newbie with rod sticking

[pennywise]

Hi all, i have a small arc welder and i cant seem to get the arc then flow right, the rod just sticks and when i do get it going it just blows straight through the steel, what am i doing wrong? welder is a clarke not sure of power and rods are 6013 Any help appriciated thanks Matt

 

[shenion]

What size rod and metal?

 

[Sid]

Hi Matt,
what size rods and what thickness of steel?

If it's thin sheet steel, arc welding is very tricky indeed.

 

[pennywise]

Not sure of rod size they have 6013 stamped on em, metal is only 3-4 mm maybe too thin?

 

[Paul.]

6013 is the type of electrode, its just a general purpose rod suitable for mild steel, electrodes come in various sizes typically 1.6mm, 2mm, 2.4mm, 3.2mm, 4mm and so on, this is the diameter of the metal core, for most small transformer sets known as buzz boxes 2.4mm is a common general purpose size, you would need to run these at 70 to 95 amps or so, have a read through the arc welding tutorial it will get you started.
Welcome to the forum..

 

[pennywise]

Thanks all so far i bought this unit a while ago with a box of rods i think the core of the ro d i used was about 4mm, is it best to start out with smaller?

 

[Paul.]

If they really are 4mm then they are outside the capability of most, if not all buzz boxes that run off a domestic supply, check what it says on the pack, it should give you the size and recommended amperage range, what type of welder is it, and what make are the rods,
For practice you should try to get some thickish plate perhaps 4 or 5mm or thicker, so that you can concentrate on controlling the arc without burning holes. 2.5mm electrodes are ideal for learning.

 

[pennywise]

Thanks all i will get back to you with welder details, matt

 

[PTvor]

Usually, with a buzz-box there's a knob on the front to adjust the current and a scale on the top marked in amps and there are also markings for rod thickness. The markings are a fairly good guide as to which current is needed for which rod.

One of the Clarke welders only has two current settings 40 and 100 amps. If you've got that one, you'll have some difficulties using it with almost any rod because it's too limited a choice. You certainly won't be able to use 4mm rods properly.

 

[pennywise]

Its a Clarke "Easi arc" 105n, with two settings min 1.6-2 and max 2.5, is this the electrode thickness?

 

[keith19]

Yes, it is. I didn't know they made them so...basic. Here's the spec, what there is of it:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-105n-easi-arc-welder

Start with max and 2.5 rods on your 3-4 mm steel, following the good advice above and in the arc welding tutorials on here. Be aware this is the most basic of buzz-boxes, with no adjustments beyond your technique, which you will need to study and practice.

 

[razie1985]

The min and max are the welders current settings which is 40 -100 amps,
it is recommend that you only use 1.6 - 2.5 electrodes for your welder.
I wouldn't use 4mm as your welder doesn't have enough amps and this is the reason why they stick.

Also watch your arc length to big an arc will increase voltage and put more heat in to the weld.

 

[Paul.]

As Keith says, a very basic arc welder which is not going to make learning very easy, however 2.5 electrodes will run nicely at 100 amps if you have a thick enough plate to weld on, one of the main advantages of a 6013 electrode is the ability to touch weld, where you strike the arc and once running then gently rest the electrode on the plate and let it burn away at its own rate, for a bit more information and to save me typing have a look through this thread, http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7885&highlight

Edit:These two are quite useful too,
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7664&highlight

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=9653&highlight

 

[shenion]

Also watch your arc length to big an arc will increase voltage and put more heat in to the weld.

Actually, cheap buzz boxes are the other way around.

 

[pennywise]

Thanks all, the reason i was using 4mm was because i grabbed it straight out the box and didnt think to try smaller ones (box of mixed 6013) i will use advice given and get back, many thanks Matt

 

[razie1985]

Actually, cheap buzz boxes are the other way around.

didn't know that, well i haven't had the honors of using a cheap buzzbox only used a big old kemppi multiprocess.

 

[PTvor]

I think that even very experienced welders would find it hard to get good results with that machine because it only has two current settings. It's far from an ideal setup to learn with.

Sometimes buzz-boxes turn up second hand at car boots and in local ads for a few quid. Often they have something wrong such as a missing earth clamp, which is cheap and easy to replace.