School me on my new stick welder

[Johnbro]

Picked up a used Miller AC/DC thunderbolt today, 75 foot leads. Haven't used a stick welder since the 70s and then with zero instruction. So I need to know about rod choices.

Projects: Weld swing jacks on all our equipment trailers. Weld a receiver for a trailer hitch on my tractor's box scraper and maybe on the bucket. Fab a boom arm to go on a QA plate so I can hang a rake on it and rake backwards to much out the sheep shelter. Stuff like that.

What say you, oh Wizards of Welding, Barristas of Beads, Aces of Arc?

 

[rockinmywaypa]

The first night course I took about 30 years ago was simply running beads on a block of steel. Started out with a half dozen half inch by six inch bars, welded them together and then just kept going welding beads side by side for the rest of that course. At the end we cut the bars in half on a band saw to look at any holes in the beads. You can also take scraps and weld then break your welds apart to see how good you are doing before doing something you want to last.
Miller welding site is excellent to learn from as is welding tips and tricks.

 

[Shield Arc]

So I need to know about rod choices.

6010, 6011, 7014, 7018 will all work for the projects you listed.

 

[Baby Grand]

Welcome, fellow Slinger of Slag, Earl of the Electrode and Ground Clamp Tramp.

Shield Arc has given you a pretty complete shopping list. You just need to match rod size to the thickness of the materials you'll be welding.

Rocking gave you excellent advice. I did a lot of welding in the 70's and early 80's, then hardly any until 2 years ago. My biggest mistakes were taking on projects before I had adequate technique to execute them. It came as a shock, but unlike riding a bicycle, technique fades if you don't use it. So get yourself some scrap and lay some beads until you are confident that when you strike that arc on the trailers and implements you won't be spending more time fixing what you've welded.

And pre, prep, prep. And prep.

 

[flusher]

Picked up a used Miller AC/DC thunderbolt today, 75 foot leads. Haven't used a stick welder since the 70s and then with zero instruction. So I need to know about rod choices.

Projects: Weld swing jacks on all our equipment trailers. Weld a receiver for a trailer hitch on my tractor's box scraper and maybe on the bucket. Fab a boom arm to go on a QA plate so I can hang a rake on it and rake backwards to much out the sheep shelter. Stuff like that.

What say you, oh Wizards of Welding, Barristas of Beads, Aces of Arc?

6011--deep penetration, high arc forces, can run beads through rust etc, use for root passes
7014--easy to use drag rod, use to cover root passes
7018--cover passes, not as easy to use as 7014, need to keep the rod dry while in storage
7024-easiest to use drag rod, cover passes

I use 1/8" rod with my Hobart Stickmate LX AC/DC. Run DC positive. Around 100 amps for 1/8" steel, 130 amps for 1/4" steel.

Your best welding friend: 4-1/2" angle grinder with both cutting and grinding discs.

Get a good autodarkening helmet--mine is a $50 from Northern Tool.

 

[Piperflyer]

Old School Stick Welding still Rules. 6011, 7018, anyone?

 

[deereman75]

I get by with just 6011 and 7018, and some 6013 for thin stuff. (I hate 6013) 1/8 7018 can do most welding. Also get some 1/8 6011, and some 3/32 6011 or 6013 for 1/8 or less thick.

 

[gwdixon]

I go along with the 6011 (first pass), 7018 (cover passes) guys. 1/8" (flat and thick) and 3/32" (out of position and thinner) in both 6011 and 7018. That is four containers of rods in all. Good enough for the farm.

Welding can be done in all positions with these two and welds really hold together.

There is some 6013 hidden in the shop somewhere. Like deerman75, I don't look too hard for it.

Oh, and DC reverse polarity (DC+) will give better penetration to give the weld a bit more bite.

The best solution I've seen for hooking a rake to a QA plate is to buy a cheap Harbor Freight 3PH QA (or Tractor Supply) and weld it to the plate. Then you can run any 3PH implement off of the FEL.

 

[k0ua]

I go along with the 6011 (first pass), 7018 (cover passes) guys. 1/8" (flat and thick) and 3/32" (out of position and thinner) in both 6011 and 7018. That is four containers of rods in all. Good enough for the farm.

Welding can be done in all positions with these two and welds really hold together.

There is some 6013 hidden in the shop somewhere. Like deerman75, I don't look too hard for it.

Same here.. I have some 1/16 6013, I used to use for light material, but I TIG now so it is pretty much useless. 7018 is my favorite despite all of its flaws. and I have some 7014 also..
James K0UA

 

[Shield Arc]

7018 is my favorite despite all of its flaws.

Flaws????????????????:confused2:


I love 7018, had a very long relationship with it!