Stick Welding Tips, Certification tests, machines, projects
Popeye the old miner
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those 7018 ac rods will work fine on dc you just runnin a wee bit hot, as long as the flux isn't burning off or popping off you are doin fine. I some times run 3/32 like that on the heavy hauler truck frames til I can use 1/8 inch rods.

as far as MIG being easy...I never thought so...at least what I call MIG... hard wire no flux at all...(some folks call anything that comes off a roll and through a gun mig) anyway I ws never any good at it..maybe because I never used it much














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301
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Haha yeah I guess I made that sound like mig was difficult. What I meant is I nitpick things about mig sometimes and compared to stick I have no problems with mig. As for sticking electrodes I'm pretty good at that. Sometimes I get smooth starts though. Through my eyes considering I burned my first rod a couple of days ago, I'm not doing too bad. I'll post some pics for any constructive criticism I can get. Some forums are easier to post them than others but I'll get some up
301
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301
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I must be doing something wrong. I hate to sound like a dummy but I searched the forum for instruction on uploading photos and followed accordingly. Some sites have a required post count before pics are allowed. Could that be my issue?
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301 wrote:I must be doing something wrong. I hate to sound like a dummy but I searched the forum for instruction on uploading photos and followed accordingly. Some sites have a required post count before pics are allowed. Could that be my issue?
Here, this way worked for me on your photos:

http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/Trave ... a.jpg.html

http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q76 ... rwoqma.jpg
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.
301
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Thanks Dave. Did you use the image icon then copy and paste link?
301
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[URL=http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/Trave ... a.jpg.html]Image[/URL

Whoo hoo. This is my first try at a seam
301
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301
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301 wrote:http://rs1358.pbsrc.com/albums/q763/Tra ... 0&fit=clip

My first attempt at stick welding

http://rs1358.pbsrc.com/albums/q763/Tra ... 0&fit=clip
And my somewhat stack

7018 @75 amps
Turn up the amps on those 7018 and it will wet in at the toes much easier.
For 7018 I run 3/32" at 90-100 amps.
1/8" at 125-140 amps.
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.
301
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Will do. Funny how before I got my machine I had too much junk laying around. Now it seems I don't have enough scrap steel at all.
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301 wrote:Hey all,
I recently purchased an ac/dc stick/tig machine mainly because I want to learn tig. My experience is solely aluminum mig. I picked up some lincoln 3/32 7018 to test out stick. Is the 7018 a good choice for learning stacking beads and is there another rod you would recommend during my learning process?
The machine is the alphatig 200x
Thanks
Chris
7018 (DC/AC), 6010 (DC), and 6011 (DC/AC). Master these. All other rods are "boutiquey" and not of code work in USA, generally. Don't do fancy. Stay basic.
Purpose, then passion. Practitionership. Obsession and hard work. That's the discipline.
301
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I changed my lawn mower blades this morning. During the change my wife mentioned she wanted some kind of yard ornament to put by the garden to dress it up. The way the blades were laying gave me an idea. My first stick welding project began. She got a miniature windmill made out of bed rails and mower blades. My welds looked similar to bubble gum and cornmeal but you'd a thought I gave her a diamond ring.
I'll give the 6010's a try but I don't know if my machine will be able to do anything with them.
I'll upload a pic of the diamond ring if I can get past all the ads on photobucket.
301
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ImageRemember the important thing here is not how great or creative this is. The important thing is I'm king for the day and saved at least $30 from her buying something from a craft store.
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301, I took a moment to edit your post so the picture shows, rather than just the link.

On photobucket, under "share this photo", select the IMG option, copy and paste it directly into your post here, and the photo will show with the post.

A nice simple project, requiring you to think, design, fit, and weld. Even if it's basic, it's experience in all the above. Plus, the wife's happy! Happy wife, happy life! (25 years' experience with that...)

Steve
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Otto Nobedder wrote:301, I took a moment to edit your post so the picture shows, rather than just the link.

On photobucket, under "share this photo", select the IMG option, copy and paste it directly into your post here, and the photo will show with the post.

