First arc welding rods / hints

[skotl]

Hi all

I've got a 150A MIG which is completely useless for anything thin, and I know it has its limits on anything particularly thick.

I spent £30 on a buzzbox from a member here and, while I know it's hardly the last word in arc welding hardware, I figured that for £30 it's worth getting to know it.

I have some 1.5mm steel box section that I'd like to use for a couple of projects but the MIG just burns holes in it, even at its lowest settings.
The good news is that I have loads of this steel section so it seems a good product to start practising arc welding on.
I'd appreciate any suggestions on the rods that I should start this practising with.

Cheers
Scott

 

[BrokenBiker]

good luck on 1.5 with a buzz box.

arc welding is not known for its capabilities on thin stuff.

it can be done though. I use 6013 rods, 2.5mm or smaller, as little amps as possible and travel fast.

better off starting on some scrap 4-5mm offcuts to begin with. it gets very frustrating when you are trying to start an arc and all you are doing is blowing holes.

 

[skotl]

Thanks BrokenBiker.

TBH, I bought the unit cos it was cheap. I'll give it a go on 6013s and if it works, it works. If it doesn't, then I'll go find another project!

Cheers

 

[skotl]

Oh! Related point (and just realised that my response to BB may have come off dismissive, which was definitely not my intention); so what if I want to go thicker?

I think my 150A MIG will do 4-6mm but I believe that an arc will do thicker, by layering welds on each other.
Now, the £30 buzz box that I have claims an impressive 10% duty cycle(!) but if I want to play at that end of the spectrum, what rods would you suggest?

Ta

 

[BrokenBiker]

what is highest amperage for the buzz box? 3.2mm rods will need up to around 120amps, 4mm will need more.

multiple runs can be done with any form of welding and works well to get the most out of your kit. I regularly use multiple runs with my buzz box running 3.2mm rods to weld 8mm and sometimes up to 12.7mm thick bars and plate

 

[skotl]

s'only 100A, and that has a piffly 10% duty cycle.

I'll get some rods and have a play, then

 

[BrokenBiker]

that will burn a 3.2mm rod, just. best stick to 2.5 and just prep the weld area and use multi passes to build up the weld

 

[Blammo]

Hi all

I've got a 150A MIG which is completely useless for anything thin, and I know it has its limits on anything particularly thick.

I spent £30 on a buzzbox from a member here and, while I know it's hardly the last word in arc welding hardware, I figured that for £30 it's worth getting to know it.

I have some 1.5mm steel box section that I'd like to use for a couple of projects but the MIG just burns holes in it, even at its lowest settings.
The good news is that I have loads of this steel section so it seems a good product to start practising arc welding on.
I'd appreciate any suggestions on the rods that I should start this practising with.

Cheers
Scott

I do 3/32 RG45 and a #2 tip.

 

[rich r]

I found that the best rods to learn to weld with are 2.5mm 6013s, with 3 or 4mm steel plate to practice on. Have a look at the guides at the top of this website, and also look for the Welding Institute videos on YouTube.

I would put that 1.5mm box section to one side for now, that's quite difficult to weld with an arc welder, taking a lot of practice so you don't just melt it. Not impossible, but not easy either. Arc is best suited to 3mm and thicker metal.