Just burned my very first rod ! ! !

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Just burned my very first rod ! ! !But I can't really call it a weld. More on that later. I got a brand spanking new Hobart Stickmate AC/DC welder (Free, it was a gift), a Harbor Freight auto-darkening helmet ($35 and works like a charm), a box each of Lincoln 1/8" 6011, 1/8" 6013, & 3/32" 7018, a chipping hammer, wire brush, and gloves.Had my neighbor, who's a maintenance supervisor, come over in case I did something stupid and ended up as Rudolph the red nosed welder. He checked everything to make sure it was safe and said "OK. Show me what ya got". So I set the welder at about 50 amps DCEP, put in a 6013 rod, and burned right through the thin rusty sheet metal I was practicing on. I figured it would. But I was able to keep the arch going for 5 or 6 inches. Did this 3 times. Learned a lot on that first rod; How to strike an arch, and how important a good arch length is. My neighbor said, "OK. You won't kill yourself. Now just practice, practice, practice and practice some more. I'll bring ya some thicker scrap metal to play with." I have nothing to compare it against, and absolutely no welding experience, but this welder sure is sweet and easy to use ! I LOVE IT ! ! !. Now I see why you guys like welding so much ! ! ! I"M HOOKED ! ! !Don <
Reply:Saw your other thread, congrats!I'm a relatively new welder and one thing I recommend, is get a good welding book..or two..They show and tell you everything you could ever know and then some.
Reply:Here is a good link to a great resourcehttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=57611Also search youTube for weldingtipsandtricks.comJody is a great instructor.
Reply:Congrats man. Now you are hooked. Run. Run away now before you start blowing money(which is easy to do with welding). Just keep practicing and you'll enjoy itGo Cards!!!!!
Reply:Welcome to the club. Now you will be watching for any bits of weldable steel for practice pieces. Watch Harbor Freights ads for the $9.95 grinders,  They are, in my opinion, "Good Enough" for hobby work, I also like their orange rod keepers.Last edited by nadogail; 07-06-2011 at 01:01 AM.Reason: added textI offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:congrats n welcome.....
Reply:Welcome to your new addiction...Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Keep practicing.Shoot over to "Barnes & Noble" and pick up a copy of "Welding Essentials".It will point you in the right direction.Keep us posted on your progress......Measure twice, cut once.Millermatic 211Millermatic 251Miller Dynasty 200DXESAB O/A Set-up