Ok Stickies Tell me what you reckon :-)

[Engineer1964]

Oh well, Had a quiet moment at work earlier, Just finished my work and had about 3/4's of an hour to go before home time when i decided to have a bash with a stick welder, Now i've never done stick before so its all educated guesses, but i was using a Millar 140 amp invertor and esab 3.2 rods On 10mm plate

Let me know what you think, To be honest its not that hard, this weld in the picture is the best one out of about half hours practice, All comments welcomed

Just need to keep practicing a little every day

Thanks guys

 

[shenion]

Looks real good. You can see an area that you let the rod angle get a bit low as seen by the elongated ripples.

 

[Engineer1964]

Looks real good. You can see an area that you let the rod angle get a bit low as seen by the elongated ripples.

Thanks shenion, to be honest i wasn't sure of what angle to have the rod, i was trying a bit of everything, and you don't really know what you've got until you chip all the slag away.

I'm happy with what i've done so far, will keep playing when i can i can only get better with practice

 

[Paul.]

Initial electrode angle is normally about 70 deg, as Scott says the pointed ripples indicate too low an angle, there is quite a bit of spatter and a bit of undercut too so your arc gap could have been a liitle wide and / or current a bit high as well, esab make loads of different rods, what type were they?

There's loads of threads in the arc forum, as well as the arc tutorial to read through,
Here's a few to get you started showing electrode angles and some sample welds, and the progress of relative beginners to arc.

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=8869

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7664

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=10254

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7885

 

[samm]

As stated by TIG Paul it looks like in places you haven't fed the rod close enough and created splatter. I find it best to start the rod gently with a couple of taps until it strikes then pretty much ram the rod in the weld (sorry to sound so crude but its the best way i can describe) and gently pull along at around 60-70 deg. The idea is to stick metal together so if you try your best to always almost say under the weld you will always be in contact with the two surfaces rather than welding on top of weld. Hope this helps and keep at it, regards sam

 

[Barking Mat]

Did you clean up your bar first? I'm sure you did...

 

[Goodwelder]

Nice welds! They look strong! Do you push or pull the rod?

 

[Engineer1964]

Did you clean up your bar first? I'm sure you did...

NOOOOOOOO Just a couple of bits of scrap, millscale and all

 

[Engineer1964]

As stated by TIG Paul it looks like in places you haven't fed the rod close enough and created splatter. I find it best to start the rod gently with a couple of taps until it strikes then pretty much ram the rod in the weld (sorry to sound so crude but its the best way i can describe) and gently pull along at around 60-70 deg. The idea is to stick metal together so if you try your best to always almost say under the weld you will always be in contact with the two surfaces rather than welding on top of weld. Hope this helps and keep at it, regards sam

Thanks Sam, All noted Will have another practice tommorrow sometime

 

[stew]

Nice welds! They look strong! Do you push or pull the rod?

Im gonna open a can of worms....but.... i was under the impression, and taught, that it should (in nearly all cases) a pull angle for stick welding. yes you can use a slight push, and a near straight, but generally a slight pull angle is best.

 

[Goodwelder]

Drag on the downhand, vertical down and overhead but push on the vert, the welds looks ok but look as if you have tried to weave it slightly? You may find it easier to up your power a little bit and keep your arc closer, focus on the edges of the weld the middle will look after itself! Make sure you let the pool fill out all the edges and judge your travel speed from there

 

[Drains]

Drag on the downhand, vertical down and overhead but push on the vert, the welds looks ok but look as if you have tried to weave it slightly? You may find it easier to up your power a little bit and keep your arc closer, focus on the edges of the weld the middle will look after itself! Make sure you let the pool fill out all the edges and judge your travel speed from there

How would you know?

 

[Goodwelder]

Maybe because I do a lot of stick welding? Try and cut me down all you like.... If it makes you feel better go for it! Personally I let my welding speak for itself instead of giving it the big'un over the net.... <3

 

[Rrunnach]

Maybe because I do a lot of stick welding? Try and cut me down all you like.... If it makes you feel better go for it! Personally I let my welding speak for itself instead of giving it the big'un over the net.... <3

You'll be telling us, you have your ASMEIX6G eh?? Not bad for 7 months dancing with the blue lady

 

[Bsmith]

You'll be telling us, you have your ASMEIX6G eh?? Not bad for 7 months dancing with the blue lady

Lol.

 

[Rrunnach]

Maybe because I do a lot of stick welding? Try and cut me down all you like.... If it makes you feel better go for it! Personally I let my welding speak for itself instead of giving it the big'un over the net.... <3

Hey, Good-E-Nuff, sitting here sipping me Irn Brew, I thought you would like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibuLgsVcQUY

 

[Drains]

Maybe because I do a lot of stick welding? Try and cut me down all you like.... If it makes you feel better go for it! Personally I let my welding speak for itself instead of giving it the big'un over the net.... <3

I'm sure there's nothing wrong with your welding. It's the rest of the bull that people take exception to.

 

[samm]

Good to see this forum is the same as every other on the web, pointless bickering and off topic completely within one page. Handbags down ladies

 

[PTvor]

Go and check some of Goodwelder's posts on other threads and see what you make of them.

I'd say that generally there's remarkably little off topic nonsense and bickering on here.