first time welding, need advice

admin

alright this is the first time ever welding, i was using 110 amps, 6013 stick, makeing some beeds on 1/4 plate steel.i have no idea what im doing so pls give me some advice, is this any good, how is my amps, any other advice would be great Attached Images
Reply:6013 was my fav in high school....i got "metal worker of the year" with that rod. I assume your using a 1/8 dia rod? Your arc length is too long, your hand isn't steady, your travel speed is inconsistant, and you aren't letting your puddle swell up to the right size before start to travel. First GET COMFORTABLE! Brace your arm on the table while you weld, and don't be afraid of the heat and sparks....your arc length should be no moe than 1/8"do focus and keep it the same from start to finish. Try 95 amps....it will make a prettier bead and since you are just running beads penetration isn't first priority. When you strike up let it sit until the puddle los like a perfect circle (like a dime) then slowly begin to move your puddle, you will know if you are going the right speed if the puddle status the exact same size as you move it. Keep me updated and good luck!
Reply:Hey that's ok since it is your first time. Getting good at welding is all about practice. The more you do, the better you will get. Five years from now, you'll be a pro.
Reply:Take the practice advice to heart. Keep plugging along, stick with one or two rod types until you get comfortable with them and just keep welding stuff! Along the way you will notice that you sit down and are suddenly better. I think that is a function of the practice and a good nights sleep. You come back fresh and the practice shows through.Have fun and enjoy the practice!Tom Hintz, publisherwww.newmetalworker.comLincoln Pro Mig 180Lincoln AC 255Determination
Reply:You need to be welding in a groove a joint not on a flat plate.Take the time to prepare two plates. You will always have to prepare all weld plates the rest of your welding career anyway.Tack weld each end first.You did not say what diameter 6013 rod you were using.It is DC preferred. Were you using DC?Are you using both hands and resting your arm on a surface?Last edited by Donald Branscom; 02-11-2011 at 02:01 PM.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:One thing that has helped me, believe it or not, is Youtube videos. Find "weldingtipsandtricks" on youtube and open up his channel, he's got a lot of good video on there that actually shows the puddle as you would see it welding. When you see it done right then all you have to do is imitate it. To me, your welds look great for your first welds. Tigger18 offered some good advice, let the puddle develop and then focus on moving the puddle and keeping it the same size as you move it along. As you drag the rod along, make like you are tracing a frown ))))))))) or upside down U. You'll see along the front edge of the puddle where the arc is penetrating the base metal as you move it along and behind the rod you'll see the slag being pushed behind the puddle. If the puddle starts to grow on you faster than you can move it then turn your amps down and as you work along, step the arc out of the puddle and then come back in. With 6010 my pattern looks like this 0_0_0_0_, where the 0's overlap. I make a small loop and at the bottom of the loop I keep the rod moving ahead of the puddle just enough to let the puddle freeze, then come back and overlap it with another puddle and repeat. I'm very new myself, but that's what seems to work for me.
Reply:Originally Posted by Tigger186013 was my fav in high school....i got "metal worker of the year" with that rod. I assume your using a 1/8 dia rod? Your arc length is too long, your hand isn't steady, your travel speed is inconsistant, and you aren't letting your puddle swell up to the right size before start to travel. First GET COMFORTABLE! Brace your arm on the table while you weld, and don't be afraid of the heat and sparks....your arc length should be no moe than 1/8"do focus and keep it the same from start to finish. Try 95 amps....it will make a prettier bead and since you are just running beads penetration isn't first priority. When you strike up let it sit until the puddle los like a perfect circle (like a dime) then slowly begin to move your puddle, you will know if you are going the right speed if the puddle status the exact same size as you move it. Keep me updated and good luck!
Reply:http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...73585&commentsHere is a link to a pic I uploaded.... You inspired me to go back to the basics to keep fresh....the bottom 3 are 6013 1/8" diameter on dc straight polarity with 100 amps....the top two are 7018 3/32" diameter on dc reverse polarity with 75 ampsHave you tried again yet? I'm interested to see how you improved...
Reply:Attachment 62984Here is a pic I uploaded.... You inspired me to go back to the basics to keep fresh....the bottom 3 are 6013 1/8" diameter on dc straight polarity with 100 amps....the top two are 7018 3/32" diameter on dc reverse polarity with 75 ampsHave you tried again yet? I'm interested to see how you improved...