A nice simple project, requiring you to think, design, fit, and weld. Even if it's basic, it's experience in all the above. Plus, the wife's happy! Happy wife, happy life! (25 years' experience with that...)



Steve
Thanks for the help.
We just made 24 years last month. Although she's real happy I think I'm getting the better end of the deal. Last night she started thinking of some other things that would be cool little projects. Not being one to let an opportunity pass by I said I would need additional tools for what she's wanting. We'll be looking at some tools next weekend.
Poland308
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Well played good sir! That's the method I used to buy my 210mp.
I have more questions than answers

Josh
Farmwelding
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Poland308 wrote:Well played good sir! That's the method I used to buy my 210mp.
Wow...I'm single and still can't buy one. Mostly because I don't like spending money-would love to buy a 210mp but I only use cash and that's a lot of money in cash...even though I do have it because who likes paying taxes :lol:
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
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Buy off the internet pay less tax. I was broke for the first 15 years of marriage. Just started to have some extra cash the last 4 years.
I have more questions than answers

Josh
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Poland308 wrote:Buy off the internet pay less tax. I was broke for the first 15 years of marriage. Just started to have some extra cash the last 4 years.
I've bought very little off of the internet and when I did I had to get a middle man who has Amazon prime because beleive it or not you can't use cash on the internet
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
301
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I did have several issues blowing through the be bedrails. When setting amps do you base it off of rod size, material size or both? I know experience plays the biggest roll but I have none with stick. Mig is much easier in material sizes. Just a matter of changing volts and/or wire speed. The first time I blew through I panicked and tried some ridiculous moves to correct and fill it. My best move turned out to be stopping, let it cool a second and start back over. What started out the size of bb ended up the size of a nickel.
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301 wrote:I did have several issues blowing through the be bedrails. When setting amps do you base it off of rod size, material size or both? I know experience plays the biggest roll but I have none with stick. Mig is much easier in material sizes. Just a matter of changing volts and/or wire speed. The first time I blew through I panicked and tried some ridiculous moves to correct and fill it. My best move turned out to be stopping, let it cool a second and start back over. What started out the size of bb ended up the size of a nickel.
It's both, with stick. The rod can will (usually) give you a recommended range of amperages for the size of rod (If not, you can get the recs from the mfgr.s website), and you select from that range based on material thickness/size. Most rods can be operated outside the recommended ranges, too, but requires a bit more experience to make it do what you want. Usually, if you find you need to go below, or much above, it's time for the next size rod.

Steve
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301 wrote:I did have several issues blowing through the be bedrails. When setting amps do you base it off of rod size, material size or both? I know experience plays the biggest roll but I have none with stick. Mig is much easier in material sizes. Just a matter of changing volts and/or wire speed. The first time I blew through I panicked and tried some ridiculous moves to correct and fill it. My best move turned out to be stopping, let it cool a second and start back over. What started out the size of bb ended up the size of a nickel.
One important rule of thumb, don't use a rod thicker than the metal.
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.
301
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Good tips on rod/amp selection. The windmill was really more of an accidental creation between my wife's thinking out loud and me looking for things to just stick together. Now my mother-n-law wants one. With the extra advice from veterans here I'll need to go pick up multiple rod sizes and numbers. Probably should go ahead and pick up some argon and tig consumables too. The things I have to do to keep them happy is rough I guess.
I'm glad I finally registered here. It's been very helpful for me but it feels a bit one sided since I don't have much to offer. Once I have plenty of time with this machine maybe an ameture review will be helpful to someone looking at one.
Thanks again for the helpful hints and advice. Don't worry. I'm sure there will be many more questions

Chris
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MinnesotaDave wrote:
301 wrote:I did have several issues blowing through the be bedrails. When setting amps do you base it off of rod size, material size or both? I know experience plays the biggest roll but I have none with stick. Mig is much easier in material sizes. Just a matter of changing volts and/or wire speed. The first time I blew through I panicked and tried some ridiculous moves to correct and fill it. My best move turned out to be stopping, let it cool a second and start back over. What started out the size of bb ended up the size of a nickel.
One important rule of thumb, don't use a rod thicker than the metal.
Same size as the material alright? Say 1/8" 6013 on 1/8" plate?
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
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