Welding Tips and Tricks

Hi all,

Just started using my stick welder 2 days ago. Owned it for a year but just got around to using it. So many other projects on the go.

200A no-brand MMA machine
6013 2.6mm rods
1" box, 1/16" thick

1st tried at 100A, too hot.



2nd @ 50A, looks too cold



3rd @ 75A looks about right.



Tried joining two pieces of box into a tee shape but I won't post a photo of that.

I am finding keeping the arc at a consistent distance the hardest part. Is it just a matter of practice? I stand with the workpiece in a vice at waist level. Is sitting or raising the work a better idea?

Thanks a lot.
Andy

This video will answer question better and faster than me typing

http://welding-tv.com/2012/10/10/stick- ... -buzz-box/

btw, welcome to the forum and have fun with your new, soon-to-be, addiction

I would ditch the square tube and get yourself a piece of quarter inch or thicker plate, at least 6 inches wide. The Steve Bleile arc welding videos are very good if you can get them (on line or in a store). Jody doesn't really have any how to start from scratch kind of videos that I have seen, but I think his boy scout merit badge video is probably as close as you will get. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKn8Ccgtdpw

For what you are doing you need to work on rod angle, arc length and speed of progression to get to a more uniform bead. One nice thing about 6013 rod is that you can drag the tip of the rod lightly on the metal and get a good arc length. Keep your rod angled about 15 degrees in the direction of travel, and progress at a uniform speed. Once you can lay a good looking bead you will want to do a "pad of beads"

Thanks for the tips guys, I have some 1/4" x 6" in the shed somewhere... after seeing some videos here and elsewhere, laying down beads sure seems the way to go!

Cheers
Andy

This is probably the best video for beginners https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2537L5H7NiY

Louie1961 wrote:This is probably the best video for beginners https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2537L5H7NiY

That video truly has me on the right track. Many thanks Louie.

Glad I could help!

Getting some practice in...

Looking good in my opinion.
-Jonathan

Like Jody says, should try your other hand and switching directions every few beads.
Keep it up.

Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk

Awesome! You are really coming along. Your next step is to overlap the beads 50% on each of the previous beads. Essentially you will be learning to aim the bead at a target. Fill up a 10x12 inch plate with overlapping beads. Cool the plate in water every 3rd bead or so to keep the plate from overheating.

Thanks a lot for the encouragement guys.

1st pad of beads... two 4" plates tacked together. Played with amp setting (80-110) and tried a few different patterns.. small circles, zig-zag and forward-back, not sure what I learned yet but it was fun.

To cold.

In case I missed it, what rods, and what size you using??

AKweldshop wrote:To cold.

In case I missed it, what rods, and what size you using??

Ok,
3/32" 6013.....Throw them away....

You'll never get good with those, and they are holding you back.

Go buy some 3/32" 7018 and run them DCEP, 70-100amps....


IMO and I'm sticking to it!!!!

Hi AK,

I have checked locally and 95% of stock is 6013. I did find some 7016 but did not buy, thought I would ask for opinions first...

Thanks

AKweldshop wrote:

AKweldshop wrote:To cold.

In case I missed it, what rods, and what size you using??

Ok,
3/32" 6013.....Throw them away....

You'll never get good with those, and they are holding you back.

Go buy some 3/32" 7018 and run them DCEP, 70-100amps....


IMO and I'm sticking to it!!!!

Negativ3 wrote:Hi AK,

I have checked locally and 95% of stock is 6013. I did find some 7016 but did not buy, thought I would ask for opinions first...

Thanks

AKweldshop wrote:

AKweldshop wrote:To cold.

In case I missed it, what rods, and what size you using??

Ok,
3/32" 6013.....Throw them away....

You'll never get good with those, and they are holding you back.

Go buy some 3/32" 7018 and run them DCEP, 70-100amps....


IMO and I'm sticking to it!!!!

I'm not sure which country your in but I'm guessing Yurup.

Sorry to hear you can't find 7018, I wouldn't buy the 7016, they are same as 7018, just no iron powder.
I don't like the way they run.

Keep trying to find some 7018. It will pay off in the end.

John

Land of smiles AK, Thailand.
6013 seems to be used for everything here.
Will scout around a bit more.

Thanks

AKweldshop wrote:

Negativ3 wrote:Hi AK,

I have checked locally and 95% of stock is 6013. I did find some 7016 but did not buy, thought I would ask for opinions first...

