Stick welding help

M

Mig4lfe

New Member
Member
Hi,
I have been MiG welding for quite a while but have just recently gotten serious about stick welding. This is 7018 dc- I was wondering if I could get some help. I know I have to do more prep work lol. But I was wondering what I could do and how you should manipulate the rod.
Thanks
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3016.jpeg
    IMG_3016.jpeg
    121.5 KB · Views: 7
  • IMG_3015.jpeg
    IMG_3015.jpeg
    149.7 KB · Views: 7
  • IMG_3014.jpeg
    IMG_3014.jpeg
    279.1 KB · Views: 7
Mig4lfe said:
Hi,
I have been MiG welding for quite a while but have just recently gotten serious about stick welding. This is 7018 dc- I was wondering if I could get some help. I know I have to do more prep work lol. But I was wondering what I could do and how you should manipulate the rod.
Thanks
Click to expand...
I'm MOST certainly NOT a professional welder, but I myself see the need for more amps (heat) and slightly wiggle tip of rod side to side, no more than 1/16 to 1/8".
 
Mig4lfe said:
Hi,
I have been MiG welding for quite a while but have just recently gotten serious about stick welding. This is 7018 dc- I was wondering if I could get some help. I know I have to do more prep work lol. But I was wondering what I could do and how you should manipulate the rod.
Thanks
Click to expand...
My son is in welding now. He's watched and practiced techniques off YT videos.

He learned a bunch from this page here. Just like @olcowhand stated about the wiggle, there are neat things you can do if you know how to CURSIVE write. Cursive is a dead art now in writing, but it's the #1 trick on getting welds looking PROFESSIONAL.

Go thru all of this here, it is important to know.

10 Easy Tips & Tricks for Improving Your MIG Welds | UNIMIG Welding Guides & Tutorials

At UNIMIG, we focus on pioneering the way of high-quality and innovative welding products and supplies. 100% Australian Owned since 1985.
unimig.com.au unimig.com.au
 
Mar 23, 2016
One of the most elaborate music videos made. Over 50,000 people in organized 'Flash Mobs' in over 25 countries danced to 'All Over The World', a 1980 hit by the British Band E.L.O. (Electric Light Orchestra)


 
Last edited:
Then what is the difference between arc, wire and gas as far as wire/stick control?

I have smaller wire welder and can get tons of splatter without even trying. As for gas, have no clue. Arc I can make things stay together, though not purty most of the time. Can do a fair job with a torch and brass or steel rod.
 
I've been welding for most of my life. Neighbor taught me to weld with a torch when I was ten and metal fabrication has been part of my living ever since. My eyes are the issue now. Hard for me to determine were a crack is at so I trace over it with a 4" or die grinder before welding. Looking at the welds I do now is kind of frustrating knowing I used to be much better. Shaky hands and poor eyes. Bummer.
 
chieffan said:
Then what is the difference between arc, wire and gas as far as wire/stick control?

I have smaller wire welder and can get tons of splatter without even trying. As for gas, have no clue. Arc I can make things stay together, though not purty most of the time. Can do a fair job with a torch and brass or steel rod.
Click to expand...
Are you using gas with your wire feed welder ?
If not you're probably using flex core wire which is gasless...
Splatter is almost inevitable with flux core. You still have to chip the slag. The welds can look very good but just so much cleaning..
I used a lot of gas shielded flux core wire .045 at one time and it welds and looks nice but you're still chipping slag. You can burn it in better than your standard .030- -.035 wire.
 
This welder is flux core, .30 if I remember right. I spray the weld area down good to make the splatter release a lot easier but still extra work. Gas welder are upwards of $800 bucks and I don't use on often enough to justify that expense. I would want to use on first to know if it would help my welding, probably not.
 
chieffan said:
This welder is flux core, .30 if I remember right. I spray the weld area down good to make the splatter release a lot easier but still extra work. Gas welder are upwards of $800 bucks and I don't use on often enough to justify that expense. I would want to use on first to know if it would help my welding, probably not.
Click to expand...
You can still be good and have a good looking weld with flux core.
And no gas doesn't necessarily make you a better welder..
Two big advantages with flux core is you can weld outside in the wind with no ill effects..
And also I believe flux core may be a little more expensive than solid wire but still a lot cheaper than buying gas.
 
