recommend a good thickness of stick please

[andrewj]

I believe this is my maiden voyage into the welding subforum, so please excuse my ignorant question, just here to learn.

I used a quarter inch 6014 rod arc welding some soft steel and had a hard time getting a good bead, someone suggested a slimmer rod. What do you guys think?

Took a welding class in high school. then I lived decades of life and forgot that stuff, haha. Now I am doign a little project welding and messing stuff up.

I have a arc welder - the adjustment is a little hard to manage as it is old and tends to move around. Once ai get it set it seems to do OK.

 

[Shield Arc]

I've burned a few rods in my time, but honestly can't say I've used any 1/4 inch rod. Generally if I have to use anything bigger than 5/32 inch rod I switch to wire feed.

In my opinion, average guy can get by just fine with 3/32, and 1/8 inch rod.

 

[wdchyd]

1/4" rod??......are you measuring the flux on the outside too.?...if not that's a big rod

agreed with Shieldarc, 3/32 and 1/8" is fine for most jobs

 

[Chilly807]

I generally use either 3/32 or 1/8, mostly 7014 or 6011. I use 3/32 on material under 1/8"-3/16" thick and the 1/8 on heavier stuff.

1/4" rod is pretty serious stuff, I've never even seen one that heavy. Like wdchyd said, the rod is measured on the actual metal diameter, not the flux.

You probably have the Century style welder, with the sliding current selector. I have the same type, makes me wish it was a Lincoln with the dial selector, since mine occasionally moves too.

Sean

 

[rhett]

1/8" 6013 (low pentration) lesser chance of burn through
1/8" 6011 (deep penetration) good for minimal material preperation

3/32" 6013 for thin material

Print this links info, a good reference when in question.
Rod Selector for Stick Welding

 

[Egon]

Might depend on the welder output.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Give us some more details, Andrew. What thickness of metal are you welding? What kind of problems are you seeing with the bead? What kind of rod are you using?

For my own amateur welding I usually only use 7014 or 6013. Any other kind of rod gives me results I'm not happy with. I use a rod selection table like rhett linked to to choose the rod size.