Finally got it figured out

[rbstern]

Within the last week or so, I finally started to lay decent beads while stick welding. Strictly hobby stuff, no formal training or paying work. I upgraded my equipment, my workspace, my patience, my work habits. I bought myself a decent helmet with a good lens; I can see the puddle clearly now. That was a huge upgrade. I started taking the glove off my stinger hand. That helped me get more of a feel. I started rotating my work pieces so I was welding at least one flat surface, to nullify gravity a bit. I stopped bouncing around between different rods and amperages; I'm mostly doing 45 and 90 degree joining of 2" tube, 1/8" wall. I found 7018, 3/32", set between 75 and 85 amps, gives me consistent results. I upgraded my cutting capability (HF 4x6 bandsaw), which is giving me tighter joints, much easier to weld.

It's very satisfying to finish a weld and have confidence in it's strength, and not have to look at a bunch of voids, spatter, and uneven sections, and then second guess grinding it down and doing it over.

I've read many of the posts here and gained many insights. Thanks to you all, for your contribution to my learning.

 

[chim]

Congrats. I'm just getting into stick welding myself. Way way back I used an old Lincoln tombstone at my FIL's farm. No real training, but made snowplow and winch mounts for my K5 Blazer and Power Wagon. Biggest project was a utility trailer. Hadn't used a stick welder since around 1991. About a dozen or so years ago I bought a Miller MIG welder to replace an uncooperative 120V buzzbox. Recently had the urge to do stick again.

James k0ua talked me into an Everlast PA200STi. Spoke with Mark from Everlast and he suggested 7014 electrodes, so I picked up a handful and they do work very well. Between the Everlast owner's Manual and weld.com's video below, I'm off to a good start.

THE BEGINNERS GUIDE TO SMAW AMPERAGE - YouTube

 

[al3]

Nothing like a laying a nice bead to make your day.

My "aha" TIG moment was figuring out my depth perception was going to heck by not moving my helmet/head parallel with the work. Something about my eyeglass lens/eye that just don't work well when looking off center. Luckily my near vision is still good enough so simply removing my glasses when TIGing works the best. Tried cheaters/magnifiers with not so good results.

A helmet with a setting that allows the use of some intense work lights was also helpful.

 

[WranglerX]

Nothing like proper procedures, good tools, and practice, practice, practice....

Dale

 

[WranglerX]

Nothing like a laying a nice bead to make your day.

My "aha" TIG moment was figuring out my depth perception was going to heck by not moving my helmet/head parallel with the work. Something about my eyeglass lens/eye that just don't work well when looking off center. Luckily my near vision is still good enough so simply removing my glasses when TIGing works the best. Tried cheaters/magnifiers with not so good results.

A helmet with a setting that allows the use of some intense work lights was also helpful.

Found almost same issues with MIG.... Cheater lenses in hood and tilt head over to side to actually see what arc/puddle was doing... So may try to weld with MIG gun or arc rod holder blocking vision...

And AMBIENT lighting...



Dale

 

[Thomas]

Started stick welding LOT years ago AC only 6011 rod was good to rod for most of nasty repairs follow by 7012 rod,I never could but almost lay weld like dime as they say,now AC/DC for light repairs and old hand not as steady as it use to be.

 

[Jstpssng]

I've long felt that if welding classes had more of a presence in schools there would be a lot fewer kids acting up. Aside from the concentration and focus needed to make a good weld, there's something satisfying about taking a pile of scrap metal and turning it into something useful.

 

[WranglerX]

I've long felt that if welding classes had more of a presence in schools there would be a lot fewer kids acting up. Aside from the concentration and focus needed to make a good weld, there's something satisfying about taking a pile of scrap metal and turning it into something useful.

Biggest failure in our school systems for boys and some girls is no more vocational classes....

Dale

 

[dragoneggs]

Biggest failure in our school systems for boys and some girls is no more vocational classes....

Dale

Agreed... not everyone is book-smart and some are great with their hands and imagination. Teach them how to use tools and at least they might be able to fix something rather than being a helpless burden.

 

[WranglerX]

Agreed... not everyone is book-smart and some are great with their hands and imagination. Teach them how to use tools and at least they might be able to fix something rather than being a helpless burden.

Maybe even build a house so you can have place to live.. OR maybe fix your car so you can drive to work each day....

When I was in HS the mentality was everybody needs to go to college... DUH... I dropped out first year of college and got a job with telecommunications company, 38 years later I retired from said company, it raised my family, bought groceries, rented and purchases houses, paid my kids college tuition (???) and now provides me with a retirement....

You have to wonder why the pay for training for a career in automotive, diesel, marine, motorcycle institutions are so popular...

Because our public school system and college system are a failure ........

Dale