Stick Welding 101 - AC Buzzbox and 5/32 7018

[FarmerRancher]

buy some 6011 rods to practice with getting penetration and starting.

buy some 6013 rods to practice making pretty looking welds or for top passes.

I agree, and especially with the 6013. 6013 is very easy to learn on, and I would switch to 3/32" to start off with. By the way, when you stop welding with 7018, the flux will form a very hard glaze on the end of the stick. You either have to break it off before you start welding, or strike it pretty hard to break through it.

 

[flusher]

I agree, and especially with the 6013. 6013 is very easy to learn on, and I would switch to 3/32" to start off with. By the way, when you stop welding with 7018, the flux will form a very hard glaze on the end of the stick. You either have to break it off before you start welding, or strike it pretty hard to break through it.

The welding hammer comes in handy here.

 

[k0ua]

I agree, and especially with the 6013. 6013 is very easy to learn on, and I would switch to 3/32" to start off with. By the way, when you stop welding with 7018, the flux will form a very hard glaze on the end of the stick. You either have to break it off before you start welding, or strike it pretty hard to break through it.

I just use my gloved thumb to break of the "corn" before each restrike.

 

[eastexan]

I just use my gloved thumb to break of the "corn" before each restrike.

+1 That's the easiest way besides flicking the corn off immediately after letting up from the workpiece.

I've also heard of guys striking the rod across an insulated file kept near the work.

 

[aczlan]

I wasn't breaking off the "corn" on the 7018 so that may have contributed to my starting problems.
I picked up a 5# box of Lincoln Fleetweld 1/8" E6011 at Lowes (would have gotten some E6013 as well, but they only had 3/32" in stock) and a chipping hammer. I will see how that all works later this week.

Aaron Z

 

[Shield Arc]

Far as 6011, I really like Hobart's 335A. :thumbsup:

 

[aczlan]

Far as 6011, I really like Hobart's 335A. :thumbsup:

We'll see how the Lincoln rod goes and I might try the Hobart next time (I like their plastic container better than the cardboard box). Would have gotten it this time, but I needed to get some stuff from near Lowes, so I went that way, not to Tractor Supply.

Aaron Z

 

[aczlan]

Welded a piece of pipe to the tongue of our RTV trailer tonight to store the hitch pin in.
I ran a pass of 1/8" 6011 at ~115 amps, peened it, hit it with a wire wheel in the grinder, then ran a pass of 5/32" 7018 at 225 amps.
Top:

Bottom:

Front:

Back:


Aaron Z

 

[Arc weld]

It sounds like you're running too hot for the rods you are using. The dial on the machine is only for reference but 1/8" 6011 at 115 amps is about 5-10 amps too hot for most applications. 225 amps for 5/32" 7018 is really, really hot.:shocked: Normal range for 5/32" 7018 would be 160/170 amps. You should do some practicing on scrap pieces so don't have to grind so much on your projects. It makes it very hard to tell you how to improve your welding, when we can't see what your welds actually looked like.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...731-stick-welding-101-ac-buzzbox-6011-cap-jpg

Shield Arc how come my welds don't look like that