So, I'm out in the garage this steamy, dripping wet Michigan Morning...working on a little project for Tech Week (nothing too exciting), and I hear someone call my name... Jim, our Postamn comes walking up the driveway hefting a small but fairly heavy box... He sets it on the fender of the old Chevy and I sign for the package...already KNOWING what it is...but kinda anxious to check it out anyway! Postman Jim leaves to resume his route, and I begin to peel the damp cardboard away... That********! Our Man, Kenny (choprods) said he "had some old 110v stick welder" he wasn't gonna use and that he would "hope it still works"!!! So...I open the box to find a pretty pristine looking Campbell Hausfeld package...with a new UNUSED welder inside...complete with an instruction book for ding-bats like me who don't know what they're doing! (The new, unspliced cable end gave ya away, Dude! ) Somewhere along the route, a bored postal worker musta gone for a field goal, cuz the bottom of the case is smashed in, but I don't think that will affect it's performance! Those things GOTTA be built tough, right?! Man, I don't know what ta say...except... THANK YOU once MORE, Kenny!!! I'm sure there are MANY more deserving HAMBers than me out there...but I really appreciate this! Once I get past the initial FEAR of Welding, it should be a cool new tool! Hope I make ya proud with my feeble efforts!!! You RULE, Dude!!!!!
that is great Hack!!! now grab some 3/32 6013 and some scrap steel and teach yourself how to weld! Paul
[ QUOTE ] that is great Hack!!! now grab some 3/32 6013 and some scrap steel and teach yourself how to weld! Paul [/ QUOTE ] Then once you get practiced up, get some 7018 and start working on the "artistic" part of it.... Pretty good of you Kenny, Hack might be able to make a career out of it once he builds some skills.
he must be out in the garage welding don't get frustrated if you can't get anything BUT 6013 to look decent, 6011 should work too but won't lay as smooth. the 7018 may not work at all with the 110 AC.. Paul
[ QUOTE ] the 7018 may not work at all with the 110 AC.. [/ QUOTE ] Yeah, I didn't think about that. They'll run on AC, but not on low voltage welders.
don't jab at the metal hack just kind of turn your wrist and graze it once you get an arc going, use both hands so one can brace the other so your not to shakey, just keep at it nothing better than practice practice, don't be afraid to get in close (welding beenie keeps them sparks off your head and hair) so you can get a good eye on your bead and the puddle I think its easier to learn with 6011 cause it don't have to be "dragged" and it'll keep going even if you get some distance between the metal and rod I have pretty good luck with 3/32 7018 on my welder go get yourself a chunk of plate hack and just keep flogging away at it, pretty nice of that feller (Choprods) to score you his "old" possibly non working welder!
another thing tap the tip of your rod (if its used and has some flux or crud on it) on something thats hard and not grounded to your work or you'll get flashed!!
hahaha!! well you said I could laugh! I see learning to strike an arc will be your first lesson, and holding the arc will be your second! what rod are you trying to use? Paul
sounds good, if the flux is still hard and clean all the way to the tip and it's dry you should be ok. read the directions that came with it, crank the heat up, make sure you've got a good ground, get comfortable, position the rod above where you want to weld, flip your helmet down, and gently drag the rod tip holding it at a slight angle to start the arc, pull the rod up away from the metal so you can see a short arc, 3/16" or so, and weave the arc back and forth from side to side or make little circles. with that welder it will probably start kinda cold, about halfway through the rod it'll run good and then start running too hot. just practice starting and holding the arc. do you have a helmet? or are using one of those hand held shields that come with the little welders? you have to be able to see the arc and puddle to make a decent weld, I have to wear my reading glasses under my helmet. Paul
[ QUOTE ] but still DUMB enough to reach down and grab the rod that just pulled out of the wand! [/ QUOTE ] Allright, you're going to have to get the vocabulary right first. Wands are for Witches and Wizards, "Stinger" is what most people call it... Another thing that beginners seem to have a problem with is the correct travel speed. Most try to move entirely to fast across the joint and end up with a*****py looking, skinny little bead that is full of slag inclusions and has little penetration. To give you an idea of the correct travel speed/fill rate, on structural Welds I usually get 4"-5" of bead out of a 3/32" 7018 Rod. I don't use 60 series Rods very often, but I imagine they would be somewhere near the same. Lighter metal, of course, requires less fill and you can move faster. Your best bet right now though is to learn basic technique on heavier stuff.
Somewhere,there is a chart that lists all the different Arc rods and what they are used for. So people don't try to use 7024 overhead. Some rods are DC only,some work better DC Reverse Polarity. I'm guessing you are the proud owner of an AC machine. Sooner,or later,you will need a chipping hammer and a wire brush.
One of these days you are going to have to stop coming up with excuses for not coming our breakfast get togethers. After breakfast we usually visit some shops and mine usually is on the list. While everyone is wandering around trying to steal some of my TRADITIONAL parts I could give you some pointers and let you try my machines. Starting with a stick setup is a good way to learn because all of the basics are there, but I prefer to let someone try the mig process first, I just think it's easier to get the hang of. With your setup you have to master striking and maintaining an arc. Just keep doing it over, and over, and over, and over on a flat piece of 5/16 or heavier mild steel. It's the basis for every welding procedure. When you master that then you move on to the rest. Frank
OH!! BTW get yourself a regular welding helmet so both of your hands are free. You'll need both of them when you are starting out. Just like "THE PRICE IF RIGHT" TV show behind DOOR #1 (my shop door) there will be waiting for you a standard welding helmet,FREE. I've got about a half dozen I've collected over the years and one COULD be part of your new fabrication shop. let me know when you will be stopping by to redeem your coupon. Frank
hack, my welding instructor told us to do whatever it takes to keep your welding hand steady. for me (and most folks) this would be my right hand. so get that helmet that frees up your left hand. then you can use your left hand/arm to lay your right hand on. sort of like folks use a tree, post, or whatever, to steady up a rifle when they are shooting. anyway, he drilled it into us to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to support your welding hand. at least while you're still a novice. i've been welding for years and still am not very good. but i don't get nearly as much practice as i would like. hope this helps you a bit. you've had a week to practice; post some pix and show us how well you've progressed.
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