ZENA welding system.

[deereman75]

Thank you! I've helped several people over the years pass the AWS D1.1 unlimited test, and the state welding tests. I don't think this guy believes he needs my help to learn how to weld, he bought that home study kit. But I'm not sure you can learn to weld from a DVD. Times are different now from when I learned how to weld. Geez I remember when I was impressed with a microwave oven. :laughing:

I think you can to some degree. My dad showed me the basics, and watched me burn a few dozen rods, and gave me advice. The last time he helped me, my welds looked like *****. Since then, I have watched hundreds of welding videos on youtube, mostly from weldingtipsandtricks, and learned many things from this site. With no help other then videos and forums, I can now make decent, strong (but often ugly) welds, and am able to build many things now. It worked for me, but I am sure it would have been much faster, and I would be much better if I had some lessons from a real welder. I do know an old welder who might be able to give me a lesson or two, I am going to ask him. I am sure an hour with him would make me much better.

 

[Shield Arc]

I know when I was learning to weld it was nice when someone could stand right behind me, reach around me grab my hand and weld with me holding the stinger.
Does than make sense?

 

[deereman75]

I know when I was learning to weld it was nice when someone could stand right behind me, reach around me grab my hand and weld with me holding the stinger.
Does than make sense?

Ya that does make sense to me. What I think would help me is having someone watch me weld, and tell me if I am holding the wrong rod angle, moving too fast or slow, and things like that. I dont really know anything about rod angle, so that is likely one of the things that makes my welds bad. I also cant get the speed right at times. And I also dont know how much of a gap I should be holding with different rods. 6011 I normally hold about an 1/8 inch gap, and it seems to work ok. 7018 I cant seem to figure out at all. I have tried an 1/8 inch gap, almost no gap, no gap at all, too big of a gap, I just cant seem to find a gap that works well.

 

[Shield Arc]

My take on arc length.
With 6010 it varies with which machine I'm using. My shorthoods, and the PowerArc 200 are almost identical. About 1/8-inch gap works best. But If I want a hotter more flowing puddle I'll open the arc length up a little. If I want a colder stiffer puddle I'll close the gab. Arc length is everything with 6010! With the V350-Pro I can run a tighter gap with the arc force turned up.
7018 isn't as critical, still get the same results like running 6010 when changing the arc length for a hotter puddle, or colder puddle. But I can just jam the 7018 rod right into the puddle and take off.

 

[deereman75]

My take on arc length.
With 6010 it varies with which machine I'm using. My shorthoods, and the PowerArc 200 are almost identical. About 1/8-inch gap works best. But If I want a hotter more flowing puddle I'll open the arc length up a little. If I want a colder stiffer puddle I'll close the gab. Arc length is everything with 6010! With the V350-Pro I can run a tighter gap with the arc force turned up.
7018 isn't as critical, still get the same results like running 6010 when changing the arc length for a hotter puddle, or colder puddle. But I can just jam the 7018 rod right into the puddle and take off.

Ok great, thats what I really wanted to know. What I am also wondering is what sort of rod angle I should use with 7018? I have a feeling that is what makes them so bad. I also noticed the welds with the 7018 rods often are full of porosity, this is with rods fresh out of the box, and the box was sealed in plastic. Do you think they are wet out of the box? The flux also seems to flake off the rods real easy.

 

[Shield Arc]

Rod angle is something hard to convey with a computer. OK, straight up and down is 90-degrees to the plate, if you're right handed, lay the rod over about 15-degrees to the right, maybe even 20-degrees.

Far as porosity, first thing I'd check is your arc length.

 

[deereman75]

Rod angle is something hard to convey with a computer. OK, straight up and down is 90-degrees to the plate, if you're right handed, lay the rod over about 15-degrees to the right, maybe even 20-degrees.

Far as porosity, first thing I'd check is your arc length.

I seem to recall the porosity was worse when I held 1/8 inch or so arc gap.

 

[Shield Arc]

Jam that 7018 right into the puddle, if you stick the rod turn up the amps.
You're not whipping the 7018 are you? You should have very little movement with 7018, a little side to side motion is OK to make sure the toes of the puddle wash in, but no whipping like with 6010.

 

[deereman75]

Jam that 7018 right into the puddle, if you stick the rod turn up the amps.
You're not whipping the 7018 are you? You should have very little movement with 7018, a little side to side motion is OK to make sure the toes of the puddle wash in, but no whipping like with 6010.

No I havnt been whipping it, I have been doing sort of a weave though, so I will try keeping it more still. Tomorrow I will try it again, I will also try cranking up the amps a bit.

 

[weldermike]

Whats up bud! Hows things in bc! Try starting all over with 7018. You can actually drag those rods with so much pressure that they will bend like a bow. Practice running stringers dragging the rod on about a 45deg angle, no weaving just straight stringers. Once you are comfortable with that you can venture off to experimenting. This will help you because the only thing you have to focus on is your weld puddle behind, instead of haveing to multitask with something thats giving you a hard time to begin with. Try it bud, it will definateley help get you in the right direction.