Stick 101......:

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Well, as you probably know i started class on monday:i am working on filling up the "valley" joints;  i know this is not the proper name, but i can't be concerned about that just yet.This was tuesday:wenesday, yesterday:Pretty crappy eh?2) i need and welcome any/all severe criticism and guidance----pretend i'm a robot with no feelings or human emotion.3) Please review this video---i apologize in advance for the bad language in the comments section which were not written by me.  But the thing i was concerned about was can you/should you hold the electrode with your other hand?4) i thought these were good videos:http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/learning-arc.htmAgain, any information/guidance on stick would be greatly appreciated.
Reply:P.S.----pictures should resize shortly.
Reply:With welding, cleanliness is next to godliness... grind off all the rust/dirt/etc on metal prior to welding it, and for multiple pass welds like that, make sure you get off every little speck of slag from the last bead...And those are called t-joints :-)Youre doing really well, believe me... Just keep practicing, and work on your consistency some... Good luck :-)[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:It's all in there....Read, learn the terms...It is important if you'd like to get paid.Maybe moreso than the actual welding part when it comes to kicking down that first door.Holding the rod is for control.Brace your arm on something to get you balance just like in the video.You can shorten the rod.....Cut in half/fold in half to help you learn control.USE both hands on the electrode holder IMO.Are you sitting down whole welding right now?If so place your left elbow on a knee for balance.Practice on watching the puddle and what it does when you move, travel, etc....It's all about reading the weld pool.USE both hands on the singer.Those dudes in the Pipe Welding video are gangster....They are robots...lol You'll get there with enough practice..6010 or 7018 rod or.....????Heat? Material thinckness?Good start....It all comes with time and practice....GLLast edited by jsm11; 02-18-2011 at 09:55 AM.1981 Lincoln SA 200Miller Trailblazer 302gMiller 211 Mig Welder w/ AutosetI'm learning to stick metal together
Reply:Originally Posted by LanseWith welding, cleanliness is next to godliness... grind off all the rust/dirt/etc on metal prior to welding it, and for multiple pass welds like that, make sure you get off every little speck of slag from the last bead...And those are called t-joints :-)Youre doing really well, believe me... Just keep practicing, and work on your consistency some... Good luck :-)
Reply:Basedon getting picked on by the forum for posting my newbie pictures from my expirence your angle is a little too great and you need a tighter arc.  With 7018 and a tight arc there should be zero splatter.  and your dimes are a little more oval as opposed to nice tight rings.However you are off to a great start in a short time and in a week or so you will be amazed how all of it just comes together.
Reply:Not horrible, if it is 7018, looks like your speeding up and slowing down. I try to always use two hands to steady her up. We started with 5/32 rod, and the difference was huge when dropping to 3/32..Every shake and hiccup was obvious. Arrowheads are indicative of too fast travel. Rod angle should be slightly off 90, pointing towards pool for a stringer like that.Run consistent smooth stringers before you try any rod movement. I seldom run a straight stringer anymore.Practice practice, and practice.. You'll get it before long..edit-- I should add, its not a bad idea too also run the stinger in each hand. Learning to be ambidextrous is a huge bonus when welding pipe...believe me!!Last edited by MadMax31; 02-18-2011 at 05:51 PM.Reason: addLincoln Power MIG 210 MP ( boat anchor )Lincoln Weld-Pac 100 HDHobart IronMan 230Cutmaster 42Jackson NexGenSumner Ultra ClampsDWM120
Reply:It gets better,   and what is there is better than my first shot at  it.  Good Luck.Lincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Absolutely find your magic "brace" position which will enhance stability.Try a few different dark lenses (assuming you use a conventional helmet), some people do better with a Shade 9 rather than the usual 10.Some helmets come with a reddish tint filter lense. We throw those in the trash and use green GLASS lenses with a plastic cover lens on each side of the glass.Lots of folks like the lenses with the gold or silver foil coating.If you don't have a current eye exam, get one. Bifocals are bad news, a separate prescription for close work (I leave my driving glasses in my truck) is what to get. Tell your optometrist the distance you will be working at, as they have no idea since they aren't weldors.
Reply:Think of a perfect weld, make your weld like that.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:I'm not a "real" welder by an stretch... but in that video shouldn't they grind out the slag and feather their stops on that root pass? Instead of just shoving another rod into the crater?
Reply:If you watch the video well they are not on the root pas, they are on a hot or fill pass. By the look/ sound of the weld, and the fact they are running downhill means they are probably running 6010, (or 7010, 6011) which has a different slag than 7018, often I found it leaves the crater free of slag, and its deep digging chararistics can "burn out" any slag that was ahead of the puddle. Personally I would use a stringer brush on the start, but thats just me, Im not certified, yet...The steadier you are the better the weld will be. You have to get into a rhythm, and learn to read the puddle, looks like your on your way though. Practice practice practice... Just my thoughts...Travis
Reply:i forgot to mention that it's a 6013 1/8" rod.The thing about the pipe video above is that i was concerned about was actually holding the electrode with your other hand----apparently this is safe?
Reply:Originally Posted by HELP!i forgot to mention that it's a 6013 1/8" rod.The thing about the pipe video above is that i was concerned about was actually holding the electrode with your other hand----apparently this is safe?
Reply:Also, i was originally using 11ish shade on the helmet, but when i went back down to 10 i noticed i could see (i think so at least) better where the heck i was going.
Reply:The Best Thing about HELP!'s posting is the link to a set of fabulous tutorials!http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/For Stick and Mig, these tutorials are THE BEST I have seen.Also, the tutorials on steel, auto-restoration on Spray Painting (includes body filling, sand blasting, etc.) are excellent.Thanks for that Terrific Link HELP!Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:Originally Posted by Rick VThe Best Thing about HELP!'s posting is the link to a set of fabulous tutorials!http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/For Stick and Mig, these tutorials are THE BEST I have seen.Also, the tutorials on steel, auto-restoration on Spray Painting (includes body filling, sand blasting, etc.) are excellent.Thanks for that Terrific Link HELP!