I NEED welding tips.

[fdsa487]

OK... so I have a little experience welding from auto shop back in high school (which was not to long ago BTW). I know how they work and I know how to prepare an area to be welded. The only thing that I do not know is how to set the correct temp on the welder so that I can weld to the thin uni-body. I bought a pair of TNT Frame Stiffeners and am planning on welding them on this coming weekend. The welder that im using is an older stick-type welder. Is this welder to hot of a welder for an inexperienced person to be using to weld on the uni-body? Helpful commentary is greatly appreciated:kissyou:

 

[4.3xjguy]

Are you welding to the frame rails? I havent welded anything to them yet but they do look like there atleast 3/16" thick. With a stick welder you would set your amperage for what rod you are using. I recomend you pick up some 7018 1/8" or maybe even 3/32" rods. For the 1/8" rods set your machine around 125 and you should be in the ballpark, give or take 10 amps. For the 3/32" hmmm, around 90 amps. This would be if your machine has DC, and you would set your machine up as electrode positive. If your machine is just a AC buzz box youd have to use 7018ac or 6013 rods. I dont really know what to set it for those, but it should say the heat range on the box so just set it in the middle and fine tune from there.

As for as inexperienced goes I recomend you practice on some scrap first. Especially since your gonna have to weld out of possition on your frame. haha well Id say if your asking these questions you probably shouldnt be welding on your frame, but thats not gonna stop you is it

 

[fdsa487]

well Id say if your asking these questions you probably shouldnt be welding on your frame, but thats not gonna stop you is it

Probably not but i'll think about it. Thanks for the advice though!

 

[goodburbon]

I personally think a 1/8 rod will require too much heat for an inexperienced welder, the smaller rod will be easier to handle and you'll run less of a chance of burning through.

As was stated before, get the temp set on some scrap before you go start chewing up your frame.

 

[goodburbon]

oh, and a 6011 rod will do nicely, 6011 welds don't come out as pretty as a 7018, but the 7018 is harder and requires higher temp range.

 

[4.3xjguy]

agh, when I was learning to weld I always found 6010 / 11 harder to weld with. Although your right on the fact that it runs at a lower amperage, 6011 is a deep penetrating rod and in away actually welds hotter. I could see him burning a hole right through his frame pretty easily with 6011 if he doesn't know what hes doing. Might do the same with 7018 but it will take a bit more effort . Actually your right he should go with the 3/32 rod, that way if he does mess up he wont f*** up his frame as bad

 

[tealcherokee]

borrow a mig....

 

[Mr.OverKill]

borrow a mig....

X 200
and run it on the cool side focusing your heat on the stiffener not the folded sheet metal quasi frame and clean clean clean before you weld it

 

[LOWTECH]

MIGS Rule for us novice welders

 

[MudDawg]

Low hydrogen rods are definately NOT for newbs....'specially not for overhead beads....

 

[zith]

I've got my own question on this subject because I'm in the same boat. I have an arc welder that I'm starting to feel fairly comfortable using, but do not have a mig at my disposal.
I was going to mess around with some 3/32 or maybe 1/16 6011 rod on some scrap to see if I can manage to weld without burning through. What type of thickness is the uniframe so I can find some scrap to 'simulate' it?

 

[Ramsey]

i believe it is 11 gauge