New guy here (stick welder) (big pics)

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Hi everyone,   I have been messing around with my stick welder on and off for a couple years now, but never really sat down and practiced for a while.  I have made a couple very small things with just some tack welds, for lack of a better term.  I recently found this site so was looking for some insight.   I dont know much about all the techniques to use and stuff like that so I would like some pointers.  I dont know what the low setting or high setting on my machine means or what range I should use for what or even what rod is for what job.I am a Jeep guy, so naturally I will be trying to fabricate things along the way.Here is the machine I am using:And here are some beads I tried to lay down with 6011 1/8" rods on the low setting at about 80 amps:and finally 6011 1/8" rods on the high setting at about 80amps:I also tried to run some 7018 3/32"or 1/16" not sure rod with no luck at any amperage range 20-80 and couldnt get it to work well except once, I think this rod may have gotten way too much humidity.  I got a real nice bead out of one run but didnt take a pic.
Reply:Let me start off by saying that you should try to get your hands on an "Electrode Pocket Guide", that you should be able to obtain from your local Welding supplier. It has a wealth of information in it on just about any welding rod you will ever use, and then some, and what types of metals they are made for, along with a **** load of technical information. Next, I would suggest that you try to get some training at a local Tech. School if you can or maybe a local professional welding shop in your area. All that being said here are some parameters for the welding rods you are trying to weld with.  6011- 3/32 wire (50-90amps.)  6011- 1/8    "    (80-130amps.)    7018- 3/32 wire (70-120amps.)  7018- 1/8    "    (100-150amps.)Always start at the low setting of the amperage range for a particular size wire and work your way up in amperage until it sounds like bacon frying on a grill and that should put you in the ballpark. I hope this will be helpful to you.Good luck.
Reply:I have basically the same welder, it has the amp range for the size rod you're using scale built right into it if you'll look closely. You can actually do quite a bit with that machine once you learn how to use it. On 7018 you need to make sure you have an ac rod, regular 7018 won't like to work on ac.HH 187Miller Bluestar1EAHP AlphaTig 200X
Reply:Welcome to the forum.My first suggestion is that you consider looking into taking a welding class at the local votec. You'll learn alot.As far as just giving it a go I would suggest you start with a simple rod like 6013 or 7014. Both can be run on an AC machine. They are generally refered to as drag rods as you basically drag them along and don't need to hold an arc.  You will get a nice looking bead with very little effort and they are plenty strong for most shop gear and basic items. When you get the heat / speed just right the slag should just peal off. Take a look at some of Pipe fitters 6013 welds http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=19742 if you have a chance.All the settings below should be for an AC welder like yours.6013 3/32 run around 75-105amp, 1/8" at 110-150 7014 1/8" at 110-160amp6011 and 7018 are not the easiest to run and start out with.6011 you usually run with what is refered to as a whip and pause. You quickly swing the rod forward about 1/4" to dig and then back to fill, and continue to do this as you move forward. You have to hold an arc. You are a little low on the 6011 1/8" try closer to 90-100amps.6011 3/32 runs at 50-85 amps, 1/8" at 75-120 ampsYou have to strike and hold an arc with 7018. There is also a specific 7018AC rod for ac welders. You have the machine set to low for 7018. I would try 7018 1/8" at around 130-150amps. Again the slag will peel off when you get everything right.7018 ac  3/32 runs at 80-120 amps, 1/8" at 110-170 ampsAs far as 80 amps hi vs 80 ams low they should be about the same. It just depends if you want to be able to turn the heat up or down without changing the plug.Good luck and keep posting picts as you go. Any questions feel free to pm me.
Reply:I usually run 3/32 7018 at 90 to 100 amps and 1/8 6011 at about the same setting though sometimes just a bit higher. Excalibur and Harris 7018 run very well on ac. Personally I wouldn't give you a nickel for a ton of 7018ac.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Wow thanks guys I wasnt expecting this good of feedback so quickly.  And to think I thought I might be tooo high with the 7018,   I ran one rod/electrode with  80 amps and it actually burnt real nice and sounded like bacon       this of course was a 1/16 pr 3/32 rod though.    I will do my best to try again and see what I can do.    Pipefitter's welding is amazing.   Unfortunately I don't think I will have that skill any time soon and I have to burn through some more of this rod that I have before I move up to anything else, as money doesn't permit me buying any new rod at the moment, but you guys suggest trying 6013 rod?
Reply:6011 and 6013 are the basic AC rods. Notice I said basic. 6011 gives good penetration and will tolerate dirty iron if you are too lazy to clean it up. 6013 needs clean metal to do a good job. 6011 is a fast freeze rod which makes a fairly rough finish bead and also has quite a bit of spatter. 6013 doesn't freeze as fast  and gives a smooth finish bead with very little spatter. 6013 is more ductile than 6011 also. 6011 is easier to run out of position than 6013. Either one will be easier to learn to weld with than 7018.Lincoln has a very good book titled "Metals And How To Weld Them" that will answer a lot of your questions.
Reply:because your arc welder is an AC machine, you need a 7018 AC rod of you want to weld with 7018 with good results. 7018 rods also need to be kept dry, they like to absorb moisture and will not work well in that condition. if you have a lot of moisture contaminated 7018 rods, dry them in your kitchen oven at 250 degrees for 3 or 4 hours.7014 is a great learner rod like was already stated. it's a easy strike rod that will get you comfortable making beads.
Reply:OK so a little update,  I dumped out my electrode tube/holder, whatever you call that thing.  I found a bunch of 7014 rods, some other rods marked nife-c1a or something like that, and then a bunch of 7018 rods as well as the 6011 rods I knew I had.I tried out the 7014 and it leaves a real nice bead.  the rods are only 3/32   and I think I had the amperage up around like 110the 7018 remains almost impossible to strike an arc and keep burning, how do I know if these are ac rods?   should they say 7018ac rods on em or not.   For the record all they say is 7018  I have 3/32, 1/8/ and a much larger one which I assume to be 5/32  but look almost like 1/4" rods which I dont even know if they exist.I will try to lay some beads one of these days and take pictures as well.