Stick Welding Thin Steel

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Does anyone here use 3/32" 6010, 6011, 6013, or 7014 rod to weld 1/8" mild steel? I have trouble with sticking because I have to run the rod so cold to keep from burning through.
Reply:Yes,  i do 1/16 thick with 6011 0r 6013 .  What are you welding? Thickness? Joint?Last edited by tapwelder; 1 Day Ago at 11:17 PM.
Reply:1/8 is pretty thick.  16 ga can be done with 1/8 6011 but its fussy and needs some tacks and shorter welds, professional that welds every day is another thing. 14 ga substantially easier and despite the raves about 6013 I dont use it, I should run a few just to remember why I got a DC machine and as for light material like 10 or 11 better they need so much less current.  I turn down a pinch for light sheet, not a lot, 5A or so but 1/8 11 will run 85 and 13 is 115,,, real close, might as well use lohy.    3/32 lohy is not bad either as its a 92A rod and turn it down to 85 for light work.  3/32 6011 is 65A, 13 about 85 and 11 is so fast freeze and am used to it but stich with 1/8 most of the time. Its not so fussy about arc length.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:Yeah 1/8 in realatively easy to handle.  What joint configuration?  Direction of travel2...up?
Reply:

Originally Posted by scooby

Does anyone here use 3/32" 6010, 6011, 6013, or 7014 rod to weld 1/8" mild steel? I have trouble with sticking because I have to run the rod so cold to keep from burning through.
Reply:You can weld 10 gauge or 1/8th inch steel pretty easily using 3/32 6013 rods. If you get burn through, switch to AC or straight polarity for less dig.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:Sure. I've used 1/8" 6011 on 14 ga. purlin many times, at about 85-90 amps. Use a cautious whip, be careful not to long-arc it. Sometimes the 1/8" is actually easier to use than the 3/32, because it deposits more filler quicker, which makes it easier to avoid burn-through.  This pic is a lap weld; not pretty, I can do much better, but you get the idea.

-Ruark"Become one with the puddle, grasshopper" - Welding InstructorLincoln 3200HDHobart Stickmate LX235TWECO Fabricator 211i
Reply:I   can  weld  down to  1.5m or 16 ga.  leaving a nice smooth weld  without  burn through  with  6013 reverse the  polarity  may  help a little too  But I have never tried it
Reply:

Originally Posted by Louie1961

You can weld 10 gauge or 1/8th inch steel pretty easily using 3/32 6013 rods. If you get burn through, switch to AC or straight polarity for less dig.
Reply:I like the pic above.  As you said, it really shows the idea.  Its easy to slip out of practice too.  I am with you on the 1/8 actually being somewhat easier.  When I bought my Maxstar I figured to get a couple boxes smaller rods and have used 10 of them in 15 years, I fell back to the same thing I had been using.

Last edited by Sberry; 5 Hours Ago at 10:40 PM.www.urkafarms.com