First Time Welds...

[irondarren]

you do the forum good darren is that it starting to peel at the end of the vid?

yep thats a peeler but lighting in the workshop isnt so good for the camera so it doesnt show up to well

 

[Muggins the Mug]

I went along to McCluskeys (my local welding supplier) to get some decent rods. I was shocked to see all he had was 2.5mm SIP 6013's @ £17 for 5kg. Bloody horrible rods.

Anyways, it seems that he had an open box of 2.5mm Phoenix 6013's, exactly what I was after. The box weighed about 4.6kgs and was only missing a dozen or so rods. The price came up on the computer screen and I was shocked - £26 plus VAT. But fortunately I got them for just of £17 as the box was open.

Regards,

Ian.

 

[irondarren]

I have noticed there doesnt seem to be so much choice in quality welding rods. even in terms of internet suppliers. all selling el cheapo's. i guess there is far more profit in cheap welding rods than quality ones. which no doubt means people are only willing to stock quality rods

 

[Muggins the Mug]

'Tis a shame if all you can get is the cheapos, as I've found out to my cost - they're a false economy. I think I'll be using these red box Phoenix's as a bench mark till I can find something better.

Regards,

Ian.

 

[simon718]

couple of dozen blue bohlers on there way to you ian threw in a few unbranded 3.2's as well, my first welds were with them and i didnt find them too bad, see what ya think

 

[Muggins the Mug]

couple of dozen blue bohlers on there way to you ian threw in a few unbranded 3.2's as well, my first welds were with them and i didnt find them too bad, see what ya think

Hi Simon,

Thanks for that, I'll keep an eye out for them. I'll post some photos when I've had a wee bash with them.

Regards,

Ian.

 

[Muggins the Mug]

Here some photographs I took of the beads I laid with the rods Simon sent me. I used a piece of scrap 5mm steel plate for this.

The first photo is of the 3.2mm 6013's @ 115 Amps. The second photo is of the 2.5mm 6013's @ 80 Amp. I think I was a little too slow laying this bead as it's a bit on the fat side.

Regards,

Ian.

 

[simon718]

looking good Ian, you have a look at the link for those other rods? think 30kg might be a bit excessive though

 

[simon718]

Anyways, it seems that he had an open box of 2.5mm Phoenix 6013's, exactly what I was after. The box weighed about 4.6kgs and was only missing a dozen or so rods. The price came up on the computer screen and I was shocked - £26 plus VAT.

thats rediculous i pay about £15 if i rememeber rightly for a box of them, and thats just walking into the suppliers off the street

 

[Muggins the Mug]

looking good Ian, you have a look at the link for those other rods? think 30kg might be a bit excessive though

Hi Simon,

I found that they're doing them in 5kg packs too!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5-kg-welding-rods-3-2mm-E6013-general-purpose-X-ergon_W0QQitemZ220294294460QQihZ012QQcategoryZ11774QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

Regards,

Ian.

 

[Muggins the Mug]

thats rediculous i pay about £15 if i rememeber rightly for a box of them, and thats just walking into the suppliers off the street

Hi Simon,

I got them for the same price they were charging for the SIPS - £17 because there were a few missing.

Regards,

Ian.

 

[Muggins the Mug]

Hi Simon,

I gave those 3.2mm 6013's of yours another blast today. As you can see in the first photo, the slag appears to be self-releasing. I've not even chipped it away at this point, but just left it to cool down.

The second photo can clearly show gas bubbles that have formed in the slag, yet in the third photo - the weld below is clean.

The fourth photo shows the bead in it's entirety. I can see a pattern (like waves) every so often indicating that I'm still not feeding the rod correctly.

Regards,

Ia.

 

[simon718]

looks good mate, had any peelers yet?

 

[Archie]

How many amps were you using, Ian? I'm no expert at stick but that looks like it was quite hot!

 

[Sparkey]

How many amps were you using, Ian? I'm no expert at stick but that looks like it was quite hot!

Yes, quite! are you still @ 115?

 

[Muggins the Mug]

looks good mate, had any peelers yet?

Flash git. Nah, I'm still trying.

Regards,

Ian.

 

[Muggins the Mug]

Yes, quite! are you still @ 115?

That I am. Do you reckon I could lower them some what, 115 Amps is my default setting with 3.2mm.

Regards,

Ian.

 

[Archie]

It'll depend a bit on what you're welding but a little scrap like that will get very hot, very quickly so you can use less amps.

 

[Sparkey]

Flash git. Nah, I'm still trying.

Regards,

Ian.

 

[Muggins the Mug]

Hi Archie,

I'll drops the amps a little and see what I get.

Regards,

Ian.