I can Weld, I can't weld, I can Weld, This is getting very frustrating.
- Thread starter Industrial Toys
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OP
Industrial Toys
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Yeah, well, I'm not talking about me. And as for my friend, he is the sought after guy locally if you want something fixed and built right. Did I mention, he rarely preps his steel?
dragoneggs
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Plain and simple, lack of surface prep is poor practice! I sure wouldn’t patronize someone that did not.
OP
Industrial Toys
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Well, many do. That guy is a multi millionaire! And a line up at his door.
OP
Industrial Toys
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Kind of like making home fries. My Mom always boiled the potaoes first. I cut them up and throw them in the pan, and they taste as good. Why make extra work for yourself? Funny, I say that, because that's generally all I do!
k0ua
Epic Contributor
Because high quality top coats don't adhere to bare metal as well as a primer then topped with a high quality topcoat. and while "good" welds can be made without prep with some rod types "better" welds without inclusions can me made with proper metal prep. Some welding processes require more prep than others. Stick requires the least prep, Mig with gas requires more and TIG requires the most. BUT all will profit from good prep. It is all a matter of degree of course. What you can "get by with" vs. doing things right. For most of us there is time to do things right. Often it is easier to do things right than do things over.
Fielding
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The keys to good stick welding;
1. Nice Dry rods, get yourself a rod oven. This one step solved 98% of my issues.
2. Watch youtuber chucke2009 explain "Drag Angle". Memorize it, practice it, all positions.
3. Read your Rod manufacturers guide for amperage for each type/thickness of rod.
4. Surface prep, and also prep a small area for your ground clamp.
5. Look behind at the puddle, not at the arc. This makes it easier to judge your weld size and how it will look after the slag is removed.
6. Practice, Practice, Practice
1. Nice Dry rods, get yourself a rod oven. This one step solved 98% of my issues.
2. Watch youtuber chucke2009 explain "Drag Angle". Memorize it, practice it, all positions.
3. Read your Rod manufacturers guide for amperage for each type/thickness of rod.
4. Surface prep, and also prep a small area for your ground clamp.
5. Look behind at the puddle, not at the arc. This makes it easier to judge your weld size and how it will look after the slag is removed.
6. Practice, Practice, Practice
KubotainNH
Veteran Member
I just got some good tips from this thread. 
Is it just me or does humidity play a factor? One day I'll use my MIG welder and get sweet results. The next day with no changes it seems like nothing welds nicely with the main difference being humidity. I realize wind can make a huge difference which is why I weld in a shelter but it is outside so I cannot control the humidity.
It would be nice to have a basic sheet on what settings to start with on my Everlast iMig140.
Is it just me or does humidity play a factor? One day I'll use my MIG welder and get sweet results. The next day with no changes it seems like nothing welds nicely with the main difference being humidity. I realize wind can make a huge difference which is why I weld in a shelter but it is outside so I cannot control the humidity.
It would be nice to have a basic sheet on what settings to start with on my Everlast iMig140.
Big Barn
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I just got some good tips from this thread.
Is it just me or does humidity play a factor? One day I'll use my MIG welder and get sweet results. The next day with no changes it seems like nothing welds nicely with the main difference being humidity. I realize wind can make a huge difference which is why I weld in a shelter but it is outside so I cannot control the humidity.
It would be nice to have a basic sheet on what settings to start with on my Everlast iMig140.
Miller has a very good on line calculator for all welding process settings.
Weld Setting Calculators - MIG, Flux-Cored, Stick, TIG | MillerWelds
Do a search. They are also available for sale on eBay but I seem to recall Miller sent me mine free.
California
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Android Play Store has it as a phone ap: 'MillerWeld Setting Calculator'.
