Pics: First time welding

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So my girlfriend bought me a Lincoln AC-225 stick welder for my birthday  Been practicing a little here and there on some 1/8" scrap. These were done with 6013, 3/32" and 1/8" rods, both at 75amp. This is 1/8" rodCloseup of 1/8" weldThis is 3/32" rodCloseup of 3/32"Then I tried joining two pieces at 90degrees with the 3/32".Any suggestions for improvement? Am I too hot/cold (I can't tell)? I'm having a blast welding for the first time. It's something I've wanted to learn for so long!Thanks-patchy
Reply:you aren't having any problems with that, looks great for 1st timeStangnetShop Full Of Stuff. Joey
Reply:thanks! I started out using the sample 6011 rods that came with the welder, but those kicked my ***, and made some awful welds. I guess it's true when they say 6011 isn't a beginner's rod. The 6013 was much, much  more forgiving. So I think part of my progress so far is just switching rods -patchy
Reply:one thing i would get if you are used some of the 60 series rods is a wire brush for a 4.5 grinder... really helps in getting off the slag and then you wont have all of the dents from the chipping hammer too
Reply:darnit, someone noticed the cratersI had a hell of a time gettin the slag off the fillet with the hammer. Those seem to grab on a whole lot more than on the flatplate beads...I'm planning on picking up a grinder with a wire brush. I have a hand wire brush, but that doesn't work too well with taking off big chunks of slag.-patchy
Reply:What do you look for to tell if its too hot or not enough heat?
Reply:Well I got rid of my last stick machine about 5/6 years ago, but if my memory serves me right that 6013 by 1/8th should be a bit hotter than 75 amps. 90 to 110 maybe. Then higher if you're working on 1/4 material and so-on. Your 18th beads should look more like your 3/32nds beads. Also judging by the dents in the 3/32nds pics you're hammering on that slag a little too soon. Seldom do you need to get back into a bead till it cools down some, and the slag comes off a whole lot easier when it is cooled down too. Looking good tho. Keep on having fun.
Reply:So my girlfriend bought me a Lincoln AC-225 stick welder for my birthday
Reply:thanks for the tips sandy. After doing the 3/32 beads, the 1/8 ones looked a little tall. But I couldnt' really tell. Next time i'll try turning up the heat.And yeah, I was hammernig on the slag pretty soon after I was done laying it down. I was anxious to look at the bead. I'll let it cool for a while next time.And the girlfriend is gonna stay. -patchy
Reply:Howdy Howdy! Looking really good there!  it looks too me like a lil bit much splatter... maybee just a hair too long an arc....? maybee not.  Looking reall good there.  The slag does come up a lot easier after it cools another minute.  I notice the bead is narrow when you start, and widens out near the end.  Maybee you go faster at the beginning? or maybe the heat hasn't entered the workpiece enoughto flatten out. At any rate, you may want to slow down just a hair for the first parts of your beads, then pick up the pace as the bead wets out better.  Goodjob!  Brian Lee  Sparkeee24
Reply:I'll pay closer attention to my speed next time. I made a conscious effort to go slow, but I probably still need work on being consistently slow  Thanks!-patchy
Reply:Great first time welds. I remember my first stick welds. I  had been a mig welder for around a year and I lied to get a stick welding job (We were broke) we pulled up on site at a carpet company that had a roller machine that kept cracking. The boss guy handed me a pouch with some 7018 rods and a stack of gussets and pointed at the machine. he said I have to go talk to some people and asked if I "had this" yes I nodded. I got under the machine and started to tack the first gusset I knew then that I was not going to be able to fake it. I started to weld overhead and what I ended up with was more like a candle dripping wax than a weld. About that time the boss came back and looked under the machine at what I had done and just walked back to the truck shaking his head. He came back with his hood. But I kept my job and learned to stick weld better. Your first welds look great maybe a little cold. Keep up the good work and never ever give up.Last edited by Robby T.; 10-15-2005 at 04:39 PM.