Welding

[Ryan_V]

Hi Guys,

I just picked up an old Lincoln stick welder. I've never really welded, except a couple times with my dad, and want to learn. Is there a good book out there to get me started?? I like to teach myself to do things like this and just want to get started. I have already made a few welds, and can't wait to start go get better at it!! any help to get me going it the right direction will be appreciated!! thanks

[Eric Wettschreck]

The older Lincoln buzz boxes are golden. Good little units. They make nice welds and are great for learning on.

Pick yourself up some scrap iron, 7014 rods, and start burnin em. If you're going to teach yourself there is no better teacher than time on the tool.

If you're making holes you're either too hot or moving too slow.

If you're rod is sticking a lot or you get no penetration you're not hot enough.

A good weld should look like a bunch of little semi-circles lapped on top of each other. If the circles are pointed you're running too hot.

Don't try to weld 2 peices of material toghether at first. Get some scrap and just start "Laying beads." Time will let you know when you have a good bead or a bad bead. Once you can make a good bead then start trying to weld 2 peices together.

You're going to learn a lot on your own as you make beads. Things like:

Metal moves so clamp it.

This exposed part of my arm has sunburn.

Knock off the slag.

Slag starts fires.

Use one hand to stabalize your other arm.

Etc, etc, etc.

Have fun, dude.

[redhooks]

HomeDepot has a reference book in w/ the welding stuff for about 20$, I can't remember the title or author but the guy has welded everything from airplanes to racecar frames. The book has lots of pointers about different methods, materials, and plans for project ideas. I picked up a copy and will be using it for my tech ed classes. Like Boilerguy said, start w/ some scrap to practice then you can start making toys: atv racks, portage wheels,duck blinds, icehouse frames....Good luck & Have fun!

redhooks

[stmichael]

Which is a better way to go? Not easier...better. Wire feed, or stick? This maybe a matter of opinion. I have very little welding experience (only wire feed), the welds do not look pretty but they do hold. I was thinking about making a trailer and I will be practicing a lot before attempting, I have a wire feed just wondering if I should be practicing with a stick.

[tyeeme]

Wire feed would be fine for a trailer as long as it has enough amperege IE 220v not 110v. Stick is stronger for sure wirefeed can look great but what counts is the amount of penetration wire is more dependent on keeping the metal clean and ground. Im a welding inspector and have seen some major failures that were welded both ways. If you practice enough and know what your doing. The welder operator makes the welds right not the welding machine.

[End of the Line]

I have an old Lincoln stick and a new Miller wire-feed. I like the wire feed for the fact that there's no slag to chip off and mess with. Its easier to learn on a wire feed in my opinion too and can be easier on really light gauge metal. I use alot of 6013 sticks if I use my lincoln. I agree with the posts above, start practicing on scrap.

[mechanictim]

One very, very important thing to always do is wear safety glasses under your welding helmet. Slag has a nasty tendancy to pop and send hot fragments flying just as you raise your helmet to check your weld. Since most of the time when you stick weld you are going to be grabbing a chipping hammer or grinder you will already have your safety glasses on when you wear them under your welding helmet.

[bullheadslayer]

what boilerguy said is very good advice. I've been welding for 20+ years and am still learning. Stick with black metal not anything galvanized or stainless because they are different beasts, start with something easy and practice!practice!practice! You WILL get frustrated but dont give up. Make sure you keep the first pieces of metal that you weld so you can look back and shake your head at them a few years down the road. Mechanictim is very right about the safety glasses, I will add to what he said by telling you to wear leather shoes and a long sleeve shirt with a top button that should be buttoned because when that weld cools or when you chip the slag off the weld the slag can go flying and end up in an eye(been there) or down your shirt(done that) and having slag taken from your eye by a doctor is no fun and slag down your shirt always ends up someplace you cant get too quick enough and a third nipple is not what most men want on a man.