Reply:I turned down the amps to 90 and here is the new pics, i lied earlier i am using 3/32 size stickslet me know know how they look, also tigger pls fix the pics i wanna see whats it supposed to look like thanks john Attached Images
Reply:The second attachment didn't work either?!? If youre using 3/32 then try 80 amps...if it the pics still didn't work I could just send it through text or email
Reply:Try clicking "attachment 62984"
Reply:Originally Posted by Tigger18Try clicking "attachment 62984"
Reply:I posted it myself from my phone.....it keys me view it just fine....but w/e I forwarded it to your email
Reply:Btw I sent you a pm with my exaltation of your new beads
Reply:I'm also a beginner with no formal welding schooling , so maybe not the best person to comment but would like to help you out as I've been helped by all the others here.I have a TIG machine and side stepped to arc welding with it and dug around forinfo. Have a look at my post "arc welding - would appreciate feedback". Thereyou will see a lot of pictures and comments.My advice is:(a)Stick with the thick material for the beginning (removes the burnthropugh etc. variable)(b)Start with tack welds neatly spaced and in line - you can layer them when you go over the entire surface.(c)Before welding look at the pack of the rods -there you will see the amps range to be used.Choose somewhere in the middle. (d)Acquaint yourself with what low/normal/high speed of movement, low/normal/high amps and short/normal/long arc welds look like (this page is a good help :http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/arc-welding-faults.htm). You should be able to spot them a mile away- at least the slow speed looks like you piled the rod on/no binding at sides, for too fast, the dimes are stretched into triangles etc. - analyse what you are doingNote: 6013 is a "drag" rod - so you will be almoast dragging it on the surfaceAlso, one simple thing (noone pointed thios out to me, but I think I'm right )- your weld is not suppoed to be x times the width of yourrod (the rod width without the flux) - you are supposed to consistently aim at somethinga bit wider than the rod (this will also tell you whether your parameters are out.(e)Look at the youtube videos mentioned im my post / you may be able to find the DVD on web(e)After a few practice shots, depending on how fancy your machine is, make sure youhave all the "helpful features" eg anti sticking etc. turned on and you've dialedthings properly(f)Make sure you hold the rod a little bit off vertical and keep it at that angle - if you haveto much of an angle, you are shooting the material piling up (the video will explain thisto youLast edited by vjeko; 02-14-2011 at 01:36 PM.Reason: additional info
Reply:Originally Posted by jgrineryes 1/8 rodsi was mostly watching the puddle and not the stick distance, I would look down it the stick was 1/2 in in the air, didnt think the rods would go so fast, i was also standing, with nothing to rest my arms on ill see if i can make me up a bench or some thing,everyone thanks for the great advice, ill have a go at it after dinner and ill post new pics,
Reply:A few more things I forgot to mention:(g)Make sure you have prepared the the surface properly (grinder / flap discs)and ensure your earth connection is good/clean (everything youdo well adds up to give you a good result)(h) as others have mentioned - get comfortable but always "respect"the electricity/grounding etc. connections - use gloves always(i)the most important but written last  - make sure No 1 is safe i.e.wear proper protection - mask, gloves and helmet (if you don'thave an auto helmet, I personally would suggest you to get one - wenewbies need all the help we can get and seeing everythingand not needing to move the helmet up/down will be an immensehelp and motivator to continue. + work in a well ventilated area.For arc welding, I move outside under a covered area and weld there exclusively(luxury of hobby welding)Once you are on your way with the basics, have things setup properly,you will see the dimes, proper shape, slag coming off easily. Thenyou're ready for longer welds and joining metal. Each step takespractice and analysis of what is going right/wrong.I did quite a bit of practice and then couldn't wait to do something practical - I made a cross shaped base on wheels for my winter tyres -  it's a good feeling to makesomething and you see how bad you are at it - I was welding/grinding/reweldingas I had gotten into unknown territory - "uphill welds" etc.Best of luck.
Reply:Originally Posted by Tigger186013 was my fav in high school....i got "metal worker of the year" with that rod. I assume your using a 1/8 dia rod? Your arc length is too long, your hand isn't steady, your travel speed is inconsistant, and you aren't letting your puddle swell up to the right size before start to travel. First GET COMFORTABLE! Brace your arm on the table while you weld, and don't be afraid of the heat and sparks....your arc length should be no moe than 1/8"do focus and keep it the same from start to finish. Try 95 amps....it will make a prettier bead and since you are just running beads penetration isn't first priority. When you strike up let it sit until the puddle los like a perfect circle (like a dime) then slowly begin to move your puddle, you will know if you are going the right speed if the puddle status the exact same size as you move it. Keep me updated and good luck!
Reply:Travel speed should be such that the resulting bead is the size you wish it to be.On a 6013 rod, there should be little to no side to side oscillation, as it is a "drag" type of rod.For a "normal" stringer bead on flat surface, the bead width should be 1.5 to 2 times the diameter of the rod including the flux. Travel speed is not a definite thing, it is a variable in the weld process determined by other factors such as joint type and weld position.
Reply:Learn to contol your angle distance motion speed. Those are you basics with any welding procedure.