Welding Rods for beginners

[CincyFlyer]

1/4" rod @ 90A on sheetmetal:confused2:

That was my thought. Heck, I don't even own anything over 3/16", and those don't get used much. And not at 90A.

 

[daugen]

actually it was 3/16 not 1/4. My mistake.
telling me things aren't right is more helpful than poking fun
I tried a range of 85 to 90.

 

[4570Man]

This steel is 80 thousands think. I don't remember the rod size I used but it was smaller than 1/8". The first 1" in the right was 80 amps where it burnt through. The rest was 60 amps. I welded the other side with an 1/8" rod at 60.

 

[BukitCase]

"telling me things aren't right is more helpful than poking fun" - You're right -

Stick Welding Calculator - MillerWelds

Choose mild steel, and 1/4" 7014 - "Suggested Amperage Range: 330-415"

If you're at 90 amps I'm pretty sure you're using 3/32" rods... Steve

 

[LD1]

Yea, even 3/16 is big rod. 1/8" is pretty common for farm use and repair of 1/8-1/4" metal. And 3/16 is bigger than that

 

[4570Man]

Yea, even 3/16 is big rod. 1/8" is pretty common for farm use and repair of 1/8-1/4" metal. And 3/16 is bigger than that

I've welded plenty of 1" with 1/8" rod. I've got some big hard face rods that I got for free but besides that 1/8 rods are the biggest I have.

 

[daugen]

sorry, have two sizes, get them mixed up.
all I'm saying is I had more problems with the smaller rod
I would lower amps until I had problems sticking

luckily there are instructions on each box of rods saying amp range.

 

[daugen]

I finished the mower deck today, slowly getting better at this. Still have to make two or three passes, and certainly
a final one to neaten things. Used 1/8 rod at 115 amps after trying one size smaller. That seemed to work well for me.
Paid special attention to underneath lip.
Again surprising how nice filler primer can make things.

Now on to the frame. More heavy metal there.

 

[Deere Dude]

Again surprising how nice filler primer can make things.

Now on to the frame. More heavy metal there.

I must have missed it somewhere. What is filler primer? Never heard that term.

 

[aczlan]

I must have missed it somewhere. What is filler primer? Never heard that term.

Its a high build paint that fills in little imperfections in the surface you are painting.

Aaron Z