6010 welding root problems with my small inverter

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Hi there I am coded in pipe welding with a 6011 root rod and a fill and cap with the 7018 electrode.  looking around for work no luck so far. Also have various other codes, stainless tig and a tig root with with fill and cap with the 7018 electrode. In the last few days I've been practicing putting in a root with a 6010 rod. Now the rods are a little old and not the best, but I have really really struggled with the 6010 rod. I have a small inverter it doesn't have a arc force setting or dig settings. This does help a bit but my roots are so bad I'm getting very pissed off.   I have a chance of a weld test for a good job in the near future, it involves traveling a fair distance and I'm so stressed out I'm thinking of not even trying for it. For the life of me I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Checked my settings (amps) and I've also gone over everything that I did when I was using the 6011 rod. I even bought a book " pipe welding procedures" it explains everything about pipe welding brillantly.  Still my roots are so bad I almost feel like crying, I've never struggled like this before help!!!
Reply:Originally Posted by focus267Hi there I am coded in pipe welding with a 6011 root rod and a fill and cap with the 7018 electrode.  looking around for work no luck so far. Also have various other codes, stainless tig and a tig root with with fill and cap with the 7018 electrode. In the last few days I've been practicing putting in a root with a 6010 rod. Now the rods are a little old and not the best, but I have really really struggled with the 6010 rod. I have a small inverter it doesn't have a arc force setting or dig settings. This does help a bit but my roots are so bad I'm getting very pissed off.   I have a chance of a weld test for a good job in the near future, it involves traveling a fair distance and I'm so stressed out I'm thinking of not even trying for it. For the life of me I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Checked my settings (amps) and I've also gone over everything that I did when I was using the 6011 rod. I even bought a book " pipe welding procedures" it explains everything about pipe welding brillantly.  Still my roots are so bad I almost feel like crying, I've never struggled like this before help!!!
Reply:You've probably forgotten more about pipe welding than I'll ever know. What I've found with these inverters, is they like different brands of rod, which is confusing to me, because my engine drives could care less what brand rod you throw at them.Again not being a pipe welder, for vertical up 5-G welding, I like ESAB's 1/8 inch 10-P. I run a heavy 1/16 inch land, and use a 3/32 inch drill bit to set the gap. I run about 60-amps for the root pass, 75-amps for the hot pass, and 70-amps for fill, and cap. I make 4-tacks, 3, 6, 9, and 12. Only ramp the tacks never grind them thin, because the pipe closes up on me when I do that. I also use the cut and fill method. 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:Originally Posted by ShortbusWelderFIrst off, breath, breath some more.. Ok, feeling better..What's wrong with the roots, you have pics?  What size rod you using? How many amps you running? What's your gap and land?? What postion you welding in, what size pipe, thickness??We need some details so we can help.
Reply:Hello focus267, unfortunately there are a "lot" of the inverters that don't play well with the cellosic rods. It might very well be that your particular machine is one of them. If you have an opportunity, go to the website of the particular manufacturer of your machine and look carefully through the specifications on it. You might find that it is one of those machines and your problems aren't due to your skills or abilities. Good luck and best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Originally Posted by focus267Thats for your reply, rod size is 2.4 or 3/32. The gap is 3.2 or 1/8, landing edge is 2mm. Welding in the 6g position. Pipe is shed 80 6". I'm thinking maybe my gap should be 2.4 instead of 3.2 I am not putting pictures of my roots yet as they are so bad I feel like a dope. Thanks for your advice breathing should help a lot, need to relax a bit thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPYou've probably forgotten more about pipe welding than I'll ever know. What I've found with these inverters, is they like different brands of rod, which is confusing to me, because my engine drives could care less what brand rod you throw at them.Again not being a pipe welder, for vertical up 5-G welding, I like ESAB's 1/8 inch 10-P. I run a heavy 1/16 inch land, and use a 3/32 inch drill bit to set the gap. I run about 60-amps for the root pass, 75-amps for the hot pass, and 70-amps for fill, and cap. I make 4-tacks, 3, 6, 9, and 12. Only ramp the tacks never grind them thin, because the pipe closes up on me when I do that. I also use the cut and fill method.
Reply:Originally Posted by aevaldHello focus267, unfortunately there are a "lot" of the inverters that don't play well with the cellosic rods. It might very well be that your particular machine is one of them. If you have an opportunity, go to the website of the particular manufacturer of your machine and look carefully through the specifications on it. You might find that it is one of those machines and your problems aren't due to your skills or abilities. Good luck and best regards, Allan
Reply:Originally Posted by ShortbusWelderYea, I would def reduce the gap size.. How many amps you running.. Who cares if your roots look like crap, show us so we can help..Yes, def make sure it's the machine, not you..
Reply:Read this:http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...rticle108.htmlIt's an eye opener.
Reply:Originally Posted by focus267I am running the root about 63 amps. I live in Ireland and its almost 11pm I will post some pictures tomorrow. I'm all out of 2.4 electrodes and only have 3.2 ones left. I read some where that 6010 electrodes need quite a lot of arc force or dig. I don't have arc force on my inverter. Come to think of it the only electrodes I have left are 3.2 6011 and not 6010. They are also still in the box and should be in tip top shape.  Good nights sleep and I'll try again tomorrow. I'm feeling a lot more positive now thanks Shortbus Welder cheers.
Reply:Kelvin that is a very interesting read! I know my Dynasty 300 is one lousy SMAW welder. Great Tig welder, but it plain sucks as a stick welder.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by KelvinRead this:http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...rticle108.htmlIt's an eye opener.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPKelvin that is a very interesting read! I know my Dynasty 300 is one lousy SMAW welder. Great Tig welder, but it plain sucks as a stick welder.
Reply:This is exactly why my place of work is still loaded up with big transformer and rotary generator stick welders.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:My Maxstar runs 6010 like $hit, it will not keep it lit, and if you have a tight fit and try to jam the rod in there it snuffs out, no dig. Your fit up needs to be just right, and you need to remember you are burning rod on a ***** machine, once the 6010 is done and you get to the 7018 you forget how bad the machine is with 6010. Just the fact that I don't have to drag 300 feet of cable in to a mechanical room makes the piss poor 6010 welding worth it.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Originally Posted by KelvinDoesn't it have a "Dig" setting like a Syncrowave?
Reply:Originally Posted by TozziWeldingMy Maxstar runs 6010 like $hit, it will not keep it lit, and if you have a tight fit and try to jam the rod in there it snuffs out, no dig. Your fit up needs to be just right, and you need to remember you are burning rod on a ***** machine, once the 6010 is done and you get to the 7018 you forget how bad the machine is with 6010. Just the fact that I don't have to drag 300 feet of cable in to a mechanical room makes the piss poor 6010 welding worth it.
Reply:You boys aren't gonna want to hear it, but those pictures of the 6010 open root that I posted above, were ran with the little Everlast PA-200. It runs 6010 very sweet, just about as good as either one of my shorthoods.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I think that was all before my time here, or I was a sleep again. I know Mark from another site, we PM each other a lot, so I think my bases are covered with just dealing with him. If not I've had the machine for over 2 years now, if the smoke gets out oh well, I think I paid more for my battery charger!Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749BTW, you got some nice looking LIncolns dude.