Student needing urgent help with Smaw/Stick welding. Help me out brah's. Pweas.

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Hey what's up guys, new poster here. Well to make it short and sweet. I'm currently enrolled in school for Smaw-pipe welding I already took the Smaw-plate course. I'm really struggling 2 weeks in, I can't get comfortable don't know how to properly place my hands having difficulty placing beads where they belong and the list goes on. I'm one of 28 students with only one instructor, needless to say I kinda have to figure this out on my own. We had a meeting today, it was announced a company or 2 came scouting the school and need 20 welders starting at 25 per hour. I know it's a tall order to sharpen up my skills so quickly but I feel like it's just my mechanics and when I get it down my welding will be great. Can you guys give me any advice? Maybe even good literature? This is a 6 G test I took today at school (Failed horribly I know). 6010 3/32root at 60 (Scared to go higher and open up a big keyhole) using whip technique then grinded it down. 6010 3/32 hot pass at 68 with circular motion. 7018 3/32 Filler at 75 stringer with a little side to side motion, same for cap. I'm embarrassed of my welds, and I can't be embarrassed in front of potential employers.Edit- Looking at the welds now I forgot to add I had to stop and restart way too many times because of me not being comfortable. Geeez it's ugly. Terrible. Attached ImagesLast edited by Metal Fan; 04-17-2014 at 01:05 AM.
Reply:2 weeks in and you're trying to weld 6G? You need to learn how to walk before you can run. Start on horizontal. I can't tell what size that is...2 inch? Get some big pipe, 6 inch or more and run your root with 1/8th 6010.Learning how to weld takes time, and lots of it. It takes a lot longer than 2 weeks. You just need to practice as much as you can till you get a feel for it.3/32 7018 needs to be at 85 to 95 amps.
Reply:Exactly what Timmy had mentioned. You have been thrown into the deep end of the pool way to soon. I had over 4 semesters of pipe welding and my instructor started us off first on 1G then went to 5G,2G then 6G.  I aquired my 6G cert after the 4 semesters of pipe welding. So practice is the key and starting with basics. Getting comfortable is key as it goes hand in hand with the proper movement of your arms and body. IF you get bound up just a little your weld will show it. Like for instance as getting your welding lead up over your shoulder to take some of the weight off your arm. Do a few practice dry runs before you actually start welding to see if you have any binds in your movement. Your welds show that your not 100% comfortable and you even said you have stopped numerous times. Every stop you make you risk cold starts, porosity, under cut, and slag pockets. Your 6010 whips need to be tighter, dont go pass your puddle as your whipping back and forth. Just whip to the edge of your first puddle then back into it. Smaller more consistent patterns will keep your beads tighter and make it easier for the next bead to go over it. Hope this helps you some.GalenMiller TrailBlazer 302 EFIThermal Dynamics 252i w/WeldCraft WP 9F tig torch and foot controlThermal Dynamics Pak 52Millermatic 250 w/Spoolmate 30aLincoln SA-200 gas driven welder from grandfatherBlacksmith shop
Reply:Originally Posted by TimmyTIG2 weeks in and you're trying to weld 6G? You need to learn how to walk before you can run. Start on horizontal. I can't tell what size that is...2 inch? Get some big pipe, 6 inch or more and run your root with 1/8th 6010.Learning how to weld takes time, and lots of it. It takes a lot longer than 2 weeks. You just need to practice as much as you can till you get a feel for it.3/32 7018 needs to be at 85 to 95 amps.
Reply:Originally Posted by OUTBACK FORGEExactly what Timmy had mentioned. You have been thrown into the deep end of the pool way to soon. I had over 4 semesters of pipe welding and my instructor started us off first on 1G then went to 5G,2G then 6G.  I aquired my 6G cert after the 4 semesters of pipe welding. So practice is the key and starting with basics. Getting comfortable is key as it goes hand in hand with the proper movement of your arms and body. IF you get bound up just a little your weld will show it. Like for instance as getting your welding lead up over your shoulder to take some of the weight off your arm. Do a few practice dry runs before you actually start welding to see if you have any binds in your movement. Your welds show that your not 100% comfortable and you even said you have stopped numerous times. Every stop you make you risk cold starts, porosity, under cut, and slag pockets. Your 6010 whips need to be tighter, dont go pass your puddle as your whipping back and forth. Just whip to the edge of your first puddle then back into it. Smaller more consistent patterns will keep your beads tighter and make it easier for the next bead to go over it. Hope this helps you some.
Reply:Are you paying for this class ? Grow a set  and tell those asczawholes you want your money back.A troo murkin edjumikkashin system.28 to one ? Find somewhere else to study.NO. Find some where they teach. Take the refunded amount to a redneck welding shop, hand it to the old grumpy bazzdard and tell him "I wanna fuggin weld". Take beer.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:Can you read the puddle? If you can't yet, there is very little we can do to help you until you do. The only one that can make the connection between what your hands do and what your brain sees is you.Once you can see and read the puddle things become easier. Now you have the ability to manipulate the puddle and get the results you want. Up until that time, you are just making blind stabs in the dark.6G is the hardest position for a reason. 2" pipe is difficult for a reason. You've have both together to make life almost as difficult as you can get. With 6G you need to keep transitioning from overhead to horizontal to vertical and flat depending where you are as you weld. To do this you go by what the puddle is telling you needs to be done. With small diameter pipe, you have to constantly keep adjusting your rod angle to maintain a consistent angle in relation to the pipe surface. Small diameter pipe means you have to change much faster. Again a lot of this is done by what you see happening with the puddle..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Your 7018 is too cold. You need to run that hotter. That will help smooth out the appearance and help with potentially burying slag. You need to learn to run your 7018 hotter. I will sometimes run 3/32 7018 upwards of 100 amps. I'd like to see the inside of your pipe after your root is in. Pipe welding takes great skill to do with good results. It usually isn't something you can just pick up when your a new stick welder. I don't like the teacher/student ratio in your class. Your not getting enough guidance when your learning something as difficult as pipe welding.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:I think you're too cold on everything. I would use 1/8” 6010 my self. One thing I do when running 6-G is after my root pass I use a laid over J motion. Place the long part of the J on the bottom section, and the curl of the J gives the stack of dimes look. Now this is for 6010 only, with 7018 I use a little up and down movement, just enough to wash in the toes of the weld. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Metal Fan.....if you have confidence in your 6010 plates then it's the round-the-pipe that's killing you.  Sneaking through a 6g test isn't the way you want to hire on to new job.  Spend some time just running stringers around 2g, 5g and 6g scrap pipe.  Set up a couple if you have the room or soak them down as need be.  Pad a foot in all positions.  You have to learn the movements.  It has to be done.
