Stick Welding Tips, Certification tests, machines, projects
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:40 pm
  • Location:
    Near New Orleans

Popeye the old miner wrote:I did some work in an old coal breaker about 40 years ago, all they had was an old ac welder, I couldn't even guess who made it, someone said Westinghouse built it back in the 30s, but no one knew for sure as there was no tag of any kind on it. Anyway they busted the shaker frame, it was made out of heavy 8 inch c channel might have been 3/8 thick or better when it was new. They called me up to do it since I'm a skinny little shit and no one else could fit under the shaker. One thing about coal...it corrodes steel like crazy...sulfuric acid eats it up and what is left is very difficult to weld with a good machine let alone an old antique buzzer from the stone age. They said just get it together so it will run til Friday and we will replace it Saturday...bullshit...I know how miners are I am one, they will keep fixin it til there is more repair weld metal than original steel.

So I got the ol thing all lined up, dogged in place, grinded somewhat shiney and turned on the beast, crawled in side and under the shaker with a handful of 6011s and a handful of 7018s. Uriah the old bird who ran the shaker told me let me know where you want it set at I will turn it where you want it. Ok I said. I fussed a bit with some 1/8 inch 6011s til it ran good and got some steel into the shallow groove I cut with the grinder then slid out and did the same on the outside and on the flanges, then went down to the other end and repeated the process. Meanwhile I heard some smartass remarks we'll find out if this kid can weld, if he can with this ol beast we'll hire the little shit. Now one thing I learned a long time ago about 7018 rods...the next size smaller 7018 will run at just about the same setting as the larger 6011. So now I'm gonna burn 3/32 7018 over top of the 6011 root I didn't have much trouble getting it going, and I will admit I thought it was gonna be a fight but they lit up pretty quick, maybe it was the coal dirt on em who knows. Anyway it stayed together and eventually after 3 or 4 years after fixing various places on both sides of the shaker once a month or so we cut it up and built a whole new shaker water bay, got a new set of cams and bullrigged the whole damn thing in place.

Got hired on full time 2 days after that first repair and never looked back. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you cant do somethin, you never know until you try it for yourself
I LIKE that story. I have a few like it, but not quite like it, in my history. The moral stands. It's not impossible because someone says so.

Steve S
Farmwelding
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:37 pm
  • Location:
    Wisconsin

So I tried for another half an hour today and found out new combinations of swearing I have never heard. I had two and half actual beads today as well. The slag doesnt like coming off very well though. I am just going to hope and ray we get a DC stick machine sometime.
A student now but really want to weld everyday. Want to learn everything about everything. Want to become a knower of all and master of none.
Instagram: @farmwelding
Nick
Farmwelding
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:37 pm
  • Location:
    Wisconsin

Oh and I noticed that the electrodes are actually 7018-1. Does this make a difference for what I'm trying to do?
A student now but really want to weld everyday. Want to learn everything about everything. Want to become a knower of all and master of none.
Instagram: @farmwelding
Nick
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:57 pm
  • Location:
    Big Lake/Monticello MN, U.S.A.

Farmwelding wrote:Oh and I noticed that the electrodes are actually 7018-1. Does this make a difference for what I'm trying to do?
It does not, and what did you find when you looked up what the numbers and/or letters after the dash mean?

When I did the samples this weekend I noticed the slag would come off in large chunks, but not a full peel.

Otherwise it was about the same as normal for removal in the 135-150 amp AC range.

A little more spatter, louder, slightly unstable arc, but not too bad.
Dave J.

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~

Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Farmwelding
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:37 pm
  • Location:
    Wisconsin

It appears that 7018-1 means that the weld is stronger at cold temperatures than a normal 7018.

Our buzz box only goes up to around 110-120 in the low range as you recommended but they are 3/32" so don't need that much anyways?

The lag on a t-joint i did required pounding and left a lot of white powder on the weld still and didn't want tor come off. The flat weld came off in small chunks as you said though. Ill keep working on it and when I get to use a 7018 on DC I'm sure I will be laughing at how easy it is. That's the way I usually learnt hings the quickest. DO it the hard way and then you'll appreciate things for what they are worth or never making the same mistake again. Stick before mig-oxy-fuel before tig. Helps put ting is perspective for me.
A student now but really want to weld everyday. Want to learn everything about everything. Want to become a knower of all and master of none.
Instagram: @farmwelding
Nick
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:57 pm
  • Location:
    Big Lake/Monticello MN, U.S.A.

