first try for a while

[BrokenBiker]

sat down with the very old buzzbox ive borrowed off my dad just now to have a go after not arc welding for a few years

using 2.5mm rods, 80ish amps and 1.2mm steel this is what i got

(ignore the blowholes, i know about them lol) had to travel fast to stop from blowing through

 

[SiPMerlin150]

You need thicker steel ideally! 3mm at least. How fast did you have to move? Normally when you blow through, it continues to cut through for the rest of the bead of weld.

 

[BrokenBiker]

well the hole on the left started small then moved with the arc

on the other runs i then picked the pace up until i thought i was going too fast, but it all seemed ok.

the hole on the right was where i started off with a fast travel, then paused, and then lifted the arc length a bit and tried to carry on but ran out of steel

i only used the thin stuff cos it saved going out and getting more steel on a back holiday. i need more rods now too so when i get some tomorrow i shall pick up some 4mm and see how that goes, but after doing this i am confident that i can arc weld good enough for making small brackets in work, which is the only reson i had a practice, so i dont look a fool tomorrow when i get set up and realise i cant do it anymore

 

[decepticon]

you will need a 200amp or so welder with heavy duty electrical connections (ie not a 3 pin 13amp plug) to properly run 4mm rods. if you are only making 'small' brackets i would have thought 3.2mm rods would be better especially if you only have a 150amps welder.
a 2.5mm 6013 electrode from bohler is recommended to run between 60-100amps-i would turn the amps down to 65ish and then try on the 1.2mm steel

 

[SiPMerlin150]

I can only imagine its like riding a bike, you never forget! Makes sure you get some decent brand rods, and keep them in a warm dry place, otherwise you'll end up dissapointed

 

[BrokenBiker]

i use a 350amp welder in work, or will be using in work anyway,

and yes it is like riding a bike, after sticking the rod a few times, i was away and it was like i hadnt stopped

those welds were done with sip rods, and i dont like them

i will be using fincord in work, and sifbronze at home ( from weldequip)

 

[SiPMerlin150]

i use a 350amp welder in work, or will be using in work anyway,

and yes it is like riding a bike, after sticking the rod a few times, i was away and it was like i hadnt stopped

those welds were done with sip rods, and i dont like them

i will be using fincord in work, and sifbronze at home ( from weldequip)

I use and recommend sifbronze rods to any other people that ask about a good all rounder, never heard a bad word about them, I fell in love with them after ditching cheap rods and trying these just on a whim...struck gold instantly and never changed since!

 

[BrokenBiker]

yeah, i used 1...just one, earlier and it was so easy to strike with, and so nice to weld with, and they are very reasonably priced on weldequip

 

[SiPMerlin150]

yeah, i used 1...just one, earlier and it was so easy to strike with, and so nice to weld with, and they are very reasonably priced on weldequip

I buy 'em from weldequip on here by the box reasonable postage and they always arrive quickly.

 

[BrokenBiker]

it works out cheaper to buy them from here with postage than it does to pop up the road to halfords or a motor factors and buy them in packs of 20, and theyre far better quality