Cutting with Stick

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I read a while ago that it's really easy to cut steel with a stick welder. Too bad I can't remember where I read that or any of the details. Either 6013 rod or 6011 rod was recommended. I think it was 6013, although with the deeper penetration I would have thought 6011 would work better. Anyway, what is the way to cut steel with a stick welder? Just crank the amps as high as they go and have at it? Set it to heat the workpeice more (DCEN I think? I only have AC so that doesn't really apply to me). Do you use thin or thick rod? Seems like thinner rod would not deposit as much metal, which would be good (though wouldn't you want DCEP for that?) Also seems like you could get it a lot hotter with a thin rod. I really can't remember much about where I read it--just that there was some welding rod that made surprisingly decent very rough cuts."To tell which polarity to use go to the bathroom and pour some water down the drain. If it runs clockwise use straight polarity. If it runs counter-clockwise use reverse polarity. Or if it just gurgles use alternating current." -RandomDave
Reply:You're not gonna be too successful with AC.  You can try 6011, crank it up, and "melt it off".There are "cut rods" out there from your LWS.  The "high dollar" welding supply folks have great cutting electrodes, very expensive.You will need  DCEN for most rods.  If you can't afford the "cutting/chamfering rods", I'd go with 6010.  I had a bunch of cast iron grates that go around trees I had to remove "growth rings" a few years ago in Hershey.  Specialty cutting rods were too expensive to use on the project.  I bought a 50 lb box of Lincoln 5P (6010).  Did a great job.  You don't want to use 6013 as they have iron powder in the flux and will be depositing that in the cut area making it more difficult to sever what you're cutting.  6010 are lightly coated rods.Your cuts ain't gonna be pretty with arc cutting either.
Reply:I've done a little cutting with an AC-225 before, I used the word "cut", more like burn . I just cranked the amps and let it eat. I didn't have any fancy rods at the time as our farm was out in the boondocks. I just took plain ol' 6011's and soaked them in water for a minute or two and had at it. I definately wouldn't use it a primary method of cutting but if you were in a pinch and just needed to lop something off and ran out of O/A it will definately get the job done.
Reply:I cut up junk cars with cuttrode  cutting electrodes, saves on oxygen.One rod will cut about 3 feet of car body tin. It works for me .   Jim the junkman
Reply:I don't no how well it will work with a 120 volt welder but an ac welder use 6011 with the amps a bit higher than normal. Lay the rod angle down to about 20 degrees or so and use a bottom ot top sawing motion. No sawing should be nessesary on sheet metal.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:This is probably BS, but I was told by an old timy machinest that if you soak the rods in water they will cut better. Never got around to trying it. Any one els heard this?A butterfly without wings, is just an ugly bug
Reply:Originally Posted by Magnetic MechanicThis is probably BS, but I was told by an old timy machinest that if you soak the rods in water they will cut better. Never got around to trying it. Any one els heard this?
Reply:Thanks for the responses. What does soaking them do? I'm guessing it makes the flux useless, allowing the metal to oxidize (burn up) and therefore cut through. Wouldn't chipping the flux off old rods work even better?"To tell which polarity to use go to the bathroom and pour some water down the drain. If it runs clockwise use straight polarity. If it runs counter-clockwise use reverse polarity. Or if it just gurgles use alternating current." -RandomDave
Reply:we had to soak the rods for cutting back when I was in school. I really don't remember that it made a lot of difference. Then again since I've been out of school the only time that I cut with a stick welder was just screwing around.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:Missed that in post 3 Duane.Does it make steam, and does that help the cut?A butterfly without wings, is just an ugly bug
Reply:Probably from the hho generated as a result of passing the current through the rod?Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:We used to use the old arc welder to cut steel when I was a kid on the farm.  After I left for the military, dad finally got a torch set up.But we used a cutting rod 1/4" in diameter & the welder had a tap for cutting.  That old welder was so dang old, you had to select amps by plugging in the stinger lead on the amp setting.  No fine control with it, just marked with a number 1-8.  Haven't seen any pictures of one like it either, but lots of farmers had this same welder on their farms.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Try 6010 5p Brick Red electrodes running DCEN. as mentioned by PA. The 5p+ won't cut, but the 5p's do a fairly good job on sheet & light stuff if you have nothing else available. ( "Good" is relative to having nothing else) Give it a shot. You'll need a DC machine tho.