Farmwelding wrote:It appears that 7018-1 means that the weld is stronger at cold temperatures than a normal 7018.

Our buzz box only goes up to around 110-120 in the low range as you recommended but they are 3/32" so don't need that much anyways?

The lag on a t-joint i did required pounding and left a lot of white powder on the weld still and didn't want tor come off. The flat weld came off in small chunks as you said though. Ill keep working on it and when I get to use a 7018 on DC I'm sure I will be laughing at how easy it is. That's the way I usually learnt hings the quickest. DO it the hard way and then you'll appreciate things for what they are worth or never making the same mistake again. Stick before mig-oxy-fuel before tig. Helps put ting is perspective for me.
You found the correct listing for -1

You will chuckle at the simplicity of DC 7018 :D
Dave J.

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~

Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Poland308
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Sep 10, 2015 8:45 pm
  • Location:
    Iowa

Depending on angle and thickness I run most 3/32 7018 between 75 and 90 amps. If there's an option I put my arc force anywhere from 3-7 depending on what I'm working on.
I have more questions than answers

Josh
Farmwelding
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:37 pm
  • Location:
    Wisconsin

Poland308 wrote:Depending on angle and thickness I run most 3/32 7018 between 75 and 90 amps. If there's an option I put my arc force anywhere from 3-7 depending on what I'm working on.
Arc force? I wish I had arc force. Hell at this point a stick welder with compass on the stock and a thing that tells time. Ever since I put the wleder in our stack with plywood walls it has made me deaf. Rattle all the live long day. Even more fun when you stick a rod. I wish I could throw $700 in o my school to get a Lincoln buzz box AC/DC. Or a Lincoln sqaurwave tig. Or preferably a stick machine that can run 6010s since we have a bunch that I'd like to use.

So if anyone has a welder, connections with a company, or a need for a tax deduction willing to donate :lol: If only someone would. Or else I'll go to the school board and ask. Maybe. Or I'll live with the AC buzzbox and donate one later when I make a bunch of money from these welding jobs I'll get skmeday
A student now but really want to weld everyday. Want to learn everything about everything. Want to become a knower of all and master of none.
Instagram: @farmwelding
Nick
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:57 pm
  • Location:
    Big Lake/Monticello MN, U.S.A.

Poland308 wrote:Depending on angle and thickness I run most 3/32 7018 between 75 and 90 amps. If there's an option I put my arc force anywhere from 3-7 depending on what I'm working on.
True of course, but remember he is trying to use an old AC only machine - no arc force :)
Dave J.

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~

Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
User avatar
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:57 pm
  • Location:
    Big Lake/Monticello MN, U.S.A.

Farmwelding wrote: Arc force? I wish I had arc force. Hell at this point a stick welder with compass on the stock and a thing that tells time. Ever since I put the wleder in our stack with plywood walls it has made me deaf. Rattle all the live long day. Even more fun when you stick a rod. I wish I could throw $700 in o my school to get a Lincoln buzz box AC/DC. Or a Lincoln sqaurwave tig. Or preferably a stick machine that can run 6010s since we have a bunch that I'd like to use.

So if anyone has a welder, connections with a company, or a need for a tax deduction willing to donate :lol: If only someone would. Or else I'll go to the school board and ask. Maybe. Or I'll live with the AC buzzbox and donate one later when I make a bunch of money from these welding jobs I'll get skmeday
Seriously, you need to start looking at what you write and get into the habit of good spelling and proper sentence structure.

This habit will do right by you your whole life.

A welder/artist down the road from me is in his early 50's.
He says he wishes he could write better and had paid attention more to it in school.
It's important to him because over the years he's lost out on getting commissioned art work due to his poor writing ability.
Dave J.

