puddle welding ? roof decking

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I'm looking for advice.        A furture task I see in the horizon is some roof decking.       I think its some 16 0r 18 ga. galv. thats calling for a 3/4 puddle weld.        I've never puddled welded before, but by the name of it, and just what litlle I know about it, I'm confident I  can handle it.      However,  I'm looking for a little decription.     Is it a just steady spot holding of the electrode, or a slightly weaving motion uphill?        And please what rod and dia. is commonly used for such?
Reply:Puddle welding; it's similar to plug welding. In plug welding you have a hole in the top material, it's pushed or held tight to the bottom material, and you fill the hole with weld, fuse the edges of the hole first and fill it up. With roof decking, there is no hole to start with, you stand over the area to be welded, pushing the top sheet down to the truss, and strike an arc onto the sheet, purposely burn through, penetrate into the truss, and fill it up.  I haven't done it enough to have a "favorite" rod, or know what is recommended. I have used: 6011, 6013, 7018, and 7014. I am sure someone with more experience in this area will add more to this for you.Just my  opinion, not from a book, just from the road.Howes Welding Inc.www.howesweldinginc.com
Reply:That is what it is in a nutshell. Just a straight down plug. You can use a slight circular weave to get the size you want. 6011/11 will work well if allowed...engineers can get their panties in a know with them sometimes.  7018 can be used, although the flux can get in the way and cause voids if you aren't careful. 6022 is a rod that was specifically designed for this type of work. We used to use a 4' long rod holder with 6022's so you didn't have to bend over so much. You can weld by sound if you get used to it. 6022 - Hobart 1139 or a Linc Fleetweld 22
Reply:One of the most important things is to get the decking flat to the beams. Most important...I keep a ball pein hammer in one hand and the stinger in the other. I have used all those rods mentioned above plus LN-25s with NR-211mp and Fabshield 21-B. Plus, you can rent a pin gun and shoot them down. Hilti makes a cool unit, the DX-750, that is clip fed and really rocks. If you have never done deck before, this is what I recommend. Or at the very least, a ton of practice.
Reply:I did it using washers. Taped the stinger to a broom handle, lay the washer down, reverse the leads and crank it up with 5/32 6010. Poke the electrode through the hole in the washer, let it burn a few seconds, pull out and it sucks it right down on the beam.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:I use 6010/6011 running hot, or 6022(deck rod) when it is supplied. NR-211 works well too. I usually snap a line, keep my helmet down and do a kind of crouched walk up the line.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."