New to welding

[BMan2005]

I've only been stick welding a couple years so I am pretty new and I remember the problems I had starting an arc. For me there were two things I could do to make it easier. Turn up the amperage for practice to get the feel and relieve frustration. Then try turning it down to measure your improvement.

Now if I need to use very low amps I find starting the arc with the rod tipped at a very steep angle so I use the coating as a spacer so to speak really helps. Soon as the arc starts tip the rod up where you want it.

But practice is the best thing to do.

gg

This was great and really helped!

 

[BMan2005]

Shield Arc I may have had the plug wrong, but I got a chance to practice tonight and made sure the leads were correct. With the above advice by Gordon I tilted my rod my and faintly dragged it and started my arcs much easier tonight! Here are some 6011 & 7014 practice runs flat, 6011 with the stacked look. You pros I'm sure knew that. Also after more practice with 7014 I ran two last beads then quit for the night. I think they looked my best for the 7014.

But, what do you guys see here to help me out!

 

[Shield Arc]

WOW! Those look really good!:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Now do it like when you're in welding school. Stack each weld half way on top of the other! Do this for a while, then move on to lap welds, and fillet welds.

 

[BMan2005]

That's really good to hear that they look ok! Should I just stick with one rod type for awhile? Or maybe do each like I have, alot of welds with each.?

Also, I ran the 1/8" 7014 from 80-120. The arc was steady but weak at 80 and weld seemed shallow, 100-110 seemed to be kinda a sweet spot, but much more spatter. 80 amps was the last two welds. Does it matter? Also this is 3/16" steel I believe.

 

[Shield Arc]

Should I just stick with one rod type for awhile?

Back in welding school, we started out with 6010. Ran 6010 in all positions. Then moved on to 7018. 6010 / 6011 will teach you puddle control. And help you learn how to read the puddle. 7018, and 7014 is childs play to run, compared to 6010 or 6011.

 

[tophoseman35]

lincoln 225 stick is what i just bought. I have just started back welding since a little time after high school. i have buddies that have always welded and that was the suggestions if i didnt want to go with wire.

 

[Shield Arc]

Oh, I forgot. Get a 5-gallon bucket of water. Make 2 or 3 welds, then dip the plate into the water to cool the plate off. When the plate builds up too much heat it is hard to control the weld.

 

[BMan2005]

How do these look? 6011 75 amps running the full rod, so I had several stop/starts. Criticism welcome on anything

 

[Shield Arc]

Those look great! :thumbsup:
Next I would buy some 1/4-inch thick flatbar, and practice welding lap joints, and fillet weld joints. After that, start working on vertical up hill welding. Then overhead welding.

 

[BMan2005]

So this looks good enough to progress forward to that?