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I've never stick welded before, but got the opportunity to try it out with an acquaintances machine. I kind of like it. Most were done with 6013 rod at 145A if I remember correctly. The weave looking one and the super wide (around an inch, done with 7018 I think?) were just me screwing around. The one weld by itself shows my improvement I think, I was going too fast, but slowed down and it got better in my opinion. These are obviously not my worst welds.
Stick weld pros, critique me if you want. I like to learn. are these good? bad? average? I have no feelings so let me have it. I was told the weave weld is only good if there is a "regular" pass underneath it. Agree?
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Im by no means a stick pro, just a hobby welder.
Looks pretty good, as you said when you slowed down your travel speed your welds got better.
On those wider welds you'd be better off going with multiple passes.
Running quality wire and having a good ground are paramount. HF machines get a bad rap, but understandably so, they're cheaply made. Good grounds, decent wire, it makes a huge difference, especially with FC wire. If you upgrade this stuff on a HF machine, you'll be much better off.
I still use my HF machine, but only for around-the-house type stuff. It is a 220 unit set up for flux core only. I use my Miller 211 for any mig stuff, and have an old school Lincoln tombstone for any arc jobs.
Yeah, I really do need a better ground clamp... for tension sake AND ground surface area. I actually had the clamp slip off just before making a pass.
Looks pretty good, as you said when you slowed down your travel speed your welds got better.
On those wider welds you'd be better off going with multiple passes.
I agree completely, the wide welds were just me having fun learning the process. the weld puddle was cold by the time I got back to each side, obv not good. 1 stick = about 3" of weld bead. Also there was about 6 passes underneath them, not that that means it's a good weld. Just mixing it up.
the weave pass did have a bead underneath it but I've never seen a stick "weave" in real life so there is probably a reason for that.
also, I have 10x the hours on a mig machine than arc but the mig was self taught and spread out and the arc was consecutive and taught over a 3 week period and now i might be a better arc than mig welder now. Which I find out after I bought a Miller mig a while back. oh well.
fyi I have been admiring your build since the beginning. great work.
I agree completely, the wide welds were just me having fun learning the process. the weld puddle was cold by the time I got back to each side, obv not good. 1 stick = about 3" of weld bead. Also there was about 6 passes underneath them, not that that means it's a good weld. Just mixing it up.
the weave pass did have a bead underneath it but I've never seen a stick "weave" in real life so there is probably a reason for that.
also, I have 10x the hours on a mig machine than arc but the mig was self taught and spread out and the arc was consecutive and taught over a 3 week period and now i might be a better arc than mig welder now. Which I find out after I bought a Miller mig a while back. oh well.
fyi I have been admiring your build since the beginning. great work.
No shame in having fun. Thats how ive learned a lot when it comes to welding, plus its something I genuinely enjoy doing.
My next welding related purchase will be a plasma cutter followed by a tig/stick machine.
Couple of welding/fab related pics. Working on a rear bumper out of 2x4x1/4. Recessed a receiver in the center that will serve as a recovery point, I wont be doing any towing with the xj. The pin gets inserted through the back of the bumper.
Im also going to be tapering the ends of the rear bar, fabbing up some quarter protection that will extend under the cut and fold and tying it all in to the unibody rails.
Only had a little bit of time the other day to get started on it.
Mounts for the stock locations, all made out of 1/4" plate and 2x2x1/4
It is HF, and I stand corrected, it's the 180A/240V unit. (Ooops!!) I cut that damn Honda jumper cable end off a while ago. Lol. Found that a good ground and quality wire made a BIG difference
I have the HF 175a, 220v one. I upgraded the ground wire, clamp, and wire. Made a big difference. For $175, I can't complain. I also switched to the Flux core nozzle from either Lincoln or Hobart. That, along with tip dip, and it almost never clogs now.
I've never stick welded before, but got the opportunity to try it out with an acquaintances machine. I kind of like it. Most were done with 6013 rod at 145A if I remember correctly. The weave looking one and the super wide (around an inch, done with 7018 I think?) were just me screwing around. The one weld by itself shows my improvement I think, I was going too fast, but slowed down and it got better in my opinion. These are obviously not my worst welds.
Stick weld pros, critique me if you want. I like to learn. are these good? bad? average? I have no feelings so let me have it. I was told the weave weld is only good if there is a "regular" pass underneath it. Agree?
toofast slow down
wide weld just for fun
stick weave just for fun
145 amps sounds REALLY high...depending on the thickness you're welding. That said, for first timing it, not bad. Also, 6013 and 7018 are totally different animals. 6013 is not a deep penetrating rod, and not as strong in tensile strength as 7018. Here's a link that explains the codes of arc rod:
Looks pretty good, as you said when you slowed down your travel speed your welds got better.
On those wider welds you'd be better off going with multiple passes.
Depending on the situation, definitely multiple passes, especially where thicker steel is used.
Originally Posted by T1XJ
I agree completely, the wide welds were just me having fun learning the process. the weld puddle was cold by the time I got back to each side, obv not good. 1 stick = about 3" of weld bead. Also there was about 6 passes underneath them, not that that means it's a good weld. Just mixing it up.
the weave pass did have a bead underneath it but I've never seen a stick "weave" in real life so there is probably a reason for that.
also, I have 10x the hours on a mig machine than arc but the mig was self taught and spread out and the arc was consecutive and taught over a 3 week period and now i might be a better arc than mig welder now. Which I find out after I bought a Miller mig a while back. oh well.
fyi I have been admiring your build since the beginning. great work.
Keep an eye out on CL for the old school Lincoln tombstones...I have one. It is AWESOME. Crank up the amps, and it will burn holes in 3/8" thick steel in a second.
Originally Posted by Maverickjk
some good welds... nice penetration observed by metal discoloration
Always a good indicator, LOL...heat=depth of fusion
[QUOTE=roninofako;3391975]145 amps sounds REALLY high...depending on the thickness you're welding. That said, for first timing it, not bad. Also, 6013 and 7018 are totally different animals. 6013 is not a deep penetrating rod, and not as strong in tensile strength as 7018.
I was given 6013 because it's easier to learn on, the 7018 was just a random few sticks I found. And I was working mostly on 1/4" i think.
I tried 130A as advised and didn't like welding so slow, and it didn't seem like the weld was sinking into the metal for good penetration so I turned it up and everything felt better to me. Also, I was told the power was suspect in the building so there is a very good chance I wasn't actually running that high.
Also, you can absolutely run weaves with arc. It takes practice, but is totally cool! Link to some images of arc weave welding patterns: I don't know the correct method for doing it but I was essentially doing backwards "C"'s.
Depending on the situation, definitely multiple passes, especially where thicker steel is used.
Keep an eye out on CL for the old school Lincoln tombstones...I have one. It is AWESOME. Crank up the amps, and it will burn holes in 3/8" thick steel in a second. My dad has a 225A unit that is as old as I am I think, but I had never used it. Between that and my mm211 we're covered for anything we'll ever get into.
