness--¼ inch if using .035 wire and 1/8 inch if using .023 wire. 
  • Oxy-Acetylene—Suggested coupon thickness– 1/8 inch  Suggested rod– 1/8 inch mild steel rod.

 Position Welds

  • It is suggested that all welds be of the same size and thickness as metal. These pieces are referred to as coupons. The welds can be on one coupon that is about 4 inch x 4 inch or on individual coupons that are about 2 inches X 4 inches and ¼ inch thick. Suggested rods for this class of position welds for AC and DC straight or reverse polarity is, first E-6013, second E-7014 and E-6010 for DC reverse polarity only.
  • Welds should be cleaned with a chipping hammer and wire brush. Apply a coat of light oil (penetrating oil) to the metal to prevent rusting. Wipe off excess oil.

Welding Article – project tips and Suggestions: 

  • All welds should be cleaned and protected from rust with paint or light oil. Plans are to be complete enough that if they were given to a welding shop, the item could be made without further instructions. Bill of materials should include a cost for all items used including steel, electrodes, paint, wheels, etc.

*1.        Welding Joints - a display of one butt, one lap and one fillet weld.
*2.        Position Welds - a display showing three beads welded in the vertical down, horizontal and overhead positions.
*3.        Welding Art -   Any art created using tack welds to hold the metal pieces together (examples include horseshoe projects). Type of welder, welder settings, all plans, plan alternations, and a bill for material must be attached to the article. Protect plans with cover. If project is designed to be outside, it is required to have appropriate outdoor finish.
*4.        Welding Article - any shop article where welding is used in the construction. 60% of the item must be completed by 4-Her and notes regarding laser welding or machine welding must be included. Type of welder, welder settings, all plans, plan alternations, and a bill for material must be attached to the article. Protect plans with a cover. If project is designed to be outside it is required to have appropriate outdoor finish because project may be displayed outside.
*5.        Welding Furniture -  Any furniture with 75% welding is used in the construction. 60% of item must be completed by 4-H’er and notes regarding laser welding or machine welding must be included. Type of welder, welder settings, all plans, plan alternations, and a bill for material must be attached to the article? . Protect plans with a cover. If project is designed to be outside it is required to have appropriate outdoor finish because project may be displayed outside. 
*6.        Plasma Cutter/Welder Design - Plasma cutters/welders allowed for detailed design to butt cut into metal. 4-H members will create a notebook describing the design process to create the “artwork” to butt cut into metal. This exhibit is not eligible for entry at the state fair. In the notebook include: 

  • ·A photo (front and back of the finished project. 
  • Instructions on how the design was created,  (include software used), this allows for replication of the project.
  • Lessons learned or improvements to the project.
  • Steps to finish the project. 

*7.        Composite Weld Project -  60% of the project must be welded and 40% made from other materials such as wood, rubber, etc. Type of welder, welder settings, all plans, plan alternations, and a bill for material must be attached to the article. Protect plans with a cover. If project is designed to be outside it is required to have appropriate outdoor finish because project may be displayed outside.

Dakota~Thurston County Fairbook