New welder

[Parsons014]

I have just recently picked up an old lincoln electric ac 225. I have never stick welded before and I am planning to learn on this machine. Any advice for me about this machine or how to get started

 

[cumbriasteve]

Just get some scrap and get going, if you have never used rods before you may find it beneficial to cut them in half, makes it a bit easier than trying to control a long rod.

Clean steel, although not as essential as MIG welding is still beneficial, making it easier to get the initial arc struck.

 

[rockweasel]

I've been trying to teach myself stick welding (I have no welding experience). I found welding videos helpful to see what I was trying to achieve. Feedback on your attempts will steer you in the right direction. Post photos on the forum for some sound advice.
I've come to the conclusion that there is a bit of black magic involved; and an offering to the god of the molten puddle won't do any harm.

 

[Kent]

Get a nice bit of plate and build a big old bead pad. Just a quick word on safety don't breathe in the fumes, wear all the proper PPE including clear specs under the welding visor as bits of hot flux pinging off into your eye is far more likely when you spend time looking at your just finished weld

 

[Richard.]

Start off with rutiles 6013
They are always best to learn with as they have good re striking characteristics. It will be too difficult in text to explain technique but watch some vids or if you have a mate that can do it some hands on tutoring will help.

 

[Richard.]

Cut rod

Just get some scrap and get going, if you have never used rods before you may find it beneficial to cut them in half, makes it a bit easier than trying to control a long rod.

Clean steel, although not as essential as MIG welding is still beneficial, making it easier to get the initial arc struck.

cut stick electrodes in half?????
I've never done that before. Surely the flux will crumble back making it a total nightmare to strike.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Cut rod

cut stick electrodes in half?????
I've never done that before. Surely the flux will crumble back making it a total nightmare to strike.

No, it works well and is a very common trick, a hacksaw with a fine blade and it hardly bothers the flux at all.

 

[Richard.]

Not something I'd advise personally as I can see if extra care is not taken the flux will crumble off the end where it's cut then it's gonna be more difficult to deal with than with the extra length. I'm not saying it's impossible as I'm sure you have done it many times over but I would advise not to cut them down.

 

[Richard.]

Arc length is probably most common issue when first starting out with the stick game. It's that whole dragging the rod while pushing it in while leaving the desired arc length gap that stumps folk in the beginning.

 

[Parsons014]

This is he welder I am going to be working with...I haven't tried it out yet because I need to get the right plug for my garage and I'm in the process of cleaning it

 

[wheresmejumper]

Not something I'd advise personally as I can see if extra care is not taken the flux will crumble off the end where it's cut then it's gonna be more difficult to deal with than with the extra length. I'm not saying it's impossible as I'm sure you have done it many times over but I would advise not to cut them down.

What you can do is snip the unfluxed bit off.this is then your new end,with a near perfect tip.
then snip at the other end or how long you want it.now break of the flux where your electrode holder will clamp to get a good connection.

 

[Bill Edwards]

The easiest way to get going is to use 3.2mm rods on 5mm plate or thicker.
You can use smaller rods, but 3.2mm are more forgiving and you will find it easier to make some welds that look half decent, rather than getting frustrated.

 

[Richard.]

What you can do is snip the unfluxed bit off.this is then your new end,with a near perfect tip.
then snip at the other end or how long you want it.now break of the flux where your electrode holder will clamp to get a good connection.

Yeah that works I suppose. Is it worth doing. Will it make much difference in the learning process. Stick electrodes are not that long even at there longest. I'm criticising it I guess because I've never done or heard of it which is a bit wrong on my behalf I just can't get my head around cutting an electrode in half unless access was an issue perhaps I'd do it.
If I found half electrodes easier to learn with I would at least burn the first half off so I did not feel like wasted them as the end result will be the same. I'd still have a shorter stick to practice with but less waste.

 

[wheresmejumper]

I had no choice really.in a welding course we were made use up half rods,not throwem away.with cellulose rods,the flux gets cooked as you burn,so reusing a half rod its a nightmare to start,they stick and arc wanders something savage. Do that trick and its avoided.
or do it to 1.6 rods as they magnify my tremors crazy