Pre-heat for stick weld?

[AHNC]

I run 6010 & 7018 rod. I don't weld that often and I store the rod in the metal screw top container inb my basement. When I'm going to be burning some rod I take the probable amount of rod I will need and stick it in the wifes oven on a cookie sheet. Gets rid of any moisture in the flux and makes the cookies taste great

 

[Mace Canute]

When you pre-heat steel with a propane torch, what you will initially see is water vapor from the burning propane condensing on the steel surface.... :laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:
When condensation will no longer form on the steel, it is probably hot enough.

The higher the carbon content, the more prone to cracking on cooling, this obviously includes cast iron.

X 2! grin

 

[slowzuki]

x3, not much water in steel, its condensing out of the exhaust vapour of your torch. Once its above the dew point it stops depositing, once over 100 C it boils off whats there quickly.

X 2! grin

 

[jake98]

This will make you guys feel better about your welds. First pic: older 6013 rod with no pre-heat; #2: switched to new 6011 with p/h; #3 more big-bugger welds; #4 I think it will pull two 14" bedder disks.
Maybe Shieldarc was pulling my leg about the water. Wait till he sees my trim and tile work.

 

[Shield Arc]

Yeah that pre-heating is a wife's tale. Nobody really does it! :laughing:

 

[jake98]

This was what I was trying to do.
Thanks to all for the input.

 

[Willl]

The crane boys at work do it when welding up cracks in the container crane legs.
They use a temp crayon and draw a circle around the area and heat with a rose bud till the crayon melts.

But that's them. Here at home welding up tractor implements it just ain't going to happen.

 

[SPYDERLK]

[[[When you pre-heat steel with a propane torch, what you will initially see is water vapor from the burning propane condensing on the steel surface.... :laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:
When condensation will no longer form on the steel, it is probably hot enough. ]]]

The higher the carbon content, the more prone to cracking on cooling, this obviously includes cast iron.

Yay! ... saved me reading all the way through before posting to clarify that! :thumbsup:
larry

 

[JB4310]

well I 'm a hack welder, been welding for 30 years in support of my contracting business, trucks, tractors, trailers, snow plows etc. Nothings ever broke that I welded, though I've seen individual beads fail on something I've welded, it's backed up by so much extra weld and support that it's not coming apart.

Until fairly recently, I never had a clue that there was so much science behind welding, I'd plug in my buzz box, connect a ground, grab a rod, and I mean any rod I could find anywhere, didn't even know they had numbers on them. then proceed melting rod and making alot of sparks.

Now I have a small mig, an AC/DC box in the shop, and a portable DC for remote or jobsite use. when I want to weld now I have to refer to manuals and rod and steel specs. it was simpler being a dumb-butt.

I've never preheated, and I'm often welding in cold temps and heavier metal, no 5x5 but up to 1 inch plate or bar. the preheating makes sense and I will try it next time I have heavy cold steel to weld, maybe it will help me to not struggle so much.

Thanks for the thread,

JB.

 

[k0ua]

I've never preheated, and I'm often welding in cold temps and heavier metal, no 5x5 but up to 1 inch plate or bar. the preheating makes sense and I will try it next time I have heavy cold steel to weld, maybe it will help me to not struggle so much.
Thanks for the thread,

Same here, I seldom weld cold metal, and usually it is 1/4 or 3/8, but still good to know, thanks
James K0UA