Stupid but quick question

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Been doing a lot of stick welding in school, noticed a lot of the other students in my class have small width 7018 stick welds. The one kid comes up to me and says why are your beads so big(lol). I was like I don't know. I am running the 1/8" 7018 DCEP at around 120-135 almost all positions. So the question is how wide should my bead be for 7018? Looks roughly 2 to 2 1/2 electrodes big. When I go back to class Wednesday ill post my pad weld that I am doing.Last edited by smilexelectric; 01-19-2013 at 03:00 PM.
Reply:should be around 3/8 wide. you can drag it and just watch the puddle grow to the width you desire
Reply:The old days it was dime wide and nickel  high. Money was worth more then too.
Reply:So true... I think my size is fine then if its 3 electrodes wide.
Reply:welds should only be as big as your smallest material.But when you are just running stringers it should be 1/8 to 3/16 wide (electrode diameter to diameter and a half)They are probably getting theres so small because they are litterally dragging them against the plate. Are you doing fillets? Turn it so you are looking right down it and if the beed looks convex (humped) tell them they are doing it wrong. What does your teacher say? Have any pictures yet?speedway series 125 flux core welder
Reply:our procedures allow for 4 times the rod diameter.
Reply:I'm not in class on weekends I wont go back till Wednesday, since Martin Luther King day is Monday school is canceled. We are doing just stringers, they don't do any fillets or so far they haven't, also they don't believe in weaving either. The fact that they don't teach students how to weave really bothers me but my last school taught me the weave. They had you start with a pad filling the whole plate, then had you do it with fillets in my old school.It's also sad because we show them the pad and he just signs off it with no feedback of what I did wrong. I feel like I am going to suffer because I don't think I will improve without them criticizing my work. That is why I came here.I am doing everything trial and error.
Reply:Originally Posted by TimmyTIGour procedures allow for 4 times the rod diameter.
Reply:Originally Posted by smilexelectricI'm not in class on weekends I wont go back till Wednesday, since Martin Luther King day is Monday school is canceled. We are doing just stringers, they don't do any fillets or so far they haven't, also they don't believe in weaving either. The fact that they don't teach students how to weave really bothers me but my last school taught me the weave. They had you start with a pad filling the whole plate, then had you do it with fillets in my old school.It's also sad because we show them the pad and he just signs off it with no feedback of what I did wrong. I feel like I am going to suffer because I don't think I will improve without them criticizing my work. That is why I came here.I am doing everything trial and error.
Reply:It is a multi semester school but this is my last actual arc welding class everything after this is tig, mig, and pipe. But I dont know what is going down after I do all these pads since i've down horizontal,flat.currently doing up, and then overhead. Hopefully we start putting these beads into grooves with run off tabs and start bending them. I will update this thread with my progress and pics throughout this semester.
Reply:Ask for feedback.  Don't let him off so easy.
Reply:Originally Posted by Deathmetaldanyeah, but he is doing stringers...
Reply:Originally Posted by TimmyTIGare you serious telling him 1 to 1.5 times the rod diameter? I can't imagine running a 1/8th stringer with a 1/8th 7018.are you counting the flux?
Reply:Originally Posted by TimmyTIGare you serious telling him 1 to 1.5 times the rod diameter? I can't imagine running a 1/8th stringer with a 1/8th 7018.are you counting the flux?
Reply:What and awful welding day. Not worried about the pictures as I can't even weld a straightline uphill, on top of that I cant keep a steady arm and be comfortable. Nothing to brace myself on. Depressing day today.
Reply:Originally Posted by smilexelectricIt is a multi semester school but this is my last actual arc welding class everything after this is tig, mig, and pipe.
Reply:They are too busy bullsh!tting around show boating and bragging about how good of welders they are. The worst part is I know what im doing wrong but for some reason I just couldn't fix the shakyness and inconsistencies.