Spark but no weld

[Totalnovice]

Ok…I will claim to know nothing about arc welding. I have a harbor freight 80 amp inverter arc welder. All I can get it to do is spark and overload. For the life of me I cannot get it to weld. I have 3/32 E6011 and 3/32 E7018. What am I doing wrong? I was advised to run at the max setting. I’m trying to weld 3/16 angle iron to square tubing in an attempt to fix an ATV disc set. Pics are for reference. (No, I am not welding in the rain).

Guidance?

 

[BrokenBiker]

if the welder tops out at 80 amps, id suggest you need a bigger welder...

i run my 2.5mm 6013's on 85 amps as a general starting point most of the time (its where i find the amps and my technique seem to meet and agree)...for a fillet you would want a few more amps again...the OCV also comes into it and i know 7018s require a higher OCV and im not sure but i think they are a DC rod? may be wrong though. not sure for 6011

now add to the fact your welder may not be incredibly accurate with its estimation of the amps its providing and you may find it wont run a 2.5mm rod anyway

EDIT, you can get specific 7018s for AC use but they will be desginated as 7018AC

 

[Barking Mat]

Have you tried dragging the electrodes along clean steel to get them started ?

 

[addjunkie]

80 amps will be chinese amps…so you are probably over loading the machine. With the rod your usin* they should run at 60 to 70 amps, if your technique is good enough. Clean the job to bare metal and stroke a new rods to light it up, stead it with a spare gloved hand, to keep a short steady arc

Is the rod connected to the + or negative terminal

 

[BrokenBiker]

ok so ive just googled and 6011s apparently need 70v OCV, which i doubt an 80 amp chinese inverterwill provide, similar story for the 7018.

grab a box of 6013s and give them a go, they will run off car batteries if you need them to

 

[Totalnovice]

Have you tried dragging the electrodes along clean steel to get them started?

Yes

 

[Totalnovice]

if the welder tops out at 80 amps, id suggest you need a bigger welder...

i run my 2.5mm 6013's on 85 amps as a general starting point most of the time (its where i find the amps and my technique seem to meet and agree)...for a fillet you would want a few more amps again...the OCV also comes into it and i know 7018s require a higher OCV and im not sure but i think they are a DC rod? may be wrong though. not sure for 6011

now add to the fact your welder may not be incredibly accurate with its estimation of the amps its providing and you may find it wont run a 2.5mm rod anyway

EDIT, you can get specific 7018s for AC use but they will be desginated as 7018AC

Thank you for the information!!!