Stick-welded today, and THOROUGHLY enjoyed it!

[Sodo]

Yesterday I ran out of MIG wire, mid-project, and was really bummed. Getting more wire would take at least 3 hours, and I did NOT want to get in the truck for 3 hours, or pay $60 for what I can get on Amazon for $30. Went in for the night, and in the morning, remembered I had some 7018 rods stashed away (for a project that I thought required stick). After a little trouble getting plugged into the 220v receptacle on the generator I fired up the stick portion of my Miller MultiMatic 200. Was suprised how enjoyable it was to blast that big ole' rod onto the work. And that welding was like riding a bicycle. Other than one time, and one rod, a year ago, the last time I stick welded (more than one rod) was in 1979, 36 years ago.

And then the other part I enjoyed was every weld is like Christmas. What're you gonna get when you take off the wrapping? And the colors, and the shine. Trying to chip it off without denting the weld. It was thoroughly satisfying day. I can see why you guys like your stick welders, even those with a MIG.

I weld a lot with .065 tubing though which (as I recall) is not as much fun with stick. Also the tacking part with stick reminded me how nice a MIG is, how much faster you can work. It is possible, however that I might be wrong and .065 is fun too with a stick.

The project is a small log dolly over in "Build it yourself".
I used 1/8" 7018 rod, 90v, 100A, DC. I'm going to stock up on rod, am I using the right rod for DC? What else should I get?

Here's some pics.

 

[MossRoad]

That's purty!

I like my MIG for tacking stuff up and I like my stick for sticking it. And you are right about chipping off the slag to see how well you did... just like Christmas, or as is many times in my case, April Fools Day! :laughing:

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Very nice looking welds! There is something satisfying about burning rods though I just can't put my finger on it. Although, I do need to get some sort of exhaust fan installed because I definitely had a cloud going in the garage on my last project!

 

[flusher]

Nice looking welds.
I use a $30 pneumatic needle scaler from Harbor Freight to clean up my stick welds. Less damage to the weld compared to hammering the scale off.

 

[Big Barn]

Very nice looking welds! There is something satisfying about burning rods though I just can't put my finger on it. Although, I do need to get some sort of exhaust fan installed because I definitely had a cloud going in the garage on my last project!

I will have to totally agree with you on all three points you made.

Terry

 

[gwiley]

You asked what else to have around:

I keep some 3/32" 7018 and 7014 for dealing with some smaller gauge metal.

Pick up some 7014 - it is really nice to run if the bead is horizontal and you just need to lay down some glue and when working with sheet metal

6011 is great for roots on rusty steel, then cap with 7018. 6011 burns through paint and other crud nicely for farm work - saves a ton of time

 

[k0ua]

You asked what else to have around:

I keep some 3/32" 7018 and 7014 for dealing with some smaller gauge metal.

Pick up some 7014 - it is really nice to run if the bead is horizontal and you just need to lay down some glue and when working with sheet metal

6011 is great for roots on rusty steel, then cap with 7018. 6011 burns through paint and other crud nicely for farm work - saves a ton of time

+1 on all of that.

Now Sodo, looks like you are well on your way to becoming a pro stick welder. Its's kind of fun sometimes. Not when it is a hundred degrees, or in the rain, but most of the time it is pretty neat.

 

[gwiley]

Nice looking welds.
I use a $30 pneumatic needle scaler from Harbor Freight to clean up my stick welds. Less damage to the weld compared to hammering the scale off.

I use the ball side of a ball peen hammer - gets most of the flux off without gouging it the way the chipping hammer does. Often a good solid whack with the ball peen hammer knocks it all loose from the impact.

 

[nybirdman]

If you are going to purchase stick rod; 1/8 "6010(5P) and 3/32" low hydrogen run at the same heat.Tack and or first pass with 6010 and finish with LH.This is for a DC machine.

 

[CNC Dan]

If you are going to purchase stick rod; 1/8 "6010(5P) and 3/32" low hydrogen run at the same heat.Tack and or first pass with 6010 and finish with LH.This is for a DC machine.

That's what I was about to type.

Long ago, I took a welding class, and all we used was 6010 and 7018.
Students asked why not use some of the other rods. Answer was that if you can run these two rods, you could run any other rod.

Sodo: If you have a Tractor Supply nearby, they carry small packs of 1/16" 6011 and 1/16" 6013 if you want to try stick welding thin walled tube. I like to cut them in half, as they are too flexable and wippy at full length.