I stayed out of this thread because I don't have a stick welder anymore. I build some stuff in my shop when I had one, mainly my bridge crane. Had some previous experience with stick on race cars and welding cages for concrete reinforcement.

I had a feeling the original poster of this thread was gonna flake out and he did.

Bought a Lincoln wire feed at least 15 years ago now that was set up for flux core. Used it that way quite a while but doing some research it seems flux cores are barely capable of welding auto body panels as they burn hotter. Some can successfully do it but I never could. Made the gas conversion and got much better results, but I've gotten so old and shaky that getting great looking welds seem to be a thing of the past. I'm kinda like Rog now, if it holds together I'm pretty happy! Still don't think I will switch back to flux core though. I like the cleanliness.

DAC
 
I would like to go to a gas welder but would have to find a decent one at an auction at a good price to make it worthwhile. I don't like all the splatter I get with the flux wire even though I use the so-called NAPA anti splatter spray. When I want nice clean welds, I take it to my friend at the welding shop. I still have a Lincoln tombstone stick welder that gets used a couple times a year - maybe.
 
I had gas capable wire welders for years but no gas. A few years ago I finally bought s bottle, and I'll never go back to flux core. Welds are lots nicer and maybe stronger. I say maybe as I've never had a failed weld. May break close to weld, but never the weld itself. With gas there's no cleaning between multiple passes, and very little if any splatter. A tank lasts a long time too! I do still have a small HF flux core welder I use occasionally for little jobs where I can easily carry the 15 pound 110 welder where I need it, but only gets used 2 or 3 times a year. I use stick only on heavy metal welding which is a 300 amp old Hobart monster that also does water cooled TIG, but haven't used TIG in years due to not good enough steady hands.
 
chieffan said:
I would like to go to a gas welder but would have to find a decent one at an auction at a good price to make it worthwhile. I don't like all the splatter I get with the flux wire even though I use the so-called NAPA anti splatter spray. When I want nice clean welds, I take it to my friend at the welding shop. I still have a Lincoln tombstone stick welder that gets used a couple times a year - maybe.
Click to expand...
What is your flux welder, Rog? It might be convertible to gas like my Lincoln was. Just bought a solenoid, different gun nozzle shield and HF gauges. Had to have some hose too of course. Then I built a bracket to hang the bottle on my cart and of course needed solid core wire and some tips. It worked out perfectly---better than the operator. I just use the small bottles. I forget what size they call them. Don't weld enough to justify bigger ones.
Linclon 155 017.jpg

Linclon 155 018.jpg

Linclon 155 019.jpg

DAC
 
Last edited:
MFDAC said:
What is your flux welder, Rog? It might be convertible to gas like my Lincoln was. Just bought a solenoid, different gun nozzle shield and HF gauges. Had to have some hose too of course. Then I built a bracket to hang the bottle on my cart and of course needed solid core wire and some tips. It worked out perfectly---better than the operator. I just use the small bottles. I forget what size they call them. Don't weld enough to justify bigger ones.
View attachment 91596

View attachment 91597

View attachment 91598

DAC
Click to expand...
I have a little Lincoln just about like that...
Might be an older model..not sure off hand..
 
My flux welder is a cheapy from HF. One they had on sale for I think $69. about 10 years ago. Chicago Electric if I remember right. Has a Hi/Lo switch, on/off and a wire feed control. It is their Flux 125 now for $119. Had a small Lincoln that I could not make do anything but stick the wire to the metal. Gave it to the boy and he loves it for small stuff. My big problem is all self-taught in all the wrong ways.
 
Last edited:
chieffan said:
My flux welder is a cheapy from HF. One they had on sale for I think $69. about 10 years ago. Chicago Electric if I remember right. Has a Hi/Lo switch, on/off and a wire feed control. It is their Flux 125 now for $119. Had a small Lincoln that I could not make do anything but stick the wire to the metal. Gave it to the boy and he loves it for small stuff. My big problem is all self-taught in all the wrong ways.
Click to expand...
Mig welding with Blueshield gas is night and day difference over flux core. I only use gas as most my welding is on sheet metal to avoid splatter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top