Vertical Up - Help!

[rockweasel]

Until now I have managed to stick together my projects using flat or horizontal welds. My latest project means I'm going to have to have a go at some vertical welds - and the practice sessions are not going well so far.

I'm using an arc welder and practicing using 2.5mm and 3.2mm 6013 rods as that is what I have to hand. I'm "just" trying to run some beads up a vertical plate (about 4mm thick.) No matter what setting I put the amperage at (within the suggested range for the rod), I get blobs of weld as the molten pool gets pulled down by gravity.

As I understand it, a 6011 rod is fast freeze and maybe a bit easier to use in a vertical weld, but as I don't have any to hand and 6013 is meant to be used in any position, I thought I'd have a go using that.

What am I doing wrong? Rod/Amps/Speed/Angle/Distance?
Is a vertical weld going to be strong and have sufficient penetration given that the amperage is so low?

Thanks!

 

[Davidcardiff]

Any photos

 

[rockweasel]

Any photos

I took the angle grinder to the mess to have another go. Evidence destroyed

 

[Davidcardiff]

Just tried couple runs in work @95amps with oerlikon 3.2mm overcord Z 6013 on 6mm steel t fillet Vup
slightly damp with no cleaning done to the metal worked out ok

 

[Davidcardiff]

Relax and let the weld fill out is key
Try not to rush up the hill

 

[Brad93]

Turn that hotstart down to 5% or less you're piling too much heat into the electrode on startup.

 

[Brad93]

Christmas tree or triangle method for a 6013.

 

[rockweasel]

Upped the amps and there was an improvement. A bead of sorts.

I'm not maintaining a consistent speed and I find it difficult to see what's going on except when I'm in one position (leaning over the weld, burning the rod towards me.) Many rods will be sacrificed before I learn

 

[Davidcardiff]

Turn that hotstart down to 5% or less you're piling too much heat into the electrode on startup.

Ha ha never even noticed that was turned up
Just shows how much I use the welder in stick mode these days
All mig

 

[rockweasel]

This is the best I've managed so far (the one on the RHS)
What to do, what to do.

 

[Arclikeharrypotter]

That's not bad for v up 6013 on flat! 6013 has a tendency to sag, you could buy different 6013 that would weld alot nicer in the vertical position.

You could change to dcen, that will make the puddle more controllable.