Thanks

I'm not sure which country your in but I'm guessing Yurup.

Sorry to hear you can't find 7018, I wouldn't buy the 7016, they are same as 7018, just no iron powder.
I don't like the way they run.

Keep trying to find some 7018. It will pay off in the end.

John

1st pad of beads... two 4" plates tacked together. Played with amp setting (80-110) and tried a few different patterns.. small circles, zig-zag and forward-back, not sure what I learned yet but it was fun.

what, are you kidding me? You are learning proper arc length, rod angle and speed of progression. You are also learning how to aim a bead and make it go where you want. Big important stuff. Hopefully you are learning to read the puddle too.

Just compare these pad of beads to your original picture. I think you are learning a lot.

AKweldshop wrote:

AKweldshop wrote:To cold.

In case I missed it, what rods, and what size you using??

Ok,
3/32" 6013.....Throw them away....

You'll never get good with those, and they are holding you back.

Go buy some 3/32" 7018 and run them DCEP, 70-100amps....


IMO and I'm sticking to it!!!!

You're fighting a losing battle bud - lots of people use it, even in our country.

Even my kids can make 6013 look good...ages 12 and 16

He'll do just fine once he is practiced up!

MinnesotaDave wrote:

AKweldshop wrote:

AKweldshop wrote:To cold.

In case I missed it, what rods, and what size you using??

Ok,
3/32" 6013.....Throw them away....

You'll never get good with those, and they are holding you back.

Go buy some 3/32" 7018 and run them DCEP, 70-100amps....


IMO and I'm sticking to it!!!!

You're fighting a losing battle bud - lots of people use it, even in our country.

Even my kids can make 6013 look good...ages 12 and 16

He'll do just fine once he is practiced up!

Nobody believes me, but then they complain about all their 6013 problems....

Please don't show me your loader forks....

AKweldshop wrote: Nobody believes me, but then they complain about all their 6013 problems....

Please don't show me your loader forks....

You're just hoping I broke them by now

Yea, the hunt for 7018 rods will continue today as I'm all out of 6013. Might as well use a rod that can get me somewhere in the long run... my daughter (9) is showing a lot of interest but I need to know the basics before letting her loose

You're fighting a losing battle bud - lots of people use it, even in our country.

Even my kids can make 6013 look good...ages 12 and 16

He'll do just fine once he is practiced up!

Negativ3 wrote:Yea, the hunt for 7018 rods will continue today as I'm all out of 6013. Might as well use a rod that can get me somewhere in the long run... my daughter (9) is showing a lot of interest but I need to know the basics before letting her loose

You're fighting a losing battle bud - lots of people use it, even in our country.

Even my kids can make 6013 look good...ages 12 and 16

He'll do just fine once he is practiced up!

That's great man!!

Anything to keep them from playing video games and snorting drugs...

As to the rods, I may be wrong, as I'm not familiar with UK practices, But no "real" welding job uses 6013.....Period. Its all XX10 and XX18.

Not used for anything but farmer scab jobs, ( DAVE!) Easy now....

AKweldshop wrote: That's great man!!

Anything to keep them from playing video games and snorting drugs...

As to the rods, I may be wrong, as I'm not familiar with UK practices, But no "real" welding job uses 6013.....Period. Its all XX10 and XX18.

Not used for anything but farmer scab jobs, ( DAVE!) Easy now....

In this thread about a leaking transformer the WPS specifies 6013 or 7014 (post #9 and #12)
http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?31 ... ormer+6013

This guy uses mostly 6013 on pipe
http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?19 ... highlight=

Not sure why you can't make good welds with it??

MinnesotaDave wrote:

AKweldshop wrote: That's great man!!

Anything to keep them from playing video games and snorting drugs...

As to the rods, I may be wrong, as I'm not familiar with UK practices, But no "real" welding job uses 6013.....Period. Its all XX10 and XX18.

Not used for anything but farmer scab jobs, ( DAVE!) Easy now....

In this thread about a leaking transformer the WPS specifies 6013 or 7014 (post #9 and #12)
http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?31 ... ormer+6013

This guy uses mostly 6013 on pipe
http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?19 ... highlight=

Not sure why you can't make good welds with it??

This just will never end....
I can't believe it....

Carry on in peace.

John