Keep blowing through the metal - 2mm (~5/64") rod on 1.4mm (~1/16") steel

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Hey thereI'm new to welding - I picked up this scrap metal - it's thin square steel tubing that's about 1.4mm thick (~1/16") and I'm going at it with a stick welder with a 2mm rod (~5/16") - and I just keep blowing holes right through it Is this too thin metal to weld with an arc welder? Or am I doing something wrong? Would a MIG do any better at it?Thanks
Reply:2mm is nowhere near 5/16".1/16" material is gettin pretty thin for stick welding. You'll want to use a more appropriate high deposition low penetration rod like 7014, probably no bigger than 3/32".MIG will work much better.Welding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.com
Reply:Thanks -sorry typo I meant 5/64" as per the headline Ok thanks - will check out those rods and maybe a gasless MIG (I can only weld outdoors)
Reply:Find something thicker to practice on.  Your making it hard on yourself with thin metal.Learn how to lay a good bead and thin material will come. Where are you from?
Reply:1/16" 7014 at about 30A works for me.  However.....I try very hard not to stick weld anything unless it's a rusty/dirty field repair....and these days, I'm loath to do "field repairs" on rusty, dirty equipment...LOLFortunately I don't have too..
Reply:Flux core ( gasless) mig has all the disadvantages of stick on thin material. Both processes are really too "hot" for thin metal without a lot of skill. Gas mig with 75/25 gas and .023 wire would be a better choice. It is possible to weld with gas mig outside, but you either must weld on calm days, or you need to erect a wind screen to shield the area from the breeze.Welding thin metal with stick/FC wire means you need to have a good understanding of what is going on with the puddle and the ability to react to it to control the puddle. Most newer welders simply can't se and read the puddle well enough to pull this off. There is a very fine line between too cold and too hot with these processes and thin material..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Thanks DSW - I was pretty close to buying a gasless MIG - this makes me think not I'd much rather the versatility of welding thin stuff with a gas MIG - just gotta track down a gas supplier Sydney I think I'd rather use the best process for the job
Reply:BOC and Supagas are a couple of suppliers that come to mind quickly.
Reply:Any idea on price of the Argon tanks? It's like everything is more expensive in Australia when it comes to welding
Reply:"Argon" is probably not what you want. Note I put Argon in quotes. Mig gas is usually a blend of argon and Co2. In the US a typical mix for small migs is 75% argon- 25% CO2 or something fairly close. Larger migs can run higher percentages of argon because they run higher voltages, but smaller low powered units need more Co2 to help with penetration and to stabilize the arc. You can run 100% Co2, but that gives you too much penetration usually for thin sheet metal like body work, though not as much penetration as with FC wire or stick. 16- 18 ga is doable with 100% co2 with basic skills, but the thinner the sheet gets, the harder it is to weld well.100% argon is used with mig pretty much only to weld alum. It does a very poor job with steel especially with small machines..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Call them and find out.  Do a little homework yourself.Here is some links to gas selection.  Get their numbers and give them a call.  How hard can it be? http://www.bocworldofwelding.com.au/...oy-steels.htmlhttp://supagas.com.au/products/welding/mig-welding/