Got some welding in last night...just practice

[BIGdaddy]

worked for about and hour, and layed about 30 beads. Worked on focusing on the puddle and spot welding first to keep the metal from shifting or warping

This is with a crackerbox arc welder, BTW. with 6011 1/8" electrodes

metal was mild steel angle, and then a bit of fence tubing. No pics, cuz honestly they suck, but one question

I had the welder turned down to 40 (volts?) when working with thinner piece of metal and before I could get a good puddle going, I blew right through it. This is the machines lowest setting.

Is there another way, maybe with a different electrode?...to work a thinner piece of metal?

thanks!

 

[inked33]

How thick was the metal you were trying to weld? Does the welder have a knob for fine tuning?

 

[BIGdaddy]

sorry for the hotlink. this is the type of welder. on/off and Amp adj. only.

 

[Stumpalump]

Thin metal is really hard with an arc welder. You can just do a bunch of spot welds or you can move the electrode a lot faster. The key is to keep the arc from getting any one spot too hot. The Eastwood company used to sell a diode that attached to your stinger and converted AC to DC allowing you to do thinner material. They don't list it anymore but you can Goggle up the conversion and find home brew methods to do the same thing or ask Eastwood if they still have one.

 

[inked33]

you really have to know what your doing to stick weld really thin material, it helps to have a welder that you can fine tune and switch the polarity on. your best bet is to move faster then what you were and move the stick in a weaving or half moon motions to keep one spot from getting to hot. as far as the rod goes your already using a small fast freeze rod so your good there.

i would recomend just to keep practicing on thicker material if you can. figure out what motions you like using and work for you. once you are comfortable laying a good weld on the thicker material then go to the thinner stuff. should have an easier time that way

 

[BIGdaddy]

10-4 good buddies

 

[RHINO]

daddy, once you get the puddle started and before you blow through, raise the electrode about as far as you can before stopping the arc. this will distribute the heat more. speed up to reduce the puddle size but keep it liquid, use a small soft electrode, i have the ability to run dc and prefer a 7014 rod, but i think 7013 is the ac only equivalent? hit your local shop and ask them about electrodes. i used an arc for everything before i got a mig,,,, it can be done.

 

[toyrunner95]

daddy, once you get the puddle started...

My computer jumps to the most recent post and that was the first thing I read. That just sounded sooooo wrong.:sombrero:

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Brian,

When you get good. You can help me weld up a tongue, on a cut a way junk yard Toyota truck bed, for a home made matching trailer!....:costumed-smiley-007

I just need to find a San Diego junk yard that does not think their junk is gold!





.

 

[inked33]

use a small soft electrode, i have the ability to run dc and prefer a 7014 rod, but i think 7013 is the ac only equivalent?

7014 and 7013 run hotter then 6011. 6011 is what they call a fast freeze rod, the weld pool will cool alot faster which makes it ideal for sheet metal as well as out of position welding. you can use a 7014 rod but its harder to do

 

[inked33]

I just need to find a San Diego junk yard that does not think their junk is gold!

i dont know about out there but in the chicago area i have actually found new parts for cheaper then what the junkyard wanted to charge me

 

[RHINO]

your right inked, 70xx rods are hotter, but for some reason i find it easier to work with them and they "feel" soft when welding. i dont know why, maybe that was just the diff with DC ?
at any rate i'd say buy a couple different rods and experiment on sheet scrap.

 

[inked33]

rhino theres nothing wrong with using those rods. if its one thing ive learned from all my years working as a welder its that everyone has their preferences, and what works for one doesnt necessarily work for the other....