welding in the cold?

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I've been working on retopping my welding table.  I've been welding with some 1/16 6013 Hobart rods. The metal is all angle iron at the moment. Usually been around 65-70 amps DC. Anyway, today I was working on one of the siderails after school. Now for anyone who dosent know, My welding shop is in the backyard. Open air. No walls to keep weather out. Over here in NJ, it can get pretty cold.  Today it was about 20 degrees out. Okay, now for my question.  Can welding out in this kind of weather have an effect on the welds? Or the rods (that sat in the shed the night befor, in a rod keeper).-Alex-AlexSears/Craftsman 230A Buzzy BoxSears/Craftsman 180A Buzzy BoxChicago Electric 80A InverterALL STICK...ALL THE TIME!I spent a lot of time with the square peg and round hole.
Reply:yep. it makes the hand shake which makes the rod shake which makes an erratic bead. i would be more concerned about running 1/16" 6013 at more then the max of about 45 amps. 65-70 amps is mid range for 3/32" 6013. i would just do a little preheat to minimize condensation. what thickness is the angle you are welding?Last edited by jbmprods; 01-03-2012 at 06:49 PM.225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw
Reply:yes. and no. freezing temps rarely stop us from structural welding on the job. but sometimes it should. But then again, everyone literally signs off on it.Weldanpower 225 G7Ironworkers Local #24
Reply:Okay, hey you're right about the hand shaking! Even in welding gloves and heavy leather coat it was COLD! (-: At the moment I'm not sure of the thickness, The new table top's frame is made of (from my guess) 1/8 angle iron (From old bedrails). The table I'm welding it to is 3/16 angle iron.The only other rod I have is some cheap 1/8 E6011.-AlexSears/Craftsman 230A Buzzy BoxSears/Craftsman 180A Buzzy BoxChicago Electric 80A InverterALL STICK...ALL THE TIME!I spent a lot of time with the square peg and round hole.
Reply:The structural code book at school said that welding should be done above 32* with less than 15mph winds, it comes to about 15* IIRC (our classes were in the winter & that question came up) but I've welded with it colder than that.  The last shop that I worked in had no heat, but we welded every day.Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:The quicker a weld cools, the more brittle it will be in general.
Reply:I have welded well below zero nothing code just repair andthe like. When you have to hold your breath so you dont fog up the helmet its cold. Cold rod storage probably not too bad as cold weather holds less moisture than warm air granted your not using low hyro rods.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Originally Posted by WeldingMachineThe structural code book at school said that welding should be done above 32* with less than 15mph winds, it comes to about 15* IIRC (our classes were in the winter & that question came up) but I've welded with it colder than that.  The last shop that I worked in had no heat, but we welded every day.
Reply:thinking twice on it, one time when it was -15 before the wind, a very competent guy shut down the welding citing the rapid cooling. Welding was on a giant conveyor system that vibrates the whole time, so this may have been one of the times that it "actually matters". you could always give it a little preheat and post heat, right?Weldanpower 225 G7Ironworkers Local #24