well i been threatning to learn how to weld for sometime now, and i finally got my hands on a welder. Its a arc welder or stick welder...same thing. Any tips on weldng with one of these what rod is the easiest to weld with? just general tips for this kind of welder. I just cant use it yet cause its got like a 240 out let or something and i dont have anything with a plug like that

 

Congrats...

Try this link, it's one i have in my fav's. You can Google ARC welding tutorial for a ton of stuff.

http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/

 

that looks promissing ill have to look around there a bit.

 

My favorite rod is 7018. It's a real clean looking weld, and holds 70,000 lbs when welded properly. You can use others too, but that's my favorite.

 

7018 is a great rod to use. I use it too, but for someone learning to weld, use a 6011 or 6013.(farmer rod) 7018 is not one that's easy to learn on. If you can weld with a 7018, you can weld with any rod.
Is your machine AC/DC or just AC? Check your rods, because there are rods made for AC and ones for DC.

 

yea 7018 is a hell of a rod, runs on dc+.. 6013 is also a really CLEAN rod and going to look the best.. 6010-6011 are going to look like crap but are known for there durabilty and for welding on nasty surfaces, like oily and greasy material.. start out stick welding and then upgrase to a MIG welder..

 

ok...so if i weld 3/16 thick steel what rod should i use and what should i use for galvanized steel?

 

I wouldn't suggest welding galvanized steel at all. The fumes produced by welding galvanized can make you very sick.

 

I would sand the galv. off does it still make you sick then

 

yea galvanized is some nasy stuff so is aluminum.. and for 3/16 steel you are goign to have some trouble welding that unless you are using a torch or a tig welder on dc-.. but try to weld thicker metal if you are a beginer, you will just blow holes through the thinner material..

 

Aluminum is only dangerous if you use Tig. This is because the tungsten has an amount of radiation in it...so Don't ever put the tungsten in your mouth...Also I still wouldn't weld galvanized even if sanded unless you had some sort of vented hood.

 

man....i just want to make a bumper...