Welding..

[Andy_Copland 0]

Ok im teaching myself how to weld. So i earthed the kit and stuck a stick in, power on and away i go... Why the fuck does it stick?

I've just tried turning the voltage up and it made it worse, so put it down a bit. Only problem is i think i put it down too much because the weld is a bit....high off the metal.

Any tips?

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.

[skydemon2 0]

you must maintain a 1/4-1/8inch gag between the tip and the metal slowly feeding it in as the rod gets shorter, always maintaining the gap

Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone!

I like to start my day off with a little Ray of Soulshine™!!

[jasonRose 0]

Very common for first timers on stick welding!! Depending on what your welding (assuming 1/8"+ mild steel) your amperage range should be between 80 and 100amps for starters. I am also assuming you are using 3/32 6011 welding rod

Try scratching the metal with a new stick (one with all the flux still on it) that might help.

Some day I will have the best staff in the world!!!

[Andy_Copland 0]

I get the gap, but its kinda spits if i go too high. Im getting my technique down slowly, its just the voltage needed thats confusing me. I was using a thick stick with high power, left it on high power with a thing stick and nearly set myself on fire, stick vanished into flames fast

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.

[Andy_Copland 0]

The steel im welding is just a big fat heavy slab, doing lines....treid joining two pieces together earlier and it looked surprisingly good. fluke though, its went to shit after...right let mego look at my power settings and rods, have loads of differant ones

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.

[Andy_Copland 0]

Forgot to add, near on shat in my pants when the stick got stuck, was fighting with it and the metal bounced around on the table. Lots of sparks when the metal leaves the table and comes back down...

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.

[Andy_Copland 0]

OK......im on 180 amps and using a 6013

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.

[bozo 0]

Quote

OK......im on 180 amps and using a 6013

turn the amps down to about 95 stay above your puddle, move slowly....drag towards yourself.


bozo the certified welder

bozo
Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars.

[soulshine 0]

The only thing I know about welding is that you shouldn't do it naked.

Bombing for peace is like fucking for virginity!
~DEVIOUS BEEF~~FGF #69~

[bozo 0]

Quote

The only thing I know about welding is that you shouldn't do it naked.

dont weld while wearing fipflops, at a bare minimum.
welding slag on your feet hurts like hell i sure wouldnt want it hitting my willy.


bozo

bozo
Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars.

[jumpinfarmer 0]

7014 is easier to weld with for me.

Be sure to weave back and forth some when joining two pieces together.

I'm not a real good welder but I can manage to glue broken farm machinery back together.

[AggieDave 6]

Don't weld by brail either, wear a damn mask, or you'll be doing everything by brail.

That and although you may not wear leather sleeves in the summer, atleast wear long sleeves, jeans and boots. I've learned some good lessons about that before.

AND

If you're not wearing gloves, don't lean on the large door of the mockup that you're welding up for the DZ with your hand while you weld. It feels like a taser, but deeper.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Andy_Copland 0]

Im finding out loads of shit.

Dont have sleeves rolled up, looks like hot rock burns on your arms... oh and the metal stays hot for a very long time after, smoking gloves and burnt fingers.

So i'd say your right in not doing it naked...

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.

[Andy_Copland 0]

Got a mask, found it in the cupboard, its electrical, goes dark when youstart welding so your not flipping it up all the time

I've also found that when the weld looks good and feels good, the residue (think its slag) peels off onits own

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.

[skydemon2 0]

Quote

Im finding out loads of shit.

Dont have sleeves rolled up, looks like hot rock burns on your arms... oh and the metal stays hot for a very long time after, smoking gloves and burnt fingers.

So i'd say your right in not doing it naked...

I hope you survive your learning curve! (dont stand in puddles either)

Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone!

I like to start my day off with a little Ray of Soulshine™!!

[Andy_Copland 0]

I hope so aswell, i've been shitting myself

Im getting it though, actually quite good fun

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.

[skydemon2 0]

Well I hope you have 2ply then!!

Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone!

I like to start my day off with a little Ray of Soulshine™!!

[bch7773 0]

Quote

Forgot to add, near on shat in my pants when the stick got stuck, was fighting with it and the metal bounced around on the table. Lots of sparks when the metal leaves the table and comes back down...

IF it sticks, don't do that. Just turn off the current, THEN knock it off the metal.

MB 3528, RB 1182

[popsjumper 2]

I wonder if a welding machine could be used for an electric 8-way.....Hmmmmm

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[Dumpster 0]

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Why the fuck does it stick?

Reason why they call it "stick" welding -

You'll need practice - and lots of it -

Get 1/8th rods.

Use a #10 shade filter.

If you're running 6013 run AC at about 90 - 100 amps depending on what your weld looks like.

I prefer 7018 with a positive electrode myself.

But the rod you use may depend on the welding and the metal. But not to digress - - -

Then there's 7014, often referred to here in the states as "idiot wire".

While welding, cover up all exposed skin to prevent burns and sunburn - Yes, lots of UV - You'll get sunburn.

Look carefully at your puddle while you're running your bead. You'll see the difference in color between the actual molten metal and the slag. A little bit of stick manipulation and you'll learn how to "wash" the slag out of the puddle and leave a nice looking bead, that is strong and doesn't look like a pidgeon shit all over the workpiece.

You'll also learn to see how deep you're penetrating the parent metal. Penetration is good. Weak welds are bad.

KEEP YOUR FACE OUT OF THE FUMES!!!! WEAR A MASK!! Go to the welding shop and get mask made for weldin fumes. Heavy metal poisoning sucks and the damage is irreversable. Unless you like being retarded and slurring your words all the time.

AVOID FLASH!! Unless you like being blind, or don't mind having a handful of sand in your eyes.

Welding galvanized metal - Grind the zinc off, first, and watch out as the fumes not only burn your eyes and throat like crazy, they're highly toxic, and can cause "metal fume fever", where you feel like your whole body aches like you've got a bout of the flu. Drink lots of milk to help avoid it.

Practice practice practice and BE SAFE. Weld peices together flat, T, L, pipe, whatever you can think of. When running vertical, go up. It takes lots pf practice. The reason for going up is to keep slag from getting entrapped under the puddle and weakening the weld. When you get real good start working overhead. Watch out for spatter, and lots of it at first.

Have fun. I've been weldin for about 25 years now. One of the best parts of my job is when I get to turn a pile of metal into something useful.

Easy Does It

[squirrel 0]

Quote

The steel im welding is just a big fat heavy slab, doing lines....treid joining two pieces together earlier and it looked surprisingly good. fluke though, its went to shit after...right let mego look at my power settings and rods, have loads of differant ones

i am actually takeing a welding program at my local college.

if you are trying to weld plate together, you will need a "root" opening between the plates to get proper penatration and fusion. the "space" or "gap" between the plates should be about 1/8 inch.

now, when you start to weld, you will stick the electrod into the gap, feeling the metal as you go. a hole will develop, this is called the "keyhole" opening, dont hesitate too long there, or the hole will become huge. the idea is too have your puddle fill the hole at it cools.

a basic rule too is "high heat (current) fast travel, low heat, slow travel."

and, go to a welding supply shop, or pick up book the explains the difference in welding rods. all those numbers actually mean something, like tensile strength, flux characteristics, pentration, welding postion, AC or DC. the rod type makes a HUGE difference.

better yet, have a good teacher show you how to weld...it will save you hundreds of hours, and your welds will actually hold

there is so much more to add, but i dont have all day.

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?