Best Practice - Galvanized Pipe stick welding

admin

Hi gang,  I'm not new to stick welding, but I am bad rusty!!!  My first couple beads to practice up were embarassing!!!Here's my problem, volunteer work, material was provided to me - you can see where this is going.  I have a Lincoln 225 stick welder, and I'm trying to weld up some galvanized rigid pipe - pretty thin walled stuff.I'm using 6011 and 6013 rods, and have burned off the galvy.  (fire pit works great for this!)At 40 amps, I'm just making bubble gum, and at 75 or higher I'm blowing holes in the pipe.  At 60, it seems to work OK, but I just don't feel that I'm getting a good hold.  Best part of this whole project, is the cool welding table that I dug out of the hometown steel scrap pile!!!Any help, would be great!  Arc settings, rod types, puddle technique?  I need some tips!!Thanks in advance!IWishIWasAWelderLincoln 225
Reply:Make sure you have plenty of ventilation and wear a P100 respirator. If you are just screwing around, run 6011 1/8" downhill at about 75 amps, sounds like your trying to weld fence post.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Use small rods.  One of my co-workers said he could not weld thin stuff - turns out he always used 1/8" rods.  Gave him some 1/16" rods to run at 40 amps and he was all setDave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:I believe changing polarity to electrode - on 6011 is OK for less penetration, unless you are using an AC buzz box. However I wouldn think you should be fine without burning through with a smaller rod. Whipping the rod (6011), close and far from the puddle is another technique to control heat. Generally galv pipe tube doesn't fume to bad if you use a coarse wire brush on the weld area first, but you still should take precautions if you weld a lot of it. Burning the ends in a fire sounds like overkill, plus you will have to paint galv paint on all the areas that were burn't.
Reply:Thanks TozziWelding - it is indeed fence posts material.  I'm not doing blunt end welds, mainly 45 degree angles and "T" welds.  Can't guarantee a straight shot down, but will try that where I can.  Had better luck with the 6013 in 3/32 size than the 6011 in 1/8.  Will look for the 1/16 rod, Dave.Many thanks!IWishIWasAWelderLincoln 225
Reply:If you like 6013 here are some amperage ranges (from my Miller card)1/16   20-455/64   35-603/32   40-901/8     80-1305/32   105-180Choose the rod size based on the amperage you think will work for the thickness you are welding.Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Blackbart, your comment about polarity got me thinking.  Due to location, I have to run this Lincoln 225 from a large generator.  I have no idea how the plug from the generator to the welder plug-in is wired.  Could  I be working with the "normal" polarity reversed?  Recommended way to test that?IWishIWasAWelderLincoln 225
Reply:Additional thought, I'm using a Lincoln 225 AC only - technically a buzz box, right?  How can I test which way my polarity is now?IWishIWasAWelderLincoln 225
Reply:AC is alternating current.  Switching your cables will have no effect.DC is direct current - thus you can run DCEP or DCEN.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveAC is alternating current.  Switching your cables will have no effect.DC is direct current - thus you can run DCEP or DCEN.
Reply:I didn't catch the fact he was using a AC buzz box, so there is nothing you can do about polarity.  Rod size, amperage, and technique are your only varibles.
Reply:Originally Posted by SuperArcWhat Minnesota said.  Since you only have "AC," polarity is a mute point for you...