help with new welder and rods

[johnad]

Hi everyone
I haven’t welded anything for over 20 years and needed to make some additions to an old car trailer so I went to halfords and got myself a sip 140 arc welder.
On my 1st try things went ok once I got the hang of it I managed to strike an arc and put down a reasonably good weld so I got to work on the trailer half way trough the rods that came with the welder ran out so I started to use the packs of others that I got at the same time they was branded as sip so I assumed they would be the same but had loads of trouble striking the arc and when I managed to get it going I had difficulty holding it unless the rod was almost touching the only way to keep it going was to hold the rod really close (if im making any sense).
I had a play with the amps and different size rods but still the same result
Is this me or cheap rods or could the rods be damp or something I notices that the packs they came in have open tops and are not sealed?
As I say im just a beginner and assuming the rods are the same as was included in the welder box.
I was welding some light angle and box section using 2mm rods at around 120 amps
Any help please

 

[Alfaman]

Yeah, very well could be damp flux on the rods especially if the packet has been lying about unsealed. Dry them out in the oven, don't let the missus know tho!

Oh, welcome to the forum!

 

[Porschemaniac]

Hi there - and welcome to the forum.

I had exactly the same problem with a pack of SIP rods from halfords.

Although quite adept with MIG, I have only recently started the noble art of MMA welding. Acquired myself a little Clarke inverter (actually quite good) and a pack of Clarke rods.

From the off with the Clarke rods, I had no trouble striking or maintaining an arc, however, they were only thin 2.5mm jobbies and I fancied trying my hand with something bigger.

Whilst in my local Halfrauds, I spotted a pack of SIP 3.25mm rods for under a fiver (admitedly, though, there were only 10 of them). Notwithstanding this, I thought I'd give them a whirl.

The first thing that I noticed is that they are much harder to strike an arc with. And once you get going, the arc becomes unstable very easily and soon drops out.

To be honest, I had put it down to my lack of experience in this discipline - but's it's interesting to hear that you have almost eaxctly the same problem.

Cheers,

Ian.

 

[the snooper]

even if the rod is damp once you get going the heat from welding should quickly dry out the rod. so it could be that the rods are just not much good

 

[brightspark]

i have a few diffent packs of rods. diffrent makes .the ones that dont strike up easily have gone in the bin . try difrent types then stick with the ones u are happy with

 

[shenion]

I find cheaper rods need a higher current and short arc length to work.

 

[reedx]

Hi everyone
I was welding some light angle and box section using 2mm rods at around 120 amps

I'd have though 50-75 amps is nearer the range for 2mm rods.

Colin

 

[johnad]

Thanks all for your comments I was going to try to dry the rods out but I wasn’t sure how high or for how long to put them in the oven for?
As the welder was sip with the rods I assumed the sip rods on the shelf would be the same?
Can anyone recommend the best rods to get for ease of use etc I have seen loads on ebay but I don’t want to get some and have the same problem?
With regard to me using 120 amps with a 2mm rod I suppose I was trying to get a good strong weld now you have pointed it out it douse sound a bit over the top what would be the best amps/rod to use for welding an angle trailer frame?
And is it easer to use a small rod with low amps or a bigger rod with loads of amps?
As I say im just a novice so I appreciate all your comments to point me in the right direction.

 

[reedx]

johnad

I've always used Oerlikon Fincord M, which are a good rod but relatively expensive at £35 for a 5kg box from my local supplier. I asked a similar question to you, in that I was looking for something better value but didn't want to waste my money on some no name ebay rubbish.

Weldequip (of this forum) sells these

http://www.weldequip.com/siftrode-6013.htm

I couldn't find any online reviews of them, so I asked if anyone had tried them in this post

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=18653

I'll be giving them a try next time I buy some rods.

Colin