Picked up my first welder today

[Happy Gilmore]

Arc Weld, sounds like a good idea, right now I only have 6011 rods though. I like the idea of marking the plate and trying to weld within the parallels. The DASH acronym is good also. Hopefully Friday I can get a little time to play around. I brought home a pad of 1/4 plate from last nights class. Not pretty, but it gives me something to gauge improvement as I progress.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Ha! Exactly what I plan to do... I am about 10mi away (I think) from ShieldArc and hope to invade his domain next week! No kidding.

Good for you dragoneggs, have fun, post some pics.

 

[Arc weld]

You can do a pad with 6011. Pads are also good for practicing your stops and starts. Stop half way and try to get your restart to be unnoticeable. The best way is to strike your arc about a 1/2" ahead of where you want to start and then go back to fill the previous crater. The weld will go over where you struck the arc so it doesn't matter if the start was ugly. 6010/6011 are a little different from other rods (electrodes). Normally you use a slight back and forth whipping motion with them. They are a high penetration rod so what you are doing is digging into the steel and then going back to fill it up. Done right it will have the infamous stacked dimes look. Shield Arc has posted some pictures of 6010 beads.

 

[arrow]

Done right it will have the infamous stacked dimes look. .

Never did like that look. I like when a weld looks like you just ran your finger over it to smooth it out sort of like when you caulk something.

 

[Arc weld]

That's why 6010/6011 are different and pipe lining is almost like a different trade from other welding. 6010 will never be as smooth as other rods. If you want real smooth try 7024.

 

[Shield Arc]

Shield Arc do you have an open guest room? How far from MA are you .

Happy my shop is always open to anybody wanting to learn:thumbsup:. Unfortunately I'm on the other side of the country from you. But let me make this perfectly clear! I' am nowhere near a master! I can think of at least 6 or 7 guys right here on this forum who are better at welding than I' am.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Shield Arc, I would jump on that opportunity! If I ever make it out there I'll take you up on that :thumbsup:

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Today I picked up 80ft of #1 cable, new ground clamp and quick connects at the LWS. I made up a pair of 40ft leads. Until I get my garage plug wired I can plug the welder in the basement and run the leads out the bulkhead to the driveway.

 

[Arc weld]

"But let me make this perfectly clear! I' am nowhere near a master!"

The pictures of your welding and craftsmanship don't agree with your statement.:ashamed:

 

[Shield Arc]

The pictures of your welding and craftsmanship don't agree with your statement.:ashamed:

Yet you forgot more about welding, than I'll ever know!