welding shop

[migman69]

any advice or pointers would be helpful thanks.

[migman69]

does anyone have any advice on stick welding. Im burning 7018 rods, but cannot get the weld to look pretty.

[KBar]

does anyone have any advice on stick welding. Im burning 7018 rods, but cannot get the weld to look pretty.

If you are just starting, you may need more practice before you have a pretty weld. A lot depends on what amperage you are using with the size rod you are using. Make sure your metal is nice and clean if using a 7018 rod, wire wheel or grinder works nice for cleaning it up. If your weld bead is high you are running too cold, if it is low and your sides are undercut and a lot of splatter, you are running too hot. Using a 5/32 rod, start at 80 amps and adjust your amperage up from there, using 1/8 rod, start at 125 amps and adjust your amperage up from there. Do not rush with the rod, watch your puddle as you move, you should see a nice uniform look to it as you move your rod back.

[fun4now]

you probably need to slow down. they seem like a slow rod to me, but that could be as I'm doing vert up with them ??? in general though i seem to want to go too fast. the slag is not the bead so let it grow. you have to be able to tell the 2 apart. that and get your heat right.
post us some pic's and maybe we can get you an idea as to what is the best way to go. a pic is worth a 1,000 guesses.

[c wagner]

Using a 5/32 rod, start at 80 amps and adjust your amperage up from there, using 1/8 rod, start at 125 amps and adjust your amperage up from there.

I think he meant 3/32 instead of 5/32

[KBar]

I think he meant 3/32 instead of 5/32

I did, thanks for correcting my mistake.

Sometimes my typing gets ahead of my brain

[migman69]

well thanks for those tips ill take my camera to school monday and take some pics of my welds and post them so you can tell me what im doing right or wrong. I did notice some spattering around the weld so am i using to much heat and also the rod seems to be burning down real fast i was running on 120 i think ill take a pic of the machine setting too cause im not sure how to figure out the dial on the machine, it has numbers for ac and dc and i dont knwo how to tell if the machine is in dc or ac mode.

[migman69]

i dont know how to tell if the machine is in ac mode or dc mode the machine im using has one switch on the from to select from hi or low amps a dial in the middle to select voltage, and a switch to turn the machine on thats it. it is a miller

[KBar]

i dont know how to tell if the machine is in ac mode or dc mode the machine im using has one switch on the from to select from hi or low amps a dial in the middle to select voltage, and a switch to turn the machine on thats it. it is a miller

Do you know what model it is ? It should say on the front, side or a sticker on the rear.

[migman69]

ill have to look monday when i go to school and let you know the model of it , i will also post some pics of my welds too so i can get advice on themas well.