[PierBridge]

Don't forget about the dreaded sandman.....in others words don't let you or your buddies stare at the welder or you'll be up all night pooring water on your eye's....

[iffwalleyes]

Books won't do you much because it is all done with your hands. You just need to start playing around with it. You should be able to find out explanations of different rod numbers and what they mean. Once you know what the rods mean you are set. Then it is just practic. As mention a wire feed is easier but a arc you can used in more situations but it takes more practic using though.

[Ryan_V]

thanks for all the info. walked through my woods and found some scrap iron and tried my hand a little. not bad for a beginner, but I have a long ways to go!! thanks so far...anyone else??

[Ryan_V]

new question, what about rods. how do you know what to use as far as a rod goes. I understand that a 6011 1/8 inch rod is pretty standard. does the rod size go with the size of the iron you are welding?? or is it just the smaller the rod, the less heat you need???

[ScottL]

Boilerguy is right on, in what he said. In my opinion 7014 rod is the absolute easiest rod to use followed by probably 6013. I cut my teeth 20 years ago with those two rods. The two most common diameters are 1/8" and I believe 3/16" . Rule of thumb thick steel, thick rod. Thin steel, thin rod. A thinner rod allows you to use more amps on thin steel without blowing holes in it. As to other rods, they all have different applications and some work better in DC mode of an AC/DC welder, when you are doing for instance overhead welds.

To be honest since I purchased a large wire feed welder(Lincoln SP-250, 460V) about 10 years ago. I have only used my Lincoln stick welder once and that was because it was outside and very windy.

[Eric Wettschreck]

If you're just learning how to run a bead I highly recommend staying away from a 6011 rod and burn some 7014's. They are pretty much the easiest rod to learn with on regular carbon steel. Grab a bundle of 1/8"-ers and start burnin em.

[Ryan_V]

thanks boilerguy!! I've been trying to weld with some 6011's dad grabbed for me. I am having trouble with them, so I bought some 7014's, but haven't layed any beads yet with them. what is the difference between the 6010's, 6011's, 6013's, 7014's, 7018's etc, etc, etc. Dad says only to use 6011 1/8 inchers, cuz everything I'll be welding will be used scrap and rusty trailers. I appreciate all you help dude!!!

[iffwalleyes]

this should answer alot of your questions on what rods to use. It is lincolns product list for rods. I know that I learned to weld on 6013 rods. I believe the way the numbers work are the first two are the tensile strength of the weld. I think the third is the type of metal and the last is the number that represents the welding position cause some are made for flat welding some are for vertical and some are a all position rod. I believe the 6013 is a all position rod.

http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/consumableseries.asp?browse=104|2030|

[1luckydad]

The 6010’s work the same as the 6011’s except are made to be used with dc reverse polarity only. Your father is right that 6011’s are good for dirty rusty metal. Just use the grinder and clean it up a little before welding with other rod.

6013’s can be used with ac or dc of either polarity. They are nice to weld with and are easy to make a pretty weld with; they are not deep penetrating though.

7014’s can also be used with ac and dc of either polarity. This is a fast fill rod. Meaning it will lay down a good bead to fill a gap fast.

7018’s are made to be used with ac or dc reverse polarity. These are low hydrogen rods so can be used on hardened metal. The 7018’s are probably the most used rod for repair, construction, and manufacturing. One issue with the 7018’s is the flux likes to absorb moisture from the air. Most places store them in an oven of sorts to keep them dry. Mine just sit in the garage in a plastic container, and they seem to work okay. When I think of it, I will lay them on the wood stove in the winter for a while. Don’t Know if it helps or not. It doesn’t hurt though.

Welding is an art of sorts. Some people (me) can practice and practice, and still never make those pretty perfect looking welds that seem to come to others naturally. Try to create some goofy lawn sculptures or critters of sorts out of scrap and junk that you find around. Good practice and if it falls apart just weld it again.

Good luck.