started a new job today

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Its a commercial/industrial door repair company.Made the mistake of telling my boss that I was teaching myself to weld.First day on the job and he says "I need you to weld this angle iron centered on this plate"Miller Bluestar 145.I've never stick welded.And I was using Radnor 7018...that wasn't from an oven.Needless to say it was not pretty.They said it was fine, as it is just a guide for a gate to roll on, but I was flat out embarrassed. And I had said before I started I had never stick welded before.Time to go watch some videos and see what I can learn.
Reply:Nice!
Reply:What wire feeds/suitcases could be run off the Bluestar 145?Last edited by Fnord5; 06-25-2013 at 12:14 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by Fnord5What wire feeds/suitcases could be run off the Bluestar 145?
Reply:Don't worry about the oven.  In non-critical welding like that the 7018 rods will be just fine unless they have been sitting in a bucket of water.  It just takes practice!  You'll get the hang of it.Matthew MortonTexas A&M '06Logsdon Seminary '13"Who Dares Wins""AFTF""WH2PH"SA 200 (Code: 5337)TB 302CP 302 w/22A Wire FeederMillerMatic 200Miller Syncrowave 200MillerMatic 252BurnTables 4x4 CNC MachineHypertherm 65
Reply:I have a 211 for home use, and if/when I get my own work truck, I may carry it.The angle iron was a guide rail for a gate, for a certain gov't agency field office with the initials F followed by a BI12 hour day today.All this overtime=new toys and parts for my Jeep.
Reply:Oh and apparently the guy whose truck and welder I was using , likes the 7018.The guy I rode with today likes 6011. I didn't try it, but it looked easier to light and keep burning
Reply:I dislike 6010/6011 for anything other than a root pass. I just think it's ugly as sin compared to 7018. Stick welding is where it's at. Maybe ask if you can burn some rods on your off time or down time. You should pick it up fairly quickly.
Reply:Good luck with the new job. I've been a commercial overhead door/dock man for almost 14 yrs. as others above said get some 6013 or 7014 and practice as much as u can. Then move on to 6010 and 7018. Not much need for an oven in our field. I do carry a portable 10lb oven for big govt jobs when inspectors are lurking everywhere but that's about the only time I use it or if I'm installing a bunch of levelers I might pull it out.
Reply:Don't  ever tell the boss you are learning or hoping to learn anything that you dont immediatly want to be asked to do. Flat position 7014 is very nice leaves a nice looking bead 6011 is my go to out of position rod as well as 7018. 6011 is easier to start and restart tMillermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Practice 1/8 E-7014 and E-6011 all you need in the fence and door trade.
Reply:OK, so second attempt at stick today.Fresh box of Lincoln 7018.Got a smooth start, no sticking, good penetration, and a pretty decent looking bead.No pics because at a facility that won't allow cameras.Still would rather MIG though.
Reply:Originally Posted by Fnord5OK, so second attempt at stick today.Fresh box of Lincoln 7018.Still would rather MIG though.
Reply:If your working out in the field mig can be a PITA if there is any windThat is the reason stick and FC are the bombIf you can do good welds with 6010 then 7018 is easyBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:(Verticle)Stick angle(straight in with maybe a very slight 5 degree up) hold the sides and go across middle fast, (horizontal) drag it 5 degrees pointin it right into the fillet And make kinda a cursive lowercase e pattern... But its really all preference... Just remember what gravity wants to do with your puddle an tweak angles accrordingly.... The more you do it, the prettier it'll be.Good luckSalSal