help with my welding

[CopyKat]

Using DC rods on an AC machine sucks balls, and rarely works.

My guess is that it's an AC machine. Go to crappy tire and get some of the 3/32or 5/64th 7018 rods. The 6011 is more of a cutting rod. the base metal don't need to be spotless clean.

I use the 6011 as a root pass then fill with 7018's.

AC rods are hard to find but they are still around, just need to look extra hard.

 

[DRanger024]

Doesnt anyone else think that looks like aluminum that he's trying to weld on? I love arc welding stainless, now thats a treat!

 

[badblue]

ya the piece you have in the is aluminum you need to got some thing else to try on or if what you are trying to fix is aluminum you need a mig spool gun or a tig welder

 

[colinrmitchell]

I don't have kind of formal training or anything, but I'll try to give some ideas that I learned along the way.

It definitely helps sometimes, especially when I was learning, to hold the electrode holder with both of my hands. I would shake less and was able to control my strike a lot better. A shorter electrode is usually easier to control than a long (new) one.

You do want to go slow. I would say try going about 1/4" per second to start out so that you can lay a nice bead. Lay the electrode at about a 45 degree angle the direction you are traveling.

This may seem dumb, but remember to breathe! I would always hold my breath when I was welding (I don't know why), especially when striking an arc. I guess I would just get a little nervous or something. When I first started welding, the arc would shock me (I mean surprise me!) when it first took, so it took a little time to get used to it.

I have found it easier to strike an arc and keep it from sticking with 7018. 6013 seems to stick a lot more, especially when striking.

If the arc starts buzzing sporadically or popping, not a nice constant hum, you may be holding the electrode too far away.

It's easier to strike and keep the arc with a higher amperage. 110 or 125 might be a good place to start. That's what I did.

Be careful to watch the duty cycle on the welder, so you don't overheat it.

 

[warrior24]

Doesnt anyone else think that looks like aluminum that he's trying to weld on? I love arc welding stainless, now thats a treat!

LOL didn't know you could do that sounds like fun.


Yeah Just do a straight line no circles or other figures.

 

[colordranger27]

sell it and buy a mig

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

to arc weld you strike it like a match, not touch it gently... then you have to maintain about an 1/8th of an inch clearance from the metal... and CLEAN the metal you're welding first

 

[MountainMike]

My advice to practice the laying of a bead is try getting to motion with a shorter welding rod. I found when I began the full size stick got stuck a lot. Get someone to lay a bead with a fresh rod to show you and try right after them. Something I found helpful for the first little bit.

 

[Iron Ranger]

sell it and buy a mig

Yeah, that's one way to admit defeat.

MIG is best in every aspect, BUT, stick teaches you how to control the flow of metal, how to hold the stinger, how fast or how slow to travel, and what is comfortable for you to weld in(standing up, sitting down, etc.)

Welders who have a rigorous course in stick welding then move on to wire feed welding have a much easier time figuring out the concept than a welder who dove right into wire feed welding.

I'm a stick man myself, I love the smell of hot flux and it's like opening a present everytime you chip the slag since you never know what lies beneath.

Master the stick, then you can do anything.

 

[Rinny650]

For you to learn how to weld on, I don't recommend starting on something thin. Try a piece of angle iron. Even a piece of 1x1 angle will make it easier. I have seen most people learn easier with 6013's. They make it easy to watch the puddle usually. I find it easier to strike the arc by taking the tip of the rod and basically tapping it to the metal and then pulling back up. I rarely scratch start. If you can, go to your local welding supply and ask for TAC rods. They are AC rods that are made for simply tack welding or sheetmetal work. They are super easy to learn on. Burn them about 60amps or so. If you set the amperage higher then you sometimes dont even have to completely touch the rod to the metal, it will arc before you touch. My last tip that old pipe fitters at work taught me, is to keep a big metal file in your back pocket. If you get the rod stuck a time or two, take the file and scratch the tip of the rod clean until you see shiny rod showing. also if you stick and burn the flux off the end of the rod, cut off the rod until you get to where the rod has flux on it then file it and restart

 

[Boggin]

thanks for all the tips guys but i got the patches done in my build thread, i used metal screws and it works perfect and ill just seal around the edges. later on i will get a peice of steel and start to weld

 

[carcraft302]

It is hard to tell for sure but make sure you have a good ground, adequate amperage amd clean metal. The rod number is a code and I can't remember but it sould be easy, 1st two numbers are the strength of the weld rod, one nuber tells you if you can only weld flat with the rod. It does look like dirty metal, low amperage, bad ground or not a good contact in the rod holder. Check the connections to the welder, they may be lose causing you to get faulty intermitent circuit.

 

[warrior24]

Yeah, that's one way to admit defeat.

MIG is best in every aspect, BUT, stick teaches you how to control the flow of metal, how to hold the stinger, how fast or how slow to travel, and what is comfortable for you to weld in(standing up, sitting down, etc.)

Welders who have a rigorous course in stick welding then move on to wire feed welding have a much easier time figuring out the concept than a welder who dove right into wire feed welding.

I'm a stick man myself, I love the smell of hot flux and it's like opening a present everytime you chip the slag since you never know what lies beneath.

Master the stick, then you can do anything.

LOL I love smell as well at first I hated it but grew to liking it. Yeah chipping the slag is the best part. I love it when it just peels off in one big chunk.

 

[Will]

Good luck welding that thin stuff with a stick welder.

Get a big piece of steel and some 3/32s 6011 rod. Turn the machine all the way up and do what everyone said about getting the arc started.

 

[85DANGERanger]

arc welding, i once was in your shoes, i worked on a pipe line and the first thing they taught me was arec welding. i neer thought i was gunna get it, i kept getting the rod stuck evry time i struck it. after about a 8hr. day of welding non stop, i was pretty damn good. a week later they sent me to get cerified so i can start working, and i passed the test using 7018. youll get the hang of it, youll need someone around that can tell you a thing or to, but eventually youll get it.