Just joined a new society....

[Kejtar]

it's called booger welders anonymous

Anyways, I have to give credit to those that make nice welds with the stick welder....... it's not as easy as it looks!

Kejtar

 

[Karlm]

Yeah, I know what yer saying. I spents some time learning a few weeks ago under the watchful eye of one of my buddiess. I know have the burn hole in my new sneakers to prove it. I couldn't for the life of me keep from welding the damn rod to the peice I was practicing on. I have a newfound respect for those of you out there who can lay down those super-clean beads.

 

[Kejtar]

Well..... I am going to have to dedicate some time to that welder ... as I said I know that i need to replace the ground clamp as I'm not always getting good ground (even with a big ground magnet) and I'm not sure if the regulator on top is doing what it's supposed to be doing as couple times it seemed like I was running too hot and the rod would just melt away and burn away And yeah.... they were brand new from a sealed back, freshly looking 6011 1/8" rods....

Kejtar

 

[JJ13]

What type of welder are you using?? Are you welding ac or dc?Also make sure to use a shade 11 or 12 welding helmet, the darker shaded lense allows you to see only what you need to see (the weld pool, and molten metal, and not the arc from the rod). It is like anything else, getting good takes time. Wait till you start welding vertical or overhead, that is when the real fun starts. Oh one other thing, get some 7018 rod, it burns alot nicer than 6011.

 

[RichP]

Back in HS I got a job with a pipe manufacturing company called Interpace, my experience was HS metal shop, they made small 1ft dia to 50ft diameter piping and other stuff. When I got hired on the eve shift [3-11] my forman stuck me around the corner out of sight on a 24x24Ft table and told me to practice practice practice on scraps, so I did. On day two he got suspicious when all the scaffolding gradually dissappeared, after I ran out of table space I started going up, he came over and inspected my welds from the bottom to the top I spent the next two days after that learing how to use a carbon arc and a torch to take it all apart, that was a PIA

 

[Kejtar]

I'll have to try the 7018 rod and yeah... it's AC welder...

Kejtar

 

[4ward]

I can't for the life of me get 7018 to work on an AC welder. On a DC it's a different story. 7014 does well for me on the AC. I'm not a fan of 6011 or 6013 unless I'm welding through paint/ grease/ dirt. Have you learned the helmet flip yet or did you putz out and go autodark?

Sean

 

[Kejtar]

I am cheap so no autodark for me although I have moments when I consider it (like when my bead is not where it should be ).... I know one thing... if I go autodark.. I will go fancy... something like a stormtrooper helmet or vaders helmet

By flip do you mean the shake of the head that makes it come down??

 

[Kejtar]

kind of to follow up on this.. what rods are you guys using on AC?
One ton suggested 7014's and what else are you using guys??? I got the 6011's for the "dirty, rusty, over paint" welding... what else do you guys suggest??

 

[M. Lake]

I started learning last week, under the watchful eye of me using a welder with a broken adjuster, so it is too hot, using 7018 rods. Dug welder out of dads shed and the power cord don't fit the 220 outlet, so I had to buy a new pigtail and wire it up. My dad has had it for over 15 years and never used it, when I remembered, I went over and dug it out. The helmet has a nasty lense that looks like it has rust all over it. The helmet trick I learned was to put a towle over my head so that no light came in from the sides, top, or bottom, then wait till I can see what I am welding. Practiced on some old leaf springs and the welds dont hold. When I break it apart, it looks like cast metal inside were the bead was. Dont know what kind of welder it is, or if it is ac or dc. Since every metal works shop in town wont teach, I have to figure it out myself........sorry bastards.

 

[churky89]

welding

One of the most important things about "stick"welding is to keep the "rods"as dry as possible.Humidity can play hell with any rod.
There are heaters that can be purchased at welding supply cos,but have heard and seen of some homebrew heaters that are cheep and easy to make.
Take an old frige,put in a heat lamp(doesn't have to be equal to the heat from the sun)add a timer and that should keep the rods dry.By old frige I mean pre magnetic seal,the ones w/a handle.
Have heard of people who used an old oven,but that requires a 220v hook up.
Have heard of clothes dryers being used,tis also requires 220v hook up,and you have to put a rack inside.NO,you do not "tumble "the rods,you just use the heat.You disconnect the drive system(cut or remove the belt)

 

[ChuckD]

Couldn't you just use your wife's hairdryer before using them, or maybe even a heatgun if you wanted to be more manly.

 

[HossHoffer]

Learn to whip

The 6011 rods require you to whip the rod i.e. move it in and out of the puddle as you go along. Think of it as nickles overlapping each other. 7018 is just drug along the weld giving more of a mig weld look. Keep at it!

 

[Kejtar]

lol... I am running out of scrap steel!!!! Btw, I did find out something interesting: I can "burn" through using a rod

In any case, I tried the 7014 and 7018 and 6011 and the 7018.. well... I'm having trouble getting it to arc (as in I thought that my welder died at one point).. and 7018 and 6011 seem to act the same way: splatter and evaporate away

Kejtar