First time welding, need advice

[FT5446]

Evening all,

A few weeks ago I picked up an old arc welder from a very generous member on here and have finally got round to giving it a go.

Bought a esab A40 mask to make things easier but need to get used to the world going dark with a tool in my hand

I fitted in a quick 30 mins after work when all staff had left the building, using esab 3.2, 6013 rods on 4mm mild steel. I used voltage 100 - 140 but I have no idea what I'm doing. How do I know I'm using the correct voltage/heat?

Plan to spend 30 mins every other night until I get the hang of it.

Pic below,



First try

Second attempt

 

[Bornfree]

You look a bit fast and erratic. Slow and smooth, try holding the rod with your other hand to steady it when you start off with a new rod.

 

[Robert Mullins]

With arc welding you set the amperage, the electrode manufacturers give a minimum/maximum amperage for the electrode sizes on the box, for a 3.2/10swg I'd pump about 130 amps through it: keep your travel speed constant, and the arc as short as you can: keep at it, it will happen for you

 

[Prajna]

The tutorials button, did they mention the tutorials button? Oh, and patience, padwan, patience. And practice, practice, practice. Welcome to the club. I found https://www.wcwelding.com/arc-welding-tips.html very helpful.

 

[gaz1]

if you take a look on this post it will help you alot with rod to thickness your welding

electrode size to metal thickness size?

Hey Guys New here, but posted a few times before. Just got my first stick welder today, and Im new to welding, but Im really keen to get to it and practice. Read a few other posts on this forum about using the welder I bought on a standard 13amp house supply, and how I need to keep the...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

for your welding your going too quick due to you thinking your burning through

best advice i can give you is try welding in angle iron as it learns you a few things quickly

try this method maybe for mig but easy enough to try it with arc

 

[FT5446]

Thanks everyone

What I've learnt so far from watching many more videos including the above. The voltage needs turning up, I need to slow down, I need to use a better working angel and I'm holding the rod holder wrong. Will try again tomorrow.

 

[gaz1]

please try to support with one hand

you can rest a rod on a gloved hand and touch the metal therefore keeping it still and pushing the rod as it melts into the metal

i suffer from nerves and doing it that way helps alot otherwise rod is all over the place

you can try the pencil method as well with an arc welder holder it does work

 

[ghostdancing]

have loose arm\hand (the one that hold the torch), because you must keep the arc tight on the piece and it needs to follow the rod consumption; another way to make things easier when learning is to cut in half the rod, a shorter rod it's easier to drive

 

[Gd485]

Hi FT5446,

I agree with the posts above. Slower and smoother movement will help a lot. You will find changing the angle the rod held at makes a big difference with penetration. From the photos you are making good progress and learning from your previous runs. There is no substitute for time practicing.
Make sure you are comfortable, I prefer to sit down and work on a bench, particularly when you are learning a new welding skill. you can control your hands much better when they are supported. Another tip is to do practice runs with the power off and no mask. check how you are holding the electrode holder and the rod to the workpiece, make sure your arms don't become obstructed. Finally make sure your electrodes are dry. Put them in the oven at 120C for 30mins to make sure, sticking the arc is much easier with dry rods.