Laying a good Bead with Stick Welder

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i'm not one who likes to read.  I'm more of a visual person.   With that being said does anyone have good video or picture resources out there that describe and show the stick welding process.I have a lincoln AC225 and one problem I'm having is manipulating the melted metal.  The best way I can explain it is as if the electrod is shooting out air, it just blast the bubble out, never really pools.  I assumed my settings were too high, so backed off a bit but it just seems to take longer to melt and rod seems to stick a lot.   I guess thats signs of not a good arc. I'm using 6011 rods and trying to lay a bead on a flat piece of 1/4" metal.  I've used between 90-130I've only been welding for like 2 days so please forgive my noobness.
Reply:I think that you should try first 6013 so you can get to know how the rod handles. Thats a good learning rod and you can try different ones after you master that one. I actually don´t remember if 6010, or 6011 is the one for AC but maybe someone here can help you out with that. BTW when doing the bead you won´t notice the pool of melted metal as if you are doing oxy acetilene or TIG....so check that out....if you have only welded for 2 days you will need more time so you can master the technique. It requires a lot of practice so don´t get dissapointed. OHH and BTW what size of electrodes are those? 1/8??? if it is 1/8 your settings are Ok. However 6011 is a deep penetrating rod. hope that helps
Reply:id say youre running on the hot side, but practice practice.  Not a lot out thereYou can try this link.  Its 6010.  However, its essentially a 6011.  Main differnce between the two is 6010 is dc only.  6011 is dc or ac.  6010 wants to stick slightly more than 6011.  AC will be more of a challenge than DC, more spatter and more sticking.  However, with practice you will be able to make sound welds.  Good LuckOh the linkhttp://www.weldinginspectionsvcs.com/SMAWVideo.htmIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:if you're only welding in the flat position a good rod to start out with is 7024, it is an all polarity rod that welds very easily. try 1/8 @about 125 to 140 on ac. remember 15deg. lead angle and just let it ride on the plate aslong as you dont move too fast the rod shouldnt stick; let it weld its self.the rod is good for learning. and should let you run some pretty beads rather quickly. plus it doesnt put out all the fire that a fast freeze electrode does.Good luck.
Reply:I've had good luck on home projects with 6013, 7014, and 7024 in the flat position using a Lincoln AC 225.  7014 and 7024 both have iron powder additions to the coating, making a thicker coating than the 6013.  7014 and 7024 are sometimes called drag rods, because if the current is set right, you can simply drag the rod along the joint, the wire naturally burns back up inside a the coating and maintains a good arc length.  The slag will curl, lift up, and brush right off a good 7014/24 weld bead.  You generally don't need any side to side manipulation or oscillation of the rod, just straight drag at maybe 10 degree angle.These are all relatively low penetration rods, when you need deep penetration or need to go out-of-position (vertical, overhead) try 6011.  There may be differences in the brands of 6011, I think I saw several variations of 6011 on the Lincoln site.
Reply:your electrode is probably too far from your base metal. with 1/8 rod i wont go as far as 1/8 distance.
Reply:id even reccomend a 7018 for just a piece of plate, a rule to go by that my job stewart taught me is that the distance you should keep the tip of the rod from the pipe is equal to the diameter of the rod... dunno if that helps you out or not
Reply:Ok, so far my beads are looking better.  But what I do notice is that when I grind down my welds, to see if I blended the metals, I noticed that only some spots are welding.  I take it that means my zigzags need to be tighter or I'm moving too fast. Also, if I'm welding 2" x 2" square tube thats 1/8" thick.  Should I use a 6013  rod thats 3/32 or 1/8"   It seems the 1/8" is too thick.
Reply:I agree with some of our colleagues that 7014/7024 is the way to go for a beginner with the AC machines. You might also want to try 7018AC, make sure the 7018 is and AC variation or it will stick a lot trying to start the arc. Also if you haven't done so make sure the metals are ground to shiny bare metal , as a beginner this will help. Later you will develop the skills to burn through some of the scale but shiny is best.1/8 is good for 1/8 material but you can't afford to linger or you will burn through. Move steady and use a good deal of lead angle. As for not being able to see a defined puddle with stick welding , thats just not true. Make sure your lense is clean as well and get both hands on that stinger. You can even start out holding the rod itself until it gets to warm in order to get steady, it won't electrocute you. Get your helmet down close and stay compact and steady. Even the best welding schools give you the basics that you can get here, but ultimately it is a lot of practice and trial and error. Very minor adjustments to heat and technique can make big changes in finish product. keep at it.