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~

Syncro 350
Invertec v250-s
Thermal Arc 161 and 300
MM210
Dialarc
Tried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Poleframer
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Wed Feb 01, 2017 12:47 am

Here's my story that sort of relates, tho not welding. I did forestry work here in oregon for 25 years, most of the welding I did in that time was patching up my beat up pickup trucks (paid 4 wheelin to boot, who could ask for more). A good bit of those years was tree climbing.
In my first 2 weeks as a climber I was sent up the north umpqua to test me on those honkin Douglas firs. Some of them were over 5 foot DBH (diameter breast height) and over 100' to the first branch, one climb, on like the 3'd day was over 260 feet up. I'll admit to some knee knockin on that one, but I didnt piss my pants :). After that 95% of the climbing was a piece of cake.
Coldman
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:16 am
  • Location:
    Oz

MinnesotaDave wrote:
Farmwelding wrote: Arc force? I wish I had arc force. Hell at this point a stick welder with compass on the stock and a thing that tells time. Ever since I put the wleder in our stack with plywood walls it has made me deaf. Rattle all the live long day. Even more fun when you stick a rod. I wish I could throw $700 in o my school to get a Lincoln buzz box AC/DC. Or a Lincoln sqaurwave tig. Or preferably a stick machine that can run 6010s since we have a bunch that I'd like to use.

So if anyone has a welder, connections with a company, or a need for a tax deduction willing to donate :lol: If only someone would. Or else I'll go to the school board and ask. Maybe. Or I'll live with the AC buzzbox and donate one later when I make a bunch of money from these welding jobs I'll get skmeday
Seriously, you need to start looking at what you write and get into the habit of good spelling and proper sentence structure.

This habit will do right by you your whole life.

A welder/artist down the road from me is in his early 50's.
He says he wishes he could write better and had paid attention more to it in school.
It's important to him because over the years he's lost out on getting commissioned art work due to his poor writing ability.
I bet Braehill could learn im.
Dammit I miss Braehill - where are you brother?


Sent using Tapatalk
Flat out like a lizard drinkin'
Farmwelding
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:37 pm
  • Location:
    Wisconsin

9/10 times I review. This time I didn't as you can see. My apologies I'll work on it.
A student now but really want to weld everyday. Want to learn everything about everything. Want to become a knower of all and master of none.
Instagram: @farmwelding
Nick
Popeye the old miner
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Tue Mar 21, 2017 8:29 pm
  • Location:
    Pitman Pennsylvania

Poleframer wrote:Here's my story that sort of relates, tho not welding. I did forestry work here in oregon for 25 years, most of the welding I did in that time was patching up my beat up pickup trucks (paid 4 wheelin to boot, who could ask for more). A good bit of those years was tree climbing.
In my first 2 weeks as a climber I was sent up the north umpqua to test me on those honkin Douglas firs. Some of them were over 5 foot DBH (diameter breast height) and over 100' to the first branch, one climb, on like the 3'd day was over 260 feet up. I'll admit to some knee knockin on that one, but I didnt piss my pants :). After that 95% of the climbing was a piece of cake.
You've got brass balls my friend...I thought bein an ironworker was rough...seems easy compared to that
Popeye the old miner
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Tue Mar 21, 2017 8:29 pm
  • Location:
    Pitman Pennsylvania

Farmwelding wrote:So I tried for another half an hour today and found out new combinations of swearing I have never heard. I had two and half actual beads today as well. The slag doesnt like coming off very well though. I am just going to hope and ray we get a DC stick machine sometime.
its been a few years since I used 7018 on AC...I do remember cranking the amps up a wee bit more than for DC... and I remember that you need to keep the end of the rod away from the steel a bit ... not saying long arc it...just don't hold it tight like you would on DC. I don't have access to an AC machine or I would experiment a bit. I'm sure you can figure it out on your own though, and when you get it down to second nature you can keep that feather in your hat and feel pretty good about yourself. Good Luck
Farmwelding
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:37 pm
  • Location:
    Wisconsin

I ran into one of the tech school instructors last week-the one who brought the rods-and got talking and he said he would come back but then invited me up to run some just to see and get the feel. I assumes that he would say-here is some plate go run some stringers. I walk in-go over with so-and-so and watch him. Sit for a bout a minute, he comes back and says I want you to do what he's doing- he was doing a 2G with 3/8" plate, 1/4" gap, 1/4" gap, all 7018. Okay I said I'm up to the challenge. So first 7018 I ran was the root on that plate. As you all said-striking an arc on DC is a laugh compared to AC. Hell re striking a 7018 is easier. I do the first one and run a few horizontal stringers around it and the instructor walks in and asks the guy next to me if he wants to do the real deal and he said yes and asked me the same. So of course I said yes so the second group of 7018s I've run was an actual bend test peice. Root and first two fill passes went well, but the cover passes were not that great. Failed already though due to a 1/16" too much reinforcement on top. I'll post some pictures when I do the bend on Thursday for y'all to look at
A student now but really want to weld everyday. Want to learn everything about everything. Want to become a knower of all and master of none.
Instagram: @farmwelding
Nick
PeteM
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Sat Dec 03, 2016 11:28 am
  • Location:
    Pittsburgh

