I've done miles of low hydrogen open root. Mostly 8018 and 11018 but 7018 also works about the same. Vertical is always up. Run it just hot enough that it doesn't stick. Hold the toes and fly across the middle. Once the root is in turn up 5 to 10 amps and run a "hot" pass. You should be a...

Well... I recently found out you cant go down hill with 7018s. Even on pipe. Amy advice on welding pipes with 7018s from root to cap? Thanks in advance.

Ahahaha. I'm never going to weldmart again. Firstly, they were never all too helpful when I asked them questions and the grinding discs they gave me were so bad... They were off center and it made my grinder vibrate like crazy. Quality Lincoln Electric electrodes are expensive as hell down here. We'...

Some of you know by now that I'm an American welding student in Australia who isn't exactly happy with how his TAFE course is structured. From what I've seen of the international students before me, they didn't have much opportunities for welding pipe and I've decided to take it upon myself to learn...

Hey, Yep, Is it a good thing? How much did it sting ya?($) I did a bit of research on 6011/6010s through a facebook page im on. It seems they are used for the same kind of stuff here as in the US, such as pipe lines, tie ins creek crossings and root runs, mining and maintenance work, Lincoln 5p+ se...

Hey rake. I took your advice and ran that second run faster. No cold laps and my three run overhead fillets are good now. Thank you very much.

Are you asking me what welding machine I got? I got a Lincoln Electric Powercraft 130.

Yea I know. Why arent 6010s used in aus? These stick root runs are kicking my ass. What should my gap be? I feel as though anything above a 2mm gap is near impossible to do. I also have a problem with sticking when doing the root run. It's so god damn frustrating. It really shouldn't be this hard.

I'll try that next time. Where would you do overhead fillet welds on the shipyard?

So a 35 degree angle at the bottom toe for the second bead? Should my second run be faster than my first? Amperage ain't no issue for me. I set it nice and hot (same setting for flat).

Would love to see a video on stick welding root passes for landings and gaps of various sizes. I think a video like this would help out a lot of beginner welders since the root run is the hardest to do among the three layers (root, fill and cap). By the way, do your TIG fingers ship to Australia?

This has been frustrating me like crazy. Been doing overhead fillets for the past couple of weeks and I just can't seem to get the second run right. The first and third runs are no problem but when I do all three runs, there is cold lapping at the bottom of the weld. Unfortunately I don't have a cam...

Has anybody used any Nikko Steel electrodes by any chance? Are they any good?

Along the lines of this topic, has anyone used 7016 rods much? Hey, A mate who welds stuctual and general site fab said he swears by 7016s . Easy as anything to weld vert up. Im yet to try apart from trades school. Mick I can attest to this. I've welded (although just once) vertical with 6013s and ...

If the 10 amp welders can't handle 3.2mm rods, would I be at a disadvantage by practicing with 2.5mm? If so, how much of a disadvantage?

There are two types of 3 pronged sockets in Australia and they look almost exactly the same with one difference. The bottom pin for the 15 amp socket is 5mm bigger than the one for the 10 amp socket. I only have 10 amp sockets so welders that require 15 amp sockets are out of the questions. What are...

That's nice and all but I live in Australia and am looking for a decent stick welder that can fit in a 10 amp socket (the most common Australian household socket). Is the Lincoln Electric Procraft 130 any good? Will it be able to burn 1/8 7018s at 120 amps pretty well?

Wiring instructions? What would those include? Also, wouldn't this burn my house down? Would it be safe to weld with 130-150 amps for hours using the 15 amp adapter?

I don't think I have any 15 amp sockets. Would ones that work with 10 amp sockets be able to burn 3.2mm rods? Would I be at a disadvantage for using 2.5 mm instead? Thanks for all the replies.

I live in Sydney. So... would those work with 3.2 mm rods? Since they can go up to 130 amps, I should have no problems, right?

My school is for the most part using 6013s so I'm thinking of buying a 130 amp single phase stick welder. Can any of you guys can suggest a reasonably priced single phased stick welder that can burn 1/8 rods (3.2mm) pretty well. By the way, I live in Australia.

I would have no complaints if I were allowed to bring in my own rods and start burning away. I've got issues with my TAFE course because they don't allow us to use our own rods... And this semester we're only welding 8 hours a week. From the start I have asked for more time at the booth and if I cou...

I'm on a student visa and I don't think consulting an embassy is going to improve my chances of getting a permanent residency. I'd have to go through the immigration bureaucracy like everybody else.

Hey everyone. I'm an American citizen attending TAFE in Australia at the moment with the hopes of getting permanent residency. Unfortunately, the only welding course available to international students turns out to be a real shitty one and I need all the help I can get. I'd really appreciate it if a...

All right, then. Thanks a lot for the info guys. Really appreciate it.