Looking for Welding Advice

[JoelD]

Hi all,
I've read through the postings on attaching chain hooks to my loader (Kioti LK3054xs TLB). I've got my 3 inch channel with 1/4 wall thickness and my weld one chain hook. Now I would like to know what you think I should use for rods and settings on my welder, I'm never quite sure what to use. I've got a miller bluestar DC machine (up to 180+ amp).

What rod type and diameter should I use to attach the hook to the channel and then the channel to the bucket? What amperage settings would you recommend.

I guess practicing more would help but that seems sorta anticlimactic.

I'm thinking 6013 or 7014? Never sure what to use for diameter or amperage, although the machine has a sticker with amperage gauge and I've read through the miller handbook on welding.

Thanks for any help.

Sincerely,
Joel

 

[Sandlot]

Clean metal? 3/32" 7018, you will need to play with the amps. Start around 75. I would play around on some scrap. Every machine is different.

 

[Mastertech]

Ah welding. Now there is a subject that I know a little about. I am fairly new to the tractor world.

6010 welding rods penetrate deeply but have high spatter. They are good for all positions, all types of st eel, and almost any conditions and use DC current. (For better penetration on thicker steel over 3/8," bevel the edges and create a gap of about 1/8" wide; use 6010 for tack up and a root pass and weld the remaining passes and the "cap pass" with 7018.) 6010 welding rods need to be stored in a dry location, at room temperature, and in a sealed container.

6011 welding rods have all the characteristics of 6010, are used in all positions with AC or DC current, and work well on all types of regular or mild steel.

6013 has all the characteristics of 6010 but can be used with AC or DC current; it has less penetration and delivers a better-looking weld. Use 6013 on light sheet metal up to 3/16."

Use 7018 low-hy, low penetration, on all positions, with AC or DC current. Use the highest amp setting as practical. Use a straightforward "drag" progression with a "short arc." The low moisture make-up of this welding rod reduces chemical reactions in the weld itself and makes for the highest quality x-ray perfect welds. (Note - this electrode must be kept dry. If it's exposed to humid air or gets damp it must be dried in a rod oven before use. .)

Use 7024 high deposition welding rods for flat and horizontal positions. It's "easy" to use because its thick flux automatically maintains the correct arc length, which allows you to "drag" the rod.

 

[bearhawk]

I have to go into the "Way Back" machine, but from what I remember we used to use 6013 for most things. We usually didn't weld anything over 1/8 inch.

But I also remember 7014 ? as a good "weld on the bench" rod where you can position the work flat.

I believe that you can buy 1lb boxes of rod at the welding shop. And then Practice, Practice, Practice. before you weld anything that is going to have any stress on it.

There is NO shame in asking somebody that has a little experience welding to well these hooks on for you.

Safety first..

 

[montanaman]

Hi all,

I guess practicing more would help but that seems sorta anticlimactic.


Sincerely,
Joel

Anticlimactic is good! Grinding all the stuff back out because you didn't practice is bad :-(

I like 7018 because it looks so pretty but for a job like this, I would use my Millermatic 200 because I can.

I really can't stress enough that you should practice, practice, practice!! It will take time and material but you will have a nice looking job that you can be proud of when you are all done.

As I've said here before, if you have any vo tech schools in the area, look and see if they have adult programs in the evenings. I've taken three welding classes and a few machining classes there and it really is a lot of fun learning when you have a person there that can point out what you are doing wrong and how to do it better!

Ken

 

[JoelD]

Thanks for the responses guys, here's some pictures of the results.

I ended up going with 7014 (what I had on hand, also have 6011 and 6013).

I went with 3/32 of an inch and approximnately 70-90 amps DC.

I used the 7014 as miller indicated they were medium penetration and used fairly slow passes.

I will definately try to take a community college shop course, I took welding in 8th grade, but as you can imagine that was some time ago. Just tough with working long hours at the day job, I'm sure you guys know how that goes.

I am anxious to use the hook, my old machine had a hook and I used it all the time, makes lifting stuff possible.

Thanks again for the great notes (I've printed and archived in my Kioti binder), I like the advice of 6011 or 6010 for first passes and then final (pertty) passes with 7014 or 7024.

Based on the lift capacity of the loader I think I should be good with my weld job, if not, will re-do with the deeper penetrating rods.

Again,
Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
Joel

 

[JoelD]

Sorry cap pas with "7018".

Thanks,
Joel

 

[Mastertech]

Wow Joel! Of course nobody has x-ray eyes but those are some good lookin beads!!!!

 

[JoelD]

Thank you very much for the kind words.

I read through the miller guidance a couple of times last night. I think in the past I was rushing the weld, using sticks way too thick and running the bead way to fast and not focusing on the arc.

This time I went real slow, short arc and focused on the puddle, working to keep the stick at a fairly perpendicular angle rather than almost 45 degree as I had in the past. And I let the puddle move real slow, try to get a good blend of penetration and puddle.

What helped a lot was the youtube video one of the guys here posted, I realized how slow he was moving the stick compared to how quickly I had been moving the stick.

That with all the quality advice people like you and others offered, really improved my work product.

I would still like to take some classes though, I realize this is a very technical thing.

Always admired pipefitters who can get a water tight seal out of a weld, impressive stuff to us bean counters.

Again, thank you.
Joel

 

[JoelD]

How do you like the three point boom? I've often thought of getting or building one, I bet super handy, not sure how much use I'd get compared to the loader and chains?