Welding Tips and Tricks

Why do some people do this?
I've tried to research it but no results. The only reasons I could think of were 1) to hang it on the edge of the table or 2) make it easier to pick up if you drop it on the floor

So you don't poke yourself or others in the eye. First and foremost.

Mick

weldin mike 27 wrote:So you don't poke yourself or others in the eye. First and foremost.

Mick

Of course. Working alone in my shed, it wouldn't have occurred to me that I might poke someone. I don't quite see the risk to myself though with the helmet on.

That's the problem, it's not seen.


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Coldman wrote:That's the problem, it's not seen.


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I don't follow..

I'm guessing it's probably more a habit in shops where the user isn't paying for the filler rods because it would add to the waste.
It wouldn't be done by those who use a holder at the end to get the most from the rod.

I've been spending hours in front of the TV practicing rod feeding and it never occurred to me I might stab myself with it.

It will happen sooner or later. If your lucky it's the back side not the hot end.

you won't grab the hot end if you curl the other and
you won't use the last 1 1/2 of rod anyway.
craig

motox wrote:you won't grab the hot end if you curl the other and
you won't use the last 1 1/2 of rod anyway.
craig

I tack my rod stubs together and use 'em. Waste not, want not.

I tack my rod stubs together and use 'em. Waste not, want not.

LIKE!

pennies,nickels,dollars, save when one can. Or justify and enjoy

I took a rod and tapped it against my chest to move it in my fingers and had the hot end towards me... Cauterized a nice hole in my chest.

We were always taught to do it at school for safety reasons - as much as to know which end was hot as poking oneself in the eye ! this was for gas welding as my time at school predates Tig ! I have'nt bent filler rod ends in years but several times I dropped the filler off a bench went to pick it up & found 1'8" silicon bronze wire holds heat better than you expect - got several shiny lines on the fingers to prove it - so it's not a daft practice - on;y thing against is I also weld stubs together with bronze rods as the price here is crazy expensive - regular ER70 I never bother as it's cheap.

motox wrote:I tack my rod stubs together and use 'em. Waste not, want not.

LIKE!

Is it worth the argon or the time?

Farmwelding wrote:

motox wrote:I tack my rod stubs together and use 'em. Waste not, want not.

LIKE!

Is it worth the argon or the time?

I suspect it isn't, but I used to do the same thing.

Started doing it when I began welding, just to prove I could. Nowadays, because the cheap runs deep in me, I tend to grab the stub in a needle nose locking pliers to feed it into the puddle down to the last tiny bit, then junk the micro-stub.


Kym

I've tacked the stub ends from time to time, not er70s, but expensive rod. never poked myself that I recall, however sometimes I'll lay the torch across my legs (while I'm sitting at the bench) and have fell short one time and the tip of the hot tungsten went into my leg...

Well at my high school some of the kids decide to hang the tig torch on the side of the weld stand that was exactly in the best place but nonetheless the welding helmets say right next to it so now there is plastic on the ceramic cup and a few valleys in the shell of the helmet. And kudos for grabbing the pair of pliers I guess. Never thought of doing that and might have to try it now.

I only tack aluminum or SS rod back together because the carpenter in me hates to waste material but I bought a bunch of rod from a retiring welder so I have tons of rod now and I will use the needle nose manuever too.

I thought l invented the hooked filler rod. I did this when l needed my wife's help (needed a third hand with a brain) and couldn't stand the thought of hurting her in the process.

exnailpounder wrote:I only tack aluminum or SS rod back together because the carpenter in me hates to waste material but I bought a bunch of rod from a retiring welder so I have tons of rod now and I will use the needle nose manuever too.

I swear you find the best and the most deals of anybody I know. Band saws on the street a bulk of filler. Wish I had your luck.

This little Vise Grips is now used exclusively as a holder for the stubs of rods as I use them down the the last little nub. It's really nimble and easy to use. Using these, I can add the filler to the pool all the way until it reaches the little flat '5356' stamping on the rod.

The Grips possibly wouldn't be much good for anything else by now anyhow...they've seen a lot of heat!



Kym

Farmwelding wrote:

exnailpounder wrote:I only tack aluminum or SS rod back together because the carpenter in me hates to waste material but I bought a bunch of rod from a retiring welder so I have tons of rod now and I will use the needle nose manuever too.

I swear you find the best and the most deals of anybody I know. Band saws on the street a bulk of filler. Wish I had your luck.

It's funny you say that. Work has been really slow and I might have to go get a job but my wife keeps telling me to hang in there and 2017 is going to be my year and now all of a sudden I am finding all these great deals/pickin treasures so hopefully she's right. I can't see myself ever going to work for a bosshole ever again at my age and my serious lack of tolerance for bullshit but the days are looking brighter.

1) Safety but more often for me 2) if you lay the filler down on the table (or dropped on floor), you can give it a little roll and the hook end stands up and can now be grabbed, even with gloves.

maker of things wrote:1) Safety but more often for me 2) if you lay the filler down on the table (or dropped on floor), you can give it a little roll and the hook end stands up and can now be grabbed, even with gloves.

Does the 5 second rule apply to filler wire the same as it does for food?

I love trying to grab the filler rod with gloves hands without the hook on the end.

surprising how pissed off you can get from stuff like that...

And like vacuuming, how many times will you try before you finally just take your glove off like you could have the first time?