ARC welding - Tips

[Ric]

I have just started to learn how to weld using an Arc welder and wanted some tips.

The welding rod when i start keeps sticking to the metal.

[4sum4]

Slide the stick along and when it arcs lift it up about 3 mill

[Ric]

would it be easier if i turned up the amps when learning??

i am just playing around with about 4mm steel..

[maty]

wear shoes.....

[4sum4]

would it be easier if i turned up the amps when learning??

i am just playing around with about 4mm steel..

What amps output does it have,If you turn it up it will blow holes and stick even more
Best way to learn is to bend the stick in a arc and have your hand on the bench and roll your rist when you weld

[Ric]

i have been using around 8 amp..
is MIG easy to use?? if you have someone to set it all up for you?

[Slunnie]

Dont turn it up to practice starting, just try to workout a system that will work for you. You don't do this when welding anyway. Some sweep, some touch etc or use the flux coat as a spacer to stop the rod sticking. You will find though, a hot rod will start easier than a cold one, and you will have better control using a shorter rod. Also try starting using one hand holding the other wrist, as this can staedy you up a fair bit.

MIG is easy to use in comparison to stick, but stick is fine when you work it out. You will pay to set up and maintain MIG.

[N*A*M]

cut some electrodes in half so you have short ones to practice on. then put them in the oven for a bit to dry them out and warm them up. clean your welding surface. get a bright work light to illuminate the work area. sit down and weld. don't stand up or crouch if possible.

[CHOPZUKI]

easiest way is to scratch it along the steel to get it started until you get a feel for it, go from left to right if your right handed keeping the rod slightly tilted to the right or vice versa if your left handed. make sure your steel is clean from grease, paint, dirt, etc and make sure your rods arent too old and that they re dry or you ll have a lot of trouble. i assume your just welding on flat plate.

practice makes perfect so keep on keeping on

[Wooders]

Lots of steel off cuts & practice
Fresh dry rods.
Don't rush you welds.

Check out this guide...http://www.aussieweld.com.au/arcwelding/

[Charlie]

No words can teach you how to weld, just keep practising and you'll get a feel for it and it gets quite easy.If your using one of those less than $ 200 I would keep to the black or grey electrodes untill you get some experience .
Charlie

[bj42turbo]

Interesting stuff, me to a learner with Arc just wondering how you make a decision on what rods to buy, Charlie i noticed you mention a colour.

Cheers Dazz

P.S Sorry to high jack but I am sure this info would be of interest to you aswell Ric.

[Ric]

thanks heaps everyone.....

once i trust my welds i can do my own mods..

[pcman]

im only a newbie to arc welding been atempting to weld for about a year am getting quite good i use satincraft blue 2mm from bunnings to learn with nice light rod and easy to use ive used the cheapo ones from supercheap and there not too bad with heavy steel but light steel there crap rest your elbow on a bench or something when your learning makes it heaps easier

ive made turbo manifolds with the arc takes a while but works tho these days ive got a friend with a mig so i just tac weld everything together and get him to weld everything up

[Ric]

i never realised how bloddy hard it is!!!!
I have just been practicing on two 4mm steel plates, welding them together and stuff.

How can you tell if you have done a good weld?? half the time i scrape away the flux and the weld hasn't joined the two plates..

[N*A*M]

for starters the flux should flake off pretty easily. if you've got a crap weld, the flux will be difficult to remove cleanly.

search the internet for pics of good arc weld and go on weldingweb.com to ask questions.

it wouldn't hurt to do a course either i guess.

[Webbie]

For starters get any stick that has 4113 on the box, good all round sticks.
Always leave a 1-2mm gap between your platesand remember that that if the stick lifs up the molten pool will b lost and will just spray and spatter.Always try for starters to keep the rod at about 45 deg to your work.To find out if its hot enough turn it up and keep doing little welds until it starts gouging out the other bit of material that you r joining and them back it off a tad. you wil be traveling at the right speed if your weld looks like little ccccccccccccc but if they look like <<<<<<<<<your going to fast. good welding PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.

[CHOPZUKI]

if your gonna do a bit of welding on your own rig id recommend to go do a tafe course then you will be very confident with it and your rig should be a hell of a lot safer/stronger. ive done the mmaw and gmaw courses and would strongly recommend it to anyone welding there own rig together especially if they re road registered.

[bj42turbo]

My welds look more like this




CCC#%55 CCCC$%%___-------CCCC
>>>>

[Charlie]

The satincraft blue electrodes are fairly standard for most applications.I find the grey ones less likely to stick to the job with my cheap arc welder but you burn thoughthem pretty quickly.
Charlie

[matthewK]

mate id say start with a mig welder its a dam lot easier then arc
once you have mig down arc should come that lil bit easier

2mm-3mm rods just for starting out should be enough a lil amp into it wont hurt but not as so much it will burn a nice whole in it
just all about getting the right setting so that it dosent stick

lots of off cuts and practise shouldbe all ya need

but personally i donno to much about arc
cause we just use the migs at work so yeah
just my lil bit

matthew

[bj42turbo]

mate id say start with a mig welder its a dam lot easier then arc
once you have mig down arc should come that lil bit easier
matthew

Yeah I agree Migs are easier to use but unfornatly a lot more expensive than Arc, hence I own an Arc
Cheers Dazz

[N*A*M]

it's good to be proficient at arc welding because a lot times, it's tricky to get into tight spots on the chassis with a mig gun. you can bend the arc electrode to get into the difficult spots and still get a good arc angle. also, it's much easier to do trail fixes if you can arc weld.