Welding Rods for beginners

[Shield Arc]

Which is the thing that EVERY rookie does.

A member from Welding Web came over a few months ago for some welding lessons. I was shocked at how close of an arc length he used. It didn't take any time to get him to run vertical up hill, and over head with 7018. Guy is just a natural at welding.
He ran my Everlast PowerArc 200ST side by side with my Lincoln V350-Pro. He could not tell the difference between them. He ordered a PowerArc 200ST from Mark.

 

[k0ua]

A member from Welding Web came over a few months ago for some welding lessons. I was shocked at how close of an arc length he used. It didn't take any time to get him to run vertical up hill, and over head with 7018. Guy is just a natural at welding.
He ran my Everlast PowerArc 200ST side by side with my Lincoln V350-Pro. He could not tell the difference between them. He ordered a PowerArc 200ST from Mark.

There are "naturals" in almost any endeavour. I have seen woman that claimed to have never shot a firearm of any kind in their life, take my handgun and shoot as tight a group with it on their first try as I could. Out of about 600 woman I have instructed in how to shoot a handgun, I can remember 3. Naturals exist, but they are few and far between. It is really eye opening to see a person listen to every word you say about technique , stance, grip, and trigger control, and then turn right around and actually apply that to shooting a tight group with a handgun. It took me decades to get as good as I am. and they picked it up in a few minutes of listening to me run my mouth. :confused3:

 

[Shield Arc]

My dad was Alabama state pistol champion two years in a row in the 1940s. In the 1970s, I bought a 22-magnum pistol. We were deer hunting in northern California. A grouse flew across the road in front of us, and landed in a tree. I emptied the pistol twice! The grouse never flapped a wing. My Dad wanted the pistol, he had to lean out the passenger side window of my pickup to shoot. One shot and the grouse was dead! I told my Dad to give me my gun back, and never touch it again!:laughing:

 

[Big Barn]

daugen. The smallest rod I had was 3/32 6013. I played around on some 12gauge scraps and this is the best I could do:



I used an inverter machine similar to yours. 80 amp DCEN. I had the advantage of cleaner material to work with and a welding table to act as a heat sink.

A backing plate and 1/16" rod as others have mentioned would help for your project.



Keep at it.
Terry

 

[LD1]

I have seen woman that claimed to have never shot a firearm of any kind in their life, take my handgun and shoot as tight a group with it on their first try as I could.

Weather that's an impressive feat or not all depends on what kind of groups you shoot now don't it

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

My dad was Alabama state pistol champion two years in a row in the 1940s. In the 1970s, I bought a 22-magnum pistol. We were deer hunting in northern California. A grouse flew across the road in front of us, and landed in a tree. I emptied the pistol twice! The grouse never flapped a wing. My Dad wanted the pistol, he had to lean out the passenger side window of my pickup to shoot. One shot and the grouse was dead! I told my Dad to give me my gun back, and never touch it again!:laughing:

My grandfather never was much on hunting or showboat with guns. He was a mild-mannered humble career US Marine. Atypical I guess, but he was a good marksman. He was qualified as expert. My dad told me a story about a rabbit running across the yard and he shot it with a .22 from the hip. It fell dead and they ate it.

 

[Shield Arc]

Mark when I was a kid. We were deer hunting. My dad had me take a 7up can and walk way out into a field, and stick the 7up can on top of a small pine tree, about 3-feet tall. When I got back to where my Dad was standing, I couldn't tell the 7up can from the tree. My Dad took his shotgun with a slug in it. He put a hole right in the middle of the 7up can. My Dad was always a great shot. He hardly ever missed.

 

[k0ua]

Weather that's an impressive feat or not all depends on what kind of groups you shoot now don't it

Well that would be true of course. But lets just say, I have been shooting handguns for over 50 years, and was an IPSC/USPSA competitor for a couple of decades. (too darn old now to keep up), while I am a bit old for the run and gun crowd, I can still make very tight groups with a handgun. In fact, if you get out this way, I would be happy to compete against you. I will provide the pistols and the ammo!. Now you can't beat that. If you would like to make a wager, I would do that too!. That is just the kind of guy I am...:laughing: I will teach ya' to put spots on a mans deer...

 

[Spanner]

daugen. The smallest rod I had was 3/32 6013. I played around on some 12gauge scraps and this is the best I could do:

View attachment 518768

I used an inverter machine similar to yours. 80 amp DCEN. I had the advantage of cleaner material to work with and a welding table to act as a heat sink.

A backing plate and 1/16" rod as others have mentioned would help for your project.

View attachment 518771

Keep at it.
Terry

Daugen:
One thing with using the smallest rods is that they 'wobble' as nervous novice hands try to get position and arc started and eyes focussed etc. Your 'spare' hand can steady the end of the rod - Wear your leather welding gauntlets and rest the rod across the back of your fingers.

Practise running fast beads on clean scrap steel. You need to move fast laterally and vertically since these rods burn away quickly and you have to maintain a short arc length.

Heat sink will help.

I do think you should weld patch plates across the affected area, joining onto areas of good thick sheet-metal. After all, you're looking for 'function' over 'form'.

Ps. Can we minimise the gun talk please guys?

 

[LD1]

Well that would be true of course. But lets just say, I have been shooting handguns for over 50 years, and was an IPSC/USPSA competitor for a couple of decades. (too darn old now to keep up), while I am a bit old for the run and gun crowd, I can still make very tight groups with a handgun. In fact, if you get out this way, I would be happy to compete against you. I will provide the pistols and the ammo!. Now you can't beat that. If you would like to make a wager, I would do that too!. That is just the kind of guy I am...:laughing: I will teach ya' to put spots on a mans deer...

Boy I sure wished you lived alot closer, cause I think we would have alot of fun. Have a few beers, argue about what shade of orange is better, spend an afternoon plinking....

Dont do to much pistol shooting. Nothing I have is made for accuracy, just defense. My joy comes from the AR's I built, and droppin in my 22lr conversion bolt, and aerating the yard with .22 holes shooting at soda cans. Got a few that will shoot dime sized 50yd groups with cheap winchester bulk pack ammo