stick welding new project

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Hi I am new to welding and to the forum. I am working on a project that I am useing a 55 gallon barrel. It is pretty thin stuff. I have a AC/DC 225 Lincoln stick welder which I know isn't designed for thin stuff. I got the welder to do bigger projects and for trailer work but for now that is what I am working on. My question is there a type of stick or different electrode I could use so not to melt the barrel?I had try using the DC one up from the lowest and it burnt a hole right through the piece I was trying to weld. I turned it down to the lowest DC and it would not arc nice at all. Which that could be operator era. I did not try the AC not sure if that would have mattered.Thanks for the help!
Reply:I have welded 16 guage with a 6011  5/16" rod.  I was just playing around with it though in my arc class.  I remember I had to drag the rod rather that do puddles.  My machine was DCEP also.Victor OXY setupMiller Thunderbolt XL AC/DCLooking for a Miller Mig
Reply:Welcome to the forum.What are you building with the drum, a smoker or grill? Run the smallest rod you can get say 1/16" or 3/32". On some dc rods you can run either DC+ or DC-. I forget which way gives you the least penetration off the top of my head, DC- I think. Some rods are poor choices for thin material, 6010, 6011 that are deep penetrating rods. 6013 should be ok. 7014 is a sheetmetal rod. 7024, 7018 would also work.Run short welds to keep heat down. It you can try and focus the heat on the thickest material such as if you are putting a piece of 1/8" to the drum, try and put most of the heat on the 1/8" piece. You can run a backer piece of copper to help support the weld and draw off heat. The weld will not stick to the copper. an old chunk of flattened copper pipe works ok. Try lap joits instead of but joints if you can, you are effectivly doubling the thickness.Post what rod you are using and what settings you are running. That will help us out. Don't forget to post some picts of your project for us to look at.Good luck.
Reply:HI thanks for the help guys. Yes I am building a smoker. I have two different ones I am working on. Not many pictures yet but will put them up. When I get home I will check the setting of the DC mode I was running. I do believe I was running 7018 stick not sure of the size. The guy I bought the welder from gave me a bunch of rods. This may be silly question does the 7018 comes in different thickness? Thanks for the copper trick. I have so much to learn but I tell what fun I am having doing!Thanks again.
Reply:moto,Yes 7018 does come in different rod sizes I think it comes in 3/32"-1/8"-5/32" and may come in 1/16" and probably more? If you have some 6012 in 1/16" or 3/32" use on DC- will work on sheet metal low penetration rod. Get some scrap to set up and practice on. Waldo
Reply:Tractor supply has 1/16" 6013.  It works and DCEN has the least penetration.    AC may also work as 6013 is AC or DC rod.  What ever rod you use, its going to have to be on the lowest setting.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:I use 3/32 6010/6011 on things like barrels with good results.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:I Would Use A 6013 3/32 rod.
Reply:i have used a 6010/11, 6013, and a 7018.  the sizes have been either 1/8 or 3/32.  i set the amps on the lowest setting i can keep an arc.  it is typically the bottom two settings on the tombstone that you have. i also use dc - (except for 6010).  the welds are short (1/2 inch) stitches.  remember that once you get the puddle started you have to shut her down.  it takes while to get done what you need to do, but it is doable.
Reply:Thanks guys it helps out a lot. I was useing a 7018 not sure of the thickness bigger then what everyone is recommending. I was on DC+ 45 and it would burn through I was also holding on there and puddling the weld. When I switched to DC+ 30 it would not arc that well. I will get some of the smaller stuff and try that.Does the DC- give a lower output than the DC+?Thanks again
Reply:I really think that with the smallest 6011 rods you can find will run smoother on that thin material at low amps. Just run tacks to avoid getting the base metal too hot.
Reply:The output stays the same. DC- changes where the heat goes vs DC+. The plate tries to get hotter than the rod in DC- and this limits penetration. Most rods will have a top and bottom end on amps that they will run at based on the rod diameter. Thats why the rod would not arc well at 30. 7018 will not run in DC-, it is a DC+ or sometimes a DC+/AC rod. Try AC with the 7018 and see if that helps if nothing else. Basically you are welding DC- then DC+ 60 times a second.For thin rods look at Home Depot, Sears, Lowes, & Tractor Supply. They all carry small diameter rods in the 6013 or 7018AC range for small thin repairs. The super thin rods may come in the little 6-8 rod blister packs however.Moto if you get a chance add your location to your CP so we know where you are. Never know when one of us is just around the corner and might be able to help out.Last edited by DSW; 06-04-2008 at 09:46 AM.