What am I doing wrong?

[ruffdog]

I would definitely have switched to TIG for 1/32 sheet metal. :shocked:

Correct....but beginners make lots of mistakes and many don't have a choice of different welders. Each failure is a chance to learn how not to do it. Stay with it, learn, and weld.

 

[rangerfredbob]

I'm with the camp of don't let this discourage you. I've been there where you don't have much around for scrap metal to play with, but if you are limited to that get yourself some smaller rod to play with. The 1/16" rods are flimsy and hard to work with at times though, but they're short to compensate...

Burning through is usually from high amps, on thin material that can make it difficult, lowering the amperage especially with large rods makes starting and maintaining an arc difficult... it's a balance especially on A/C...

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Both Lowes and Harbor Freight have 1/16" 6013. Lot better choice for thin material.Keep it moving and angle the rod toward the puddle just made. I have a block of copper I us as a heat sink under a joint that has a little gap. Always butt thin stuff tight together. problem with thin material is it gets a lot of heat wrinkles. Another reason to use the lowest amps that will sustain the puddle w/o blowing through. O/A is easier to control the puddle but the heat wrinkles expand. Again, use the smallest tip turned down soft that will maintain the puddle. Practice (a lot) is essential to getting a decent result. Thinnest I have done is 16 gauge with 1/16" rod both arc and O/A.

Ron

 

[Egon]

Take a welding course.

 

[CADplans]

I weld metal that thin ALL the time with stick welding,, even with the rod and amperage the OP used,,
I simply clamp the steel to a piece of copper,, then the steel will act as though it were thick, the copper takes away the excess heat.

I have more than a dozen pieces of copper in various shapes and sizes I have collected just for thin metal welding,,

A few pieces of copper, and a few clamps costs WAY less than a TIG or MIG welding setup,,
and, as a bonus, I do not have to worry about the breeze blowing away my shielding gas if I am working outside!! :thumbsup:

 

[5030]

Take a welding course.

+1. Local Comedy College will have industrial arts courses. Take one.

 

[metalbender]

BIL had a funny welding story. Short version. While spending time at an uncle's farm at around age 14 or so, watched as the uncle welded something on a cultivator. Bil thought he'd like to try the welder. Senior fellow set him up with a cracked grain shovel, without changing the settings. Guess the outcome was fairly comical, lots of smoke and sparks and a large hole where the crack was. I've welded mower decks with stick, very clean, low amps, thin 6013. Stitch first, then run a bead. Use what you got. Just like the guy with one gun, he will use it to his best advantage.

 

[Deere Dude]

I weld metal that thin ALL the time with stick welding,, even with the rod and amperage the OP used,,
I simply clamp the steel to a piece of copper,, then the steel will act as though it were thick, the copper takes away the excess heat.

I have more than a dozen pieces of copper in various shapes and sizes I have collected just for thin metal welding,,

A few pieces of copper, and a few clamps costs WAY less than a TIG or MIG welding setup,,
and, as a bonus, I do not have to worry about the breeze blowing away my shielding gas if I am working outside!! :thumbsup:

I never heard of that. Good tip.

 

[k0ua]

I weld metal that thin ALL the time with stick welding,, even with the rod and amperage the OP used,,
I simply clamp the steel to a piece of copper,, then the steel will act as though it were thick, the copper takes away the excess heat.

I have more than a dozen pieces of copper in various shapes and sizes I have collected just for thin metal welding,,

A few pieces of copper, and a few clamps costs WAY less than a TIG or MIG welding setup,,
and, as a bonus, I do not have to worry about the breeze blowing away my shielding gas if I am working outside!! :thumbsup:

Tnx for info..

 

[k0ua]

I weld metal that thin ALL the time with stick welding,, even with the rod and amperage the OP used,,
I simply clamp the steel to a piece of copper,, then the steel will act as though it were thick, the copper takes away the excess heat.

I have more than a dozen pieces of copper in various shapes and sizes I have collected just for thin metal welding,,

A few pieces of copper, and a few clamps costs WAY less than a TIG or MIG welding setup,,
and, as a bonus, I do not have to worry about the breeze blowing away my shielding gas if I am working outside!! :thumbsup:

Tnx for info..