overhead welding tips

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I'm having a hard time with overhead right now specifically running 7018 on a beveled butt plate with a backing plate.  My problem is that I am having a problem maintaining my consistency in travel speed despite using an arm support and an upper body support to prevent heartbeat sway.  I've changed positions to be in front of the stick, behind the stick, and above the stick but the best I have come up with is two types of support to minimize sway and add support through one arm.
Reply:I find that with 7018's you can keep the arc length a little shorter than 1/8" and pull the electrode. if you keep the arc length at the same length it should mean a consistent travel speed, easier said than done to watch the arc length but give it a try. I do it that way with the back of my left hand resting on the material itself as a guide. I just have miller mig/stick gloves with a thick backhand shield and never have a problem with burning my hand shield or glove. hopefully this helps but the only way to really get it is sitting behind the hood for hours on end! good luck!
Reply:Overhead shouldn't be a problem for you unless your having problems maintaining a tight arc length. Keep the rod tight against the piece and drag it just like you would do in flat 7018. And just like barefooter said, if you don't have anything to brace against you can always just use your other hand as a guide to help keep to steady. What size rod and what amps are you using? I like to run HOT and fast, don't let that slag fool you when it sags and drips, once you go to knock your slag off it will reveal its beautiful bead underneath.
Reply:1/8 110amps on root and 5/3 160amps on covers, I might be trying to hard on the arc length.
Reply:Originally Posted by SR20stevedon't let that slag fool you when it sags and drips, once you go to knock your slag off it will reveal its beautiful bead underneath.
Reply:I think you would have an easier time learning to control 1/8" for your covers instead of 5/32".Have we all gone mad?
Reply:Yea 1/8 is easier but it's not my decision on what rod I use.  Now I'm working with 11018m 1/8 root and 5/32 covers on a practice test plate.  Biggest problem I'm having is consistency and positioning myself to see the whole work area.  Talk about frustrating.
Reply:You missed my point, regardless of what the test or code requires you would benefit from working out the basics first on 1/8" rod.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:I got your point but its not my decision to make when Im getting paid by the hour to learn the companies way of welding.  1/8 is definitely easier to control while 5/32 is more wiggly for lack of a better term like a pissed off earth worm that you cant get your fingers on right away.
Reply:FWIW, I run my 3/32 at the same heat that your 1/8 is running at (110), now my machine runs hot by nature with lohy, so its more like 105 maybe? But the point is 110 is waaay too low for overhead 1/8th, maybe like 115-120 on vert-up but thats just because you are trying to build a shelf to weld on. Try cranking it up 10 (on second thought 20!) and tell us how it goes, and remember keep that arc tight.
Reply:One of the best advantages of welding with SMAW is u can hold your hand in a comfortable position and bend the rod to angle the work piece. Stand at the end of the plate so u will be pulling the rod towards yourself. Next take that rod and place it in the stinger, now bend it straight up, 90 degrees or so. Its so easy you may laugh when you realize its something u have been over looking. I would also turning the amps in the range of 5 to 15 amps up on both rods from your previous settings when running stringers.Nothing Ever Got Done By Quitting, Never Give Up.
Reply:Try 130 amps.  I think practice makes perfect.Was doing stringer just this evening at that heat.  You need heat for overhead and it is the same heat you use for flat.Gordie -- "I believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
Reply:One little tip i find useful as well to get rid of some of that weight is to just throw the lead over both shoulders so its going from your left side around the back of ya neck and down the other side, leave yourself just a little slack when your arm is in the position to weld.  Its simple but helps alot for me.  Keeping your arm straight up for a little bit with that weigh and the lead swaying a little bit can really screw ya up.
Reply:I carry the lead over my shoulders and brace myself with one arm on a bracket or the table.  I'm positioned at the end of the plate but to the side a little and have raised up the plate another 5 inches to get a better view of the work area and all around the stick as I travel so now the plate is 6'8" above my head which makes for achy arms and a sore neck but I seem to have worked out most all of the kinks.Amps are fine for what I'm doing as I have found that the 1/8 overheats the previous bead/base metal and drops globs of it out at 120amps or higher.  The machine I'm using is a 30+ year old esab sitting outside with a remote 2 dial box that I hook to inside the building.  One dial is for amps in 50 amp range while the other is for amps in the 5 amp range.
Reply:Long-arcing at lower amps or traveling slow and trying to deposit too much metal will cause globs of metal to melt out.Crank up the amps and hold.  HOLD a short arc and you will see a world of difference.You need amps for overhead.  It is the opposite of what you might think.  Amps help the metal stay up there where you put it.  You will be able to increase your speed of travel and things will work out just fine.Try it before you dismiss it.Gordie -- "I believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
Reply:Originally Posted by NiteskyLong-arcing at lower amps or traveling slow and trying to deposit too much metal will cause globs of metal to melt out.Crank up the amps and hold.  HOLD a short arc and you will see a world of difference.You need amps for overhead.  It is the opposite of what you might think.  Amps help the metal stay up there where you put it.  You will be able to increase your speed of travel and things will work out just fine.Try it before you dismiss it.
Reply:Overhead is upsidedown flat HOT AND FAST.
Reply:Working on my test piece now, first root came out nice, second not so much because I was not comfortable.  I'm running the 10718m 1/8 at 125amps but I may go to the upper end of the wps stated amps to get it more where I'm comfortable at with travel speed.
Reply:Passed visual pre grind, passed visual post backing plate removal and front/back grind, now its off to x ray and tomorrow I start my 3g test.