newbie welding question

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i am new to welding i have a clarke 180 mig and a miller 225 Bobcat..i am getting pretty good with the mig but my welds with the stick look horrible kinda like caked on bubble gum...but i have a question when i am practicing with the miller and first start off with the electrode (stick) and touch it to the metal sometimes it sticks kinda welds itself there what causes this ?? and how do i keep this from happening ?? thanks for any info i'm just a newbie trying to learn how to glue metal together
Reply:What electrodes? polarity? amps? diameter?Yeah, yeah, I know you are a weldor too. But, are you a good one?
Reply:i dont know the brand if thats what you mean they came with the welder diameter is 1/8" on the box it has E 7018...amp on the welder was on 75-150 it also has a dial from 0-10 it says 10 is for max ac power it is on 4...as far as polarity the selector switch is on the + symbol the other 2 selections are one for tig and one for mig...thanks
Reply:7018 is a sticky electrode to begin with. Try learning on some different electrodes. Your polarity is correct for 7018, amperage range is close (try increasing your amperage a bit). Personally for non heavy coated electrodes a good place to start for amperage setting is the decimal equivalent of the rod diameter.....1/8 = .125 so start with 125 amps and so on. On your fine adjustment dial, I believe that the 10 for max AC is referring to outlet power. Try some 7014 or 6013. Those are some pretty friendly 'trodes.Yeah, yeah, I know you are a weldor too. But, are you a good one?
Reply:Miller bobcat, nice machine to start with. I'll trade you my old 1st machine for it. I have to agree that 7018 isn't the easiest to start out with but its a great rod. You have to hold an arc with it. As soon as you strik the arc you have to pull back enough to not have it stick and not break the arc. When it sticks release the rod and break it free if it dosen't come off by pulling quickly. Get used to it untill you get a feel for maintaining the arc.I agree I'd suggest starting out with 6013, 7014 rods. The 6013, 7014 are "drag rods". Basicly start the weld and drag the rod along as you go. Just start with plain flat beads to get a feel.Most packages of rods will give you the range to set the machine with and which polarity to use. I'd set the machine amps on the higher side of the middle for now. After you sort of get a feel for how they run, play with changing the amps and you will get a feel for what changeing the settings will do.Don't forget to post some picts with your settings so we can help some more.
Reply:Could the 7018 have picked up moisture?  Would that affect the welds in the manner the OP described?I am just learning myself and have found 7018 pretty nice to work with.
Reply:Possibly, put them in a hot oven for a good while and try again. New, dry 7018 works better than old, damp 7018.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:You need to read the Bobcat's manual to learn what the numbers on the dials mean.  It has a range adjustment and then a fine amperage adjustment.  The numbers 1 - 10 on the fine adjustment are just relative and their values will correspond within the range set on the range switch.  This dial can be anywhere for welding, but should be set to 10 if you are using the auxiliary power receptacles for anything other than incandescent lighting (it's essentially a big dimmer switch.)Oh, and please put the actual question in the subject line.  We already have 10,000 posts that say "newbie welding question."  Thanks.
Reply:Set your dial to 6-7 and in the 70-150 range for a 1/8"  7018  I agree that the 7018 is kind of a tough rod to start with.  Try dragging the tip across and pull back when the arc starts.  It takes time, but you will eventually get where you can tap the rod to start.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:here are some pics it has 444hrs on it
Reply:Splitshot, Nice machine. Don't let the mice get in there. Anyway, sticking electrodes. What a pain. Man I hate when that happens. Everything the other guys have said is good stuff. I just wanted to add one thing and that is that if the flux coating is broken away at the end, it makes it much more difficult to get the arc started. If that is the case, you can get the arc started again if you quickly drag the bare steel end of the electrode across the material as though you were striking a match. Eventually the bare steel will melt away and the arc will begin to become more stable. Then you can get back to what you were trying to stick together.  WWQ
Reply:Slipshot,     I would set the fine adj. to # 7 or 8.  On that range setting ea. # is worth8 amps and that should give you a good starting point on amps.  I would also strike the arc and pull away maintaining a long arc, then reduce the arc lenght and run your bead.  You'll probably have porosity at the starts but nothing comes without practice and in time it will get better.
Reply:Why do you think they call 'em stick start millers, lol. 7018 likes to stick and some brands are really bad about it. I usually use a little twist when striking the arc if I am not able to drag it. Jay is right about the setting. Always use the lowest notch you can on your coarse adjustment so you are getting on the high side of your fine adjustment with 7018. 7018 needs the higher voltage you get that way.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Try this little trick. Stick the rod to the material and leave it there for about 5 seconds and then pull it away and strike your arc again. This not only warms the rod but also takes out moisture.
Reply:If A Rod Ever Sticks All You Have To Do Is Increase Your Amperage.http://specific.net
Reply:sometimes if i try to restart a rod that is part used it seems like the flux has melted over the tip of the steel, and have to sometimes tap the tip, sometimes pretty hard on the steel to bust off some flux/slag and get metaltometal to strike an arc..
Reply:That's very common with 7018.  I usually keep a small file nearby or use something else nearby.  Just make sure that something isn't in electrical contact with the work lead or weldment.Some just use their gloved hands.