Getting The Hang Of Stick Welding!!!

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It has been said not to look at the arc while stick welding............exactly where is the puddle and where is the flux freezing.Anyone have a picture to give me a reference?
Reply:Type this into a youtube search box:  arc welding steve bleileHis first of two stick videos show it very clearly.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Basically, behind the arc/rod tipMiller Multimatic 255
Reply:Jody prolly(weldingtricksandtips) has the best vids showing puddle manipulation.Every rod brand and environmantal variables are nutty.Just burn more and more rod. You'll understand.Stick welding is like riding motorcycles. The basics are identical. The ride is ALWAYS completely different.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:Originally Posted by Louie1961
Reply:Watch these two vids, than get back with some pics of your beads.~!JohnJust a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024
Reply:I tried my first shot at stick welding years ago. Now I am looking at getting it down the proper way. The following pic was done on an inverter machine at 90 amps, 1/4" plate  (I wrote 1/8" on the plate but it is really 1/4"), 1/8" 7018 rods DCEP.......I opened this pack of rods a day or so ago.Hopefully you can get an idea where I should be going.....for starters I think I am going a little fast. 7018 rods are interesting........they seem to "explode" more than 6013. 6013 seems to run a little smoother.I am using 7018 rods because I have them and they seem to be the go to rod around here.Let me know what you think!!!Thanx!!! Last edited by rahtreelimbs; 04-02-2014 at 08:08 PM.
Reply:What is the difference welding with a transformer machine vs. a, inverter machine???
Reply:For the most part too cold. While it's possible to run beads at those amps, higher would make it easier to do so. We have the students set the machines at 125 amps DC+ so they can drag the rods on the plate. At 90 amps you need to carry a decent arc length to get the heat up where it will run well. 7018 though doesn't like a long arc, so you are getting close to where you'll start to have porosity issues.Closer picts would help some so I can see the details better. Overall the top two don't look too bad, but they might be a tad cold. Consistency is fair but can still use work. Bead on the right looks rushed..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:Originally Posted by DSWFor the most part too cold. While it's possible to run beads at those amps, higher would make it easier to do so. We have the students set the machines at 125 amps DC+ so they can drag the rods on the plate. At 90 amps you need to carry a decent arc length to get the heat up where it will run well. 7018 though doesn't like a long arc, so you are getting close to where you'll start to have porosity issues.Closer picts would help some so I can see the details better. Overall the top two don't look too bad, but they might be a tad cold. Consistency is fair but can still use work. Bead on the right looks rushed.
Reply:I weld based on what I see the puddle doing. Dragging is easy in the flat position, but doesn't work as well in say vertical.We have students drag because it eliminates arc length from the equation when they  are just learning. That way all they have to worry about is rod angle and travel speed. It makes it easy for them to make nice welds and learn what the puddle will look like when they get everything right as they build up the required reference on what to look for in the puddle. Hopefully by the time they get to vertical they will have built up enough knowledge that they don't have major issues reading the puddle at that point. By changing the arc length you change the "heat" of the weld. Stuff the rod in close, and you can cool the puddle and help fill gaps. Lengthen the arc and you pump up the heat that can help when your fit up is too tight. Most newer guys have issues when they can't manage to maintain a consistent arc length. Often they don't even realize they are doing this and it gives them fits because they don't know why they are having problems. Usually by the time they are ready to need to use arc length for control, they have built up enough of the basics so that they can at least maintain a constant length, or at a bare minimum at least control their rod angle and travel speed so arc length is the only variable they are playing with..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:LOVE THE STEVE BLEILE VID!we were forced to watch those in high-school! wish I would have paid attention then because after a second look, it is very informative!as far as dragging vs holding off, I always keep a tight arc with 7018. get used to holding that, and learn machine settings accordingly.1/8" rod likes it best at 100+amps. most will say 120, which is ideal on most machines I have run. running uphill I may run 115. any less, and you are just having difficult starts. you will notice with more amps, the tighter you can hold your arc, and the better you can control things. up to a certain point of course. I know Lincoln includes recommended amp-settings with their rods, they are a good place to startbosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveType this into a youtube search box:  arc welding steve bleileHis first of two stick videos show it very clearly.
Reply:Did these tonight. Same setup as the beginning of the thread except amps are at 125-130 and using 1/2" plate this time. For the first time I was able to focus on the puddle instead of the arc. One thing I did notice was that I had arc light coming in from the bottom of my helmet. Gets distracting and also messes with your ability to see what you are doing................any way around this???
Reply:7018???Just a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024
Reply:Originally Posted by AKweldshop7018???
