Inspect These STICK Welds

admin

How do these look for first time stick welds. Ive never stick welded before. Im using 3/32 6011 80 amps. That 6011 is soo hard to start its not even funny!! Anyway what do you think? ThanksShane
Reply:It will weld better if you get rid of the rust, clean up the metal, and try a tish hotter. Maybe 90 to 95. I don't use enough 60xx to say more than that.
Reply:Since this is your first time with a stick the lesson is 'don't pick any more metal like that to learn with'. Don't even pick it up. Leave lay. You're complicating the learning curve by ten. You've already convinced yourself that 6011 is hard to start, which just isn't true.
Reply:Your running cold, kick it up a notch, or slow it down a little.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Cold?? Here is Lincoln's 6011 parameters.NOTE: Preferred polarity is listed first.TYPICAL OPERATING PROCEDURESCurrent (Amps)Polarity3/32” 1/8” 5/32” 3/16” 7/32” 1/4”(2.4mm) (3.2mm) (4.0mm) (4.8mm) (5.6mm) (6.4mm)AC 50-85 75-120 90-160 120-200 150-260 190-300DC+ 40-75 70-110 80-145 110-180 135-235 170-270DC- 40-75 70-110 80-145 110-180 135-235 170-27080 is top of the range on AC and out of range with all DC for 3/32. Not quite sure how you come up with cold in amperage. Looks more like too long an arc combined with too fast of a progression.Hold a short arc and keep a steady slow progression. Don't try to make it look like stacks of dimes or anything like that yet. Just get the basics down pat first. Cleaner metal will help. You were starting to get it down at the end of the last beads posted..esp the one on the left. Practice is all it will take....lots and lots of it. BTW, 6011 is an easy starter, too. That tells me you need to shorten the arc more.QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
Reply:I agree with DDA, 80 amps should be smoking with a 3/32" 6011.  I seldom run mine over 75. Get cleaner metal, or grind the fool out of that until it is shiny, and try again.  It will come with practice.  I also think you need to shorten your arc as well.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Its a good start.  Clean plate and a steady hand will do it.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Heres a few more i ran. This time i cleaned the metal as best as i could
Reply:If your ground contact isn't good because the metal is dirty, you will have a harder time starting the arc. Also, just because the machine 'says' the amperage is 85 does not necessarily mean it is, depending on the quality and condition of the machine. Has your rod gotten very hot or has the coating changed color when you near the end? That is a good sign of way too much current.As stated above, you want to keep as short an arc as possible without shorting the rod on the base metal. It gets easier with practice; more awareness and muscle control. The gases in 6011 (from the breakdown of the cellulose, etc. in the coating) act as hot jets, digging into the molten base metal for deep penetration. 6011 will also run on AC and will behave somewhat differently; you might even try straight polarity just to see how it behaves. All part of learning.
Reply:Unless you run super hot 6011/6010 is always gonna hump up on flat plate and 6011 is worse about it than 6010. It's made for filling grooves, bevels, etc. Works very well in a fillet as well. It is a digging rod and it needs some place to go. Try grinding some grooves about 1/4" wide and 1/8" deep and see how that works. You should see a real big difference. Like they said above - get rid of the rusted pitted up iron as you are just making life much harder on yourself. Try to keep a steady movement and don't try to stack metal. The electrode isn't meant for it.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Heres some 7014 i ran. I run more rods tomorrow.
Reply:The weld at the very bottom is real bad because i didnt have a good ground.
Reply:They look good. You still need to work on that progression. That can be the toughest to get down. Some count while they are running the bead to start out...then after a while, the progression speed becomes habit and counting isn't necessary. I prefer to get new ones reading the puddle off the bat. You just watch the puddle size and advance when it gets to the right size. If you do that, just make sure you aren't looking at the slag rather than the bead. The 6011's have a lighter slag that will make reading the puddle easier. fwiw.You are on the right track....just keep on practicing. QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
Reply:Originally Posted by DDA52They look good. You still need to work on that progression. That can be the toughest to get down. Some count while they are running the bead to start out...then after a while, the progression speed becomes habit and counting isn't necessary. I prefer to get new ones reading the puddle off the bat. You just watch the puddle size and advance when it gets to the right size. If you do that, just make sure you aren't looking at the slag rather than the bead. The 6011's have a lighter slag that will make reading the puddle easier. fwiw.You are on the right track....just keep on practicing.
Reply:Heres a t-joint. I cleaned the rust as best as i could. I can't wait till i got some cleaner 1/8.
Reply:Heres a butt joint with the edges beveled.
Reply:I just throwing this out there cause it might not have anything to do with me learning but i have been using harborfreight 3/32 6011. Are their rods ok? I know there mig wire is bad!!
Reply:In the T joint (fillet),  slow down.   The butt joint looks nice.  Can we see the other side?slow and steady wins the race DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:The rods should be ok to practice with. But if you get some good ones, as in Lincoln or Hobart rods, you will notice a big difference in the way they run.....but you should be able to run a bead with the HF's.You still need work on the progression. The butt is getting close, but it looks like you are still herking and jerking a tad. Keep the puddle size consistant and the bead will reflect that. Are you using any kind of weave at all? Keep itup. This won't happen overnight. But once you get it, you will always have it.QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
Reply:No im not using any weave. Do you got any types of weaves i should try? Thanks
Reply:Well, nothing fancy. Just a slight zig-zag would help some. Some use a CCCCCCC weave, some do a bunch of circles...etc. I do several depending on joint design. C's and circles along with a zig-zag would be good ones to practice. Just don't get very wide with them to start. Keep it simple to start with and build on what you learn.QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
Reply:Heres another butt jont beveled
Reply:Put 2 or 3 more passes on that and show us again.  DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:i skimmed through. didnt see this mentioned. i find it best to pause and whip with 6010, 6011. and dig when you whip. these are deep penetrating rods. slow down, dig, and pause and whip. just see how that works for you.weaves are more for cover passes. first pass should be deep to join the metal...Lincoln Square Wave 175 TIGLincoln 110v flux core welder (my 1st)Clarke 180EN MIG
Reply:I picked up some lincoln fleetweld 6013 today. Wow what a difference, I know its 6013 and not 6011, but it welds soo much cleaner and is alot easier to start compared to those harborfreight rods.Heres 3 passes for (david) on that above weld^ I used some 6013. Not the best but im still learning!Shane
Reply:your progressing well. it may be easier, in my opinion, to use a drag angle.. and that stock isnt doing your learning any justice. you really should be learning on something cleanerhttp://www.aloumac.ca/
Reply:For the multipass, start on the edge, it will give you a cold start in the beginning instead of a crater at the end.  Looking better.Wait till you try some new or clean steel.  What size 6013?  How many amps?DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:3/32 6013 lincoln fleetweld 80 amps. Thanks for that tip david i don't know why i did that, that makes 100 sense!Shane