Stick Welder Hall of Fame ...

[JerryK]

If, somewhere on the planet, there is a Stick Welder Hall of Fame...... there should be a corresponding Stick Welder Hall of Shame ... I respectfully enter my name for the latter. Good wishes do not overcome no talent or no patience with stuff thinner than 1/8". Someday I am going to have to get me a wire feed.... [ sniff ]

 

[Rebeldad1]

not sure where you are going with this....
a stick welder is pretty much useless on sheet metal even with smaller than 1/8" rod.
With all the stuff you have listed a wire feed would pair well with them...

 

[cqaigy2]

It's funny, when i think back. Now this was many years ago, so i maybe a bit vague, but i seem to remember, i'd grab a stick when welding dirty or heavy. But i do remember using a big portable reel with long heavy leads, you crank that amps way up and used a knob on the reel to vary the wire speed. Wire was heavy gauge flux cored. Used it on heavy structural pieces on buildings, typically one pass.

 

[gsganzer]

I've actually had some pretty good success lately welding 14ga. with 3/32" 6011, polarity DCEP and amps will range from 55 to 62. You have to quickly establish a puddle and then move pretty fast, weaving the electrode into the puddle and then ahead, in-line with the travel. And don't be afraid to stop the weld if it's getting too hot and you think it will blow a hole. Easier to let it cool and then restart, rather than blow a hole and fight with filling it.

 

[JerryK]

I tried 1/16" 7014 at 60 amps with my old Lincoln AC [ home made diodes hooked up EP ] .... Worked OK if I got on got off fast, sort of spot welding. But, with my usual competence, I had several holes to fill in butt welding some thin stuff... Just no patience. Getting better helmets and flame retardant jackets does not help my old eyes and lack welding skills.... Just too much of a farm type welder

 

[BrokenTrack]

Stick welding is great, if only because it is a more difficult welding skill to master, but if a person learns that, then they have less trouble with the other processes that are much easier to master.

95% of the students we get have no background whatsoever in the industry, nor have they ever struck and arc before using anything, so we start them with stick. In part because of what I just said, but also because it is a process that all welding shops have as a weld certification requirement. One of the shipyards we have an affiliation with, uses stick for 70% of what they weld, which is US Navy Submarines.

 

[fried1765]

Stick welding is great, if only because it is a more difficult welding skill to master, but if a person learns that, then they have less trouble with the other processes that are much easier to master.

95% of the students we get have no background whatsoever in the industry, nor have they ever struck and arc before using anything, so we start them with stick. In part because of what I just said, but also because it is a process that all welding shops have as a weld certification requirement. One of the shipyards we have an affiliation with, uses stick for 70% of what they weld, which is US Navy Submarines.

General Dynamics builds subs near you, at Bath Iron Works?
I thought they built only surface vessels at Bath, and Nuc subs at Groton, CT.

 

[BrokenTrack]

General Dynamics builds subs near you, at Bath Iron Works?
I thought they built only surface vessels at Bath, and Nuc subs at Groton, CT.

You are indeed correct, but the US Navy rebuilds submarines at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. They do mostly stick welding there.

 

[MH8675309]

Stick welding is great, if only because it is a more difficult welding skill to master, but if a person learns that, then they have less trouble with the other processes that are much easier to master.

95% of the students we get have no background whatsoever in the industry, nor have they ever struck and arc before using anything, so we start them with stick. In part because of what I just said, but also because it is a process that all welding shops have as a weld certification requirement. One of the shipyards we have an affiliation with, uses stick for 70% of what they weld, which is US Navy Submarines.

Agree 100% and have said this for years, Very similar to learning to drive a vehicle - with a stick shift. Ive met lots of people who can drive an automatic but cant drive a manual. There isnt much you cant drive if you know how to drive a stick shift.

 

[JerryK]

Agree 100% and have said this for years, Very similar to learning to drive a vehicle - with a stick shift. Ive met lots of people who can drive an automatic but cant drive a manual. There isnt much you cant drive if you know how to drive a stick shift.

I have been driving stick shifts since time began, back when we used to rub sticks together to start cooking fires..... [ still no patience welding thin stuff ] Got the door beat fairly straight, somewhat welded together, covered in black paint, and back on the machine.. Not proud of the welds, but works. Thank God for no close up pictures and black paint....