Sudden stick problems?

admin

I admit that I am not the best stick welder, but I am not bad either.  I can usually run beads I can be proud of.  While almost everything I do is Mig, last week I pulled out some scrap and fired up some sticks.  They looked like bird droppings!  Have I lost my touch?  it's been almost a year since I stick welded.  Is this a "use it or loose it" talent?  Could my sticks have been bad?  Or even my machine?  Could my sticks have gotten moisture in the coatings?  The welds looked like blobs.All my attempts to fix it by changing amperage, technique, switching stick types and so on failed.  What gives?
Reply:It might help if you gave some details about the equipment, the power supply, the electrodes, the settings, etc.
Reply:1.  Someone has to say so...here goes...7018 (a low hydrogen rod) is sensitive to moisture absorbtion, but you can dry them out in an oven and bring them back...2.  Yes, practice is essential. Muscle memory needs to be excercised to stay sharp. Pick up a stinger at regular intervals just for that purpose.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:Like Oldiron said, knowing what you are using would help.Was the polarity correct? Could the leads have been switched around?Yup