Reply:First thing i see is chipping hammer marks every where second way to cold If your have a really hard time in body position look up fieldres on youtube shows good body position
Reply:Man Cep beautiful welds. I'm kinda getting a little turned on just be looking at it.....
Reply:Originally Posted by OldSparksMetal Fan.....if you have confidence in your 6010 plates then it's the round-the-pipe that's killing you.  Sneaking through a 6g test isn't the way you want to hire on to new job.  Spend some time just running stringers around 2g, 5g and 6g scrap pipe.  Set up a couple if you have the room or soak them down as need be.  Pad a foot in all positions.  You have to learn the movements.  It has to be done.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWCan you read the puddle? If you can't yet, there is very little we can do to help you until you do. The only one that can make the connection between what your hands do and what your brain sees is you.Once you can see and read the puddle things become easier. Now you have the ability to manipulate the puddle and get the results you want. Up until that time, you are just making blind stabs in the dark.6G is the hardest position for a reason. 2" pipe is difficult for a reason. You've have both together to make life almost as difficult as you can get. With 6G you need to keep transitioning from overhead to horizontal to vertical and flat depending where you are as you weld. To do this you go by what the puddle is telling you needs to be done. With small diameter pipe, you have to constantly keep adjusting your rod angle to maintain a consistent angle in relation to the pipe surface. Small diameter pipe means you have to change much faster. Again a lot of this is done by what you see happening with the puddle.
Reply:Originally Posted by abecFirst thing i see is chipping hammer marks every where second way to cold If your have a really hard time in body position look up fieldres on youtube shows good body position
Reply:Originally Posted by BurpeeAre you paying for this class ? Grow a set  and tell those asczawholes you want your money back.A troo murkin edjumikkashin system.28 to one ? Find somewhere else to study.NO. Find some where they teach. Take the refunded amount to a redneck welding shop, hand it to the old grumpy bazzdard and tell him "I wanna fuggin weld". Take beer.
Reply:Originally Posted by Metal FanI know, but good news. I'm starting 5g tomorrow. Our Instructor is gonna send us back to 5g then 2g, I asked why he did that and he said he has his reasons. He wanted us to struggle then go back to 5 and 2 so we could "appreciate" 6g. IDK... Kinda weird.
Reply:Jody does a pretty good job explaining his hand positioning as well.  I'm surprised no one has posted the video yet.   Check out "welding tips and tricks" on YouTube,  and his page with the same title only with a dot com.I think this is it6g Pipe Welding Test 6010 Root Pass: http://youtu.be/pXDuDCLxkU4Last edited by Teggy1; 04-23-2014 at 08:02 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by Metal FanLol I wish I could mang but I'm a coward... Lol naa but when I took the plate class we had one main instructor and 2 or 3 helpers. I think the school didn't think they would have so many students going for pipe.
Reply:Someone in your class is a hotshot, look through the scraps to figure out who it is then watch them\ ask them for tips. I went to school at Lincoln and I buddied up to the kid whose welds were perfection.  Also like CEP said you are too cold.
Reply:Originally Posted by Teggy1Jody does a pretty good job explaining his hand positioning as well.  I'm surprised no one has posted the video yet.   Check out "welding tips and tricks" on YouTube,  and his page with the same title only with a dot com.I think this is it6g Pipe Welding Test 6010 Root Pass:
Reply:Originally Posted by AceSomeone in your class is a hotshot, look through the scraps to figure out who it is then watch them\ ask them for tips. I went to school at Lincoln and I buddied up to the kid whose welds were perfection.  Also like CEP said you are too cold.
Reply:Originally Posted by RojodiabloNot so weird; if it were always easy, and you never felt like it was a struggle in training...... when you encounter a tough weld in the field, you will rip your hair out. And.... there is big responsibility/ liability and cost associated with that weld in the real world. So it's a good idea to train hard stuff, so that yes, you can appreciate the easier welds. Also, you will vividly remember your mistakes and when you see yourself correcting them, it will make sense and all come to you. For the 6G, I agree, 6-8" pipe will be a bit easier to learn on.
Reply:Make sure you put your 1/8th inch land on the bevel. Also run your 6010 hotter, you need to ram the rod into that gap, you shouldn't even see it, you can tell you're getting good penetration by the sound of the arc on the inside of the pipe. Make sure to ground out all your wagon tracks, the 7018 will clean out slag if you burn it hot enough. Honestly don't except to get that job, you're trying to squeeze by something so you get a job that you will be doing EVERY day. You may get in the door but you'll only be wasting everyone involveds time.