Reply:Those are good for 7018.I would keep doing what your doing, maybe get a longer piece of metal, so you can burn a full rod.Consistency is the key.~JohnJust a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024
Reply:You're coming along fine.For the light under your lid, some guys hang a little piece o leather there.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Whats your helmet look like???Just a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024
Reply:One thing I did notice was that I had arc light coming in from the bottom of my helmet. Gets distracting and also messes with your ability to see what you are doing................any way around this???  Wear a dark colored shirt and it doesn't have to be black. What you're getting is light reflected off your shirt.                                                                   MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:@ rah - your entering into the "illumination" phase.  That realization, or 'Ah Ha' moment, frequently cited by DSW.  You are seeing/focusing your attention on the pool, not the arc.  Excellent.  The arc causes the pool.  The pool is your wheelhouse.  Try scoring a 3" x 3" x 3/8" section of channel, at least 12 to 14" long.  You want to rip two electrodes per run.  You can fill up that channel in flat position, and then try your hand at 3G (vert up) with weave and stringers.   Access DSW's SMAW "101" training approach, listed in several of his threads.   SideNote:  try baselining 130-135A, with tight:tight arc, for your 1/8" 7018s in flat position. Wait until you start fusing metal with different joints [BCTEL - bevel/groove, corner, tee/fillets, edge, lap] and in multiple positions [flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead].  Your focus will laser in on the principles of wetting, tie-ins, HAZ control, multi-pass, and consistency.   You will look back months/years from now and realize you were/are on long-term journey.  Not trying to overload you bro, just have you think across the boxes.  ++ Attitude, solid preparation & training, and goal-oriented hood time ++.   Grind grind'n brah "Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:Originally Posted by AKweldshopWhats your helmet look like???
Reply:Originally Posted by ManoKai@ rah - your entering into the "illumination" phase.  That realization, or 'Ah Ha' moment, frequently cited by DSW.  You are seeing/focusing your attention on the pool, not the arc.  Excellent.  The arc causes the pool.  The pool is your wheelhouse.  Try scoring a 3" x 3" x 3/8" section of channel, at least 12 to 14" long.  You want to rip two electrodes per run.  You can fill up that channel in flat position, and then try your hand at 3G (vert up) with weave and stringers.   Access DSW's SMAW "101" training approach, listed in several of his threads.   SideNote:  try baselining 130-135A, with tight:tight arc, for your 1/8" 7018s in flat position. Wait until you start fusing metal with different joints [BCTEL - bevel/groove, corner, tee/fillets, edge, lap] and in multiple positions [flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead].  Your focus will laser in on the principles of wetting, tie-ins, HAZ control, multi-pass, and consistency.   You will look back months/years from now and realize you were/are on long-term journey.  Not trying to overload you bro, just have you think across the boxes.  ++ Attitude, solid preparation & training, and goal-oriented hood time ++.   Grind grind'n brah
Reply:You are doing quite well. Keep it up. At some point not looking at the arc will become a habit. I don't even really think about it any more and have to try and focus on it when someone describes something about the arc itself..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:Originally Posted by DSWYou are doing quite well. Keep it up. At some point not looking at the arc will become a habit. I don't even really think about it any more and have to try and focus on it when someone describes something about the arc itself.I don't find it to be any "dirtier" than others. 6010/11 are probably the worst. In fact if the settings are just right, all you need to pretty much do is brush the weld as the slag will self peal and you don't have anything at all to chip.7018 isn't a bad rod to learn on, but some machines are temperamental about whether or not they will run it well, especially AC machines. If the machine doesn't run it well, then it's not a good choice to learn on. 7014 is my favorite there. ( well 7024 is even nicer, but hard to locate in small quantities and only good in the flat or horizontal fillet positions.)In an all position rod, 7018 Excalibur is my favorite. However some 7018's I don't care for at all. A lot of the 7018 AC rods are hard to see the puddle with due to the way the slag is compared to Excalibur. The 7018 Jet Rod the tech school uses on occasion falls sort of in between the two.  7014 is a close 2nd and #1 on AC only machines..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:I consider 7018 to be the cleanest rods.Put of less fumes, smoke, and sparks.I can weld with 7018 short sleeves, no gloves.I put 7018 as one of the best rods to learn on, you learn to read the puddle control the puddle.Once you learn 7018, every other rod is easy. Same with Mig.As to your helmet not keeping light out, I don't see a problem. try the darker shirt.Good luck, and keep practicing.~JohnJust a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024
Reply:Originally Posted by AKweldshopI consider 7018 to be the cleanest rods.Put of less fumes, smoke, and sparks.I can weld with 7018 short sleeves, no gloves.I put 7018 as one of the best rods to learn on, you learn to read the puddle control the puddle.Once you learn 7018, every other rod is easy. Same with Mig.As to your helmet not keeping light out, I don't see a problem. try the darker shirt.Good luck, and keep practicing.~John
Reply:I totally agree.I was saying that 7018 does not put out much sparks.Here's a pic of my hand after burning (6) 1/8 7018's.Some sunburn.I always wear safety gear and gloves.Just saying.~JohnJust a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024
Reply:Did a few more today. I have been welding two handed since I am not the steadiest person in the world. The following welds were done one handed. I decided to mix things up and do some circular welds. The pipe weld was done in one non-stop pass.....the divet is where I started and stopped the weld.....not to bad I guess!The flat plate was just an exercise in following the hole in the plate.I still have a long way to go!!!
Reply:looks good man.Its all about consistancy and rod angle on the round weld.Keep practicing.~JohnJust a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024