Thats pretty cool. He might be able to bring you a little further along technique wise.
Farmwelding
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:37 pm
  • Location:
    Wisconsin

PeteM wrote:Thats pretty cool. He might be able to bring you a little further along technique wise.
Yeah I hope so. I mean I'll spend two more years with the guy at tech school anyways so I've got awhile
A student now but really want to weld everyday. Want to learn everything about everything. Want to become a knower of all and master of none.
Instagram: @farmwelding
Nick
Poland308
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Sep 10, 2015 8:45 pm
  • Location:
    Iowa

Judging your height on your cover takes a lot of practice. For a few bucks you might want to invest in one of the gauges they use to check reinforcement height. It will also show you if you have any underfill on the toes of your stringers. I checked every practice piece I did for weeks before I took my pipe tests.
I have more questions than answers

Josh
Poleframer
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Wed Feb 01, 2017 12:47 am

As this thread proceeds, yer on the right track, I didnt learn to drive in a lexus, it was a 63 dodge 1/2 ton PU with slide locks holding the doors closed, and a blown clutch on a slant six. Learned to double clutch and speed shift before I even knew how a clutch was supposed to work! Keep at it! :lol:
Farmwelding
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:37 pm
  • Location:
    Wisconsin

Yeah I was thinking about getting some weld inspection tools in general just to have. I suppose someday it wouldn't hurt to become a CWI too.

As for learning stick-I got to learn on a 35' straight body grain truck-kenworth t800, Cummins 255, 9 speed eaton fuller tranny. No clutch except to start and stop.
A student now but really want to weld everyday. Want to learn everything about everything. Want to become a knower of all and master of none.
Instagram: @farmwelding
Nick
Farmwelding
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:37 pm
  • Location:
    Wisconsin

Well as of 5:30 I have officially passed my first weld test. Only one little bit of undercut that opened that was still passable. And then he put me on some vertical t-joints to get that down after we bent her. He also sent me some new 3/32" rods to try since the others were older so we'll see
Attachments
image.jpeg
image.jpeg (65.8 KiB) Viewed 1331 times
image.jpeg
image.jpeg (43.85 KiB) Viewed 1331 times
A student now but really want to weld everyday. Want to learn everything about everything. Want to become a knower of all and master of none.
Instagram: @farmwelding
Nick
Popeye the old miner
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Tue Mar 21, 2017 8:29 pm
  • Location:
    Pitman Pennsylvania

Farmwelding wrote:Well as of 5:30 I have officially passed my first weld test. Only one little bit of undercut that opened that was still passable. And then he put me on some vertical t-joints to get that down after we bent her. He also sent me some new 3/32" rods to try since the others were older so we'll see
Good for you!!!! Congradulations
Farmwelding
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:37 pm
  • Location:
    Wisconsin

Popeye the old miner wrote:
Farmwelding wrote:Well as of 5:30 I have officially passed my first weld test. Only one little bit of undercut that opened that was still passable. And then he put me on some vertical t-joints to get that down after we bent her. He also sent me some new 3/32" rods to try since the others were older so we'll see
Good for you!!!! Congradulations
Funny you say that! I've been trying vertical and WOW I can suck like a gay man sucking a golf ball through a garden hose! As with it all-patience and keep burning.
A student now but really want to weld everyday. Want to learn everything about everything. Want to become a knower of all and master of none.
Instagram: @farmwelding
Nick
exnailpounder
  • Posts:
  • Joined:
    Thu Dec 25, 2014 9:25 am
  • Location:
    near Chicago

Farmwelding wrote:
Popeye the old miner wrote:
Farmwelding wrote:Well as of 5:30 I have officially passed my first weld test. Only one little bit of undercut that opened that was still passable. And then he put me on some vertical t-joints to get that down after we bent her. He also sent me some new 3/32" rods to try since the others were older so we'll see
Good for you!!!! Congradulations
Funny you say that! I've been trying vertical and WOW I can suck like a gay man sucking a golf ball through a garden hose! As with it all-patience and keep burning.
Gosh could I have a field day right here :lol: :lol:
Ifyoucantellmewhatthissaysiwillbuyyouabeer.
Post Reply