Don't Get Stuck on Stick Welding
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The foundational principles that will help beginners become good stick welders include choosing the correct electrode, properly setting up their power source, and mastering both a consistent work angle and a consistent travel speed.
Tips for the beginning stick welder
Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), also known as stick welding, has long been a commonly used process on many job sites for numerous reasons. It is a relatively trouble-free process that is tolerant of surface and environmental challenges associated with other welding processes, and relatively low-cost equipment can mean a smaller investment.
Even as wire processes and newer technologies grow in use thanks to the productivity gains they offer, stick welding remains an important process to know and understand.
Basic welding principles such as travel speed, travel angle, and work angle are critical to success, and you will see significant differences by simply adjusting these parameters. As a result, the basics of stick lay the foundation that will help you become a better welder.
This article is an exclusive feature published on thefabricator.com, August 2017. To read the full article, please click here.