Rods for getting started

admin

For some reason I decided today was a good time to pick up a Lincoln AC225 and see if I got any better at stick welding in the last 20-some years. while I am laying beads that look like they would stick stuff together I am fighting holding too long of an arc. I am using 1/8" 6011 Lincoln rods at 90 amps on flat 3/16" steel but am wondering if another rod would be better for getting myself settled down and more consistent?I did a few butt welds and penetration seems to be good, lots of color on the underside and flaking of the surface. I put one in a vise and 5-lb sledged it over and nothing cracked but it just looks like the bead is too flat, a bit too wide and when i really get long on the arc, it blows up altogether.I'm just wondering if another style of rod is more beginner friendly or if I just keep practicing with the 6011's?Tom Hintz, publisherwww.newmetalworker.comLincoln Pro Mig 180Lincoln AC 255Determination
Reply:6010 and 6011 are long arc rods. Thats the way they run. A nice easy to use short arc rod for an AC welder would be 7014 or even 6013.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:i think 90 is a little too hot.are you whipping/circling? got foto?
Reply:Originally Posted by weldbeadi think 90 is a little too hot.are you whipping/circling? got foto?
Reply:6013 is a wonderful rod to start out with, makes strong welds, and is more forgiving of inferior technique.  It doesn't have the penetration that a 6011 does, but is otherwise a great rod.
Reply:Originally Posted by jonnycat6013 is a wonderful rod to start out with, makes strong welds, and is more forgiving of inferior technique.  It doesn't have the penetration that a 6011 does, but is otherwise a great rod.
Reply:7018 AC runs very nice on your welder too"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:OK, everyone that said I needed different rods stand up and take a bow. Those who specified the 6013's get an extra bow.The first picture below shows the last set of beads with the 6011's with the FIRST pass with the 6013's (75 amps)  along the bottom of the photo. (I accidentally turned the plate around when I did the 6013 bead, the 6011 beads above it were done from the other side of the plate)The second picture below is of a fillet I tried. I found I had to crank the amps up to 90 to get it to fill otherwise it would split the arc and leave a crease along the joint. I know I am not holding the rod exactly right either but things are looking WAY up!Thanks for the help!OK, the photos are attached. If there is way to insert photos, let me know! Attached ImagesTom Hintz, publisherwww.newmetalworker.comLincoln Pro Mig 180Lincoln AC 255Determination
Reply:I'm kinda where you're at Tom, I got an old Linde 235. Between that and my O/A and my Millermatic I've been trying to get better too. I took a mig class last semester now I'm taking O/A and stick. After 9 weeks of O/A we are now onto stick, six hours every Sat. Plus I burned 10 lbs of 6011s myself at home evenings last week. It's taking a while but I can definately see improvement with the 6011's, I'm actually proud of most of my welds now. I've been welding so much it feels like I have 2 jobs!I'll burn another 10 lbs of 6011s this week as I practice horizontal positions at home. I haven't tried any 6013s lately, I'll have to give them a try. All I can say is it's true what everyone says, practice practice practice. It working for me for sure.At school we have some big AC/DC machines and most guys are using 6010s on DC. I actually can do better with the 6011s on AC. I always thought DC would be the way to go but now I am having second thoughts, I really like my AC machine.Miller Challenger 172Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC 225/150Miller Maxstar 150 STLVictor 100CVictor JourneymanOxweld OAHarris O/ASmith O/A little torchNo, that's not my car.
Reply:I understand the practice thing as it has done me well in a bunch of different situations. I am finding out that there is a whole group of people out there who have no intention on ever becoming a pro welder but just want to learn some basic skills in the home shops and maybe even fix a thing or two along the way.Just as with woodworkers (my original site) the schedules today can force folks to learn on their own in the little spare time they have available. It turns out that metalworks followers are just as inventive as woodworkers in finding ways to teach themselves a skill. forums like this go a long way to helping those folks along and like me, get them aimed toward better supplies when that helps. The whole point of my metal site (brand new)  is to pass along that kind of information and have it available 24/7 for when a fledgling welder is getting frustrated in the middle of the night and starts doing searches for help.Tom Hintz, publisherwww.newmetalworker.comLincoln Pro Mig 180Lincoln AC 255Determination
Reply:See if your doctor will put you on beta blockers for your tremors it worked for me.http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000825140116 Lincoln Weldanpower Model # AC-225/DC-210/6 portable,LN-25 suitcase feeder,Harbor Freight 80 AMP Inverter DC Tig
Reply:Originally Posted by nk14zpSee if your doctor will put you on beta blockers for your tremors it worked for me.