Help! BASIC Welding question!
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: North Central Washington
Help! BASIC Welding question!
Hi, I bought a little used buzz box stick welder, and last night started to try it out for the first time.
I got it to strike an arc, but all I kept doing was getting my welding rod stuck to the sheet metal I was trying to weld. This unit is adjustable for amps, do I just need higher amps?
IT's a 115 volt unit, and was "working" like this, until I adjusted it up to 80 amps, at which it sounded like a breaker inside the welder threw (ka-CHUNK noise. inside the box...), and then nothing happened. No arc at all! I screwed around with it for a while, adjusted the amps back down etc. and was able to get it on again, but the rod still gets stuck, turns bright-hot red and burns all the coating off. Wassup with this?
What am I doing wrong? What do I need to do RIGHT? )PLEASE don't just tell me how wonderful other welders are, I need THIS one to work...)
I got it to strike an arc, but all I kept doing was getting my welding rod stuck to the sheet metal I was trying to weld. This unit is adjustable for amps, do I just need higher amps?
IT's a 115 volt unit, and was "working" like this, until I adjusted it up to 80 amps, at which it sounded like a breaker inside the welder threw (ka-CHUNK noise. inside the box...), and then nothing happened. No arc at all! I screwed around with it for a while, adjusted the amps back down etc. and was able to get it on again, but the rod still gets stuck, turns bright-hot red and burns all the coating off. Wassup with this?
What am I doing wrong? What do I need to do RIGHT? )PLEASE don't just tell me how wonderful other welders are, I need THIS one to work...)
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 999
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From: Willamette Valley Oregon
<cr>
It's a technique issue and a very common one to beginning welders. Practice is all it takes.
Sheetmetal can be tough to weld on. Practice on some thicker stuff until you get the technique down. Turn up the amps a little and strike the metal with the rod as if you were striking a match. After awhile, it will all become second nature.
It's a technique issue and a very common one to beginning welders. Practice is all it takes.
Sheetmetal can be tough to weld on. Practice on some thicker stuff until you get the technique down. Turn up the amps a little and strike the metal with the rod as if you were striking a match. After awhile, it will all become second nature.
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Senior User
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From: North Central Washington
WHat should I turn the amps up to? What size rod should I be using? I originally learned how to weld when I was about 10 years old, but haven't done it now for aobut 40 years. I used a 220 volt unit in those days though. And I never had a problem then like this. Anyhow, I have been striking it like a match, but no go....
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Willamette Valley Oregon
<cr>
Man, it's been a long time since I struck an arc but if I recall correctly..
6010 or 6011 rod - 1/8" in size - about 110 if I recall correctly
For some reason it seems that 3/32" rod was set at about 85 amps.
Your actual amp setting will depend on rod type and rod size. Some rods, like the low-hydrogen rods (7018) stick like glue for no reason. Instead of striking, I used a tap-pull technique to strike them.
What type are you using?
Man, it's been a long time since I struck an arc but if I recall correctly..
6010 or 6011 rod - 1/8" in size - about 110 if I recall correctly
For some reason it seems that 3/32" rod was set at about 85 amps.
Your actual amp setting will depend on rod type and rod size. Some rods, like the low-hydrogen rods (7018) stick like glue for no reason. Instead of striking, I used a tap-pull technique to strike them.
What type are you using?
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Senior User
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From: North Central Washington
Thanks for your help, Aekisu! So far, I have used 6013, in 3/32 and 1/16, at up to 80 amps before the breaker or whatever it was in the buzz-box went. I DO have some 6011, but the box described it as "super penetrating" so I didn't try it yet. Would it be better?
I think the 115 volt outlet I used may not have had enough juice? Anyone know WHICH house 115v outlets have more amps usually?
I don't have any heavy steel or angle iron around here, but can pick up a piece tomorrow and have another wack at getting the bead going...if you think the sheet metal may be causing me a problem.
I think the 115 volt outlet I used may not have had enough juice? Anyone know WHICH house 115v outlets have more amps usually?
I don't have any heavy steel or angle iron around here, but can pick up a piece tomorrow and have another wack at getting the bead going...if you think the sheet metal may be causing me a problem.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 999
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From: Willamette Valley Oregon
<cr>
You are using the right rod. 6013 is considered a sheetmetal rod. 6010 & 6011 are basicly the same and have more penetration.
It sounds as if you are overloading your 115v system. Personally, I would run another line and dedicate to the welder.
You are using the right rod. 6013 is considered a sheetmetal rod. 6010 & 6011 are basicly the same and have more penetration.
It sounds as if you are overloading your 115v system. Personally, I would run another line and dedicate to the welder.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
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Is it possible the rods have ever been wet? I had that problem when dad let me "practice" welding with his old junk rods. Not very instructional.
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Senior User
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From: North Central Washington
Well, I guess anything is possible, but since buying the rods a couple months ago, they have been in (brand new) unopened containers in a box in my living room. So, I doubt it. I purchased them at two different stores, and one batch was in a sealed plastic tube. I am suspecting just not enough current to do the trick yet. Which REALLY makes me wonder why in the heck the welder manufacturing company ever bothered to make this buzz-box adjust down to 25 amps in the first place, if it won't weld anything there. Go figure!
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From: New York
well one easy way to find out wich outlets have more juice is go over to yar break box and look for ones that say 20 on them most outlest in the house are 15 amp while some are 20 wich i belive is the hieghst amp ya can get in a 110 outlet legally aka by code. just flip that breaker off and see what turns off. another thing dont plug yar welder into an extension cord. I have to tell ya yad be much better off getting a flux core wire feed welder for welding off of 110 they weld much nicer at lower amps then stick and ya just cant get to many amps out of 110. I no this dont help ya to much now but i went thro the same thing. got a little 110 buzz box and it didnt work worth a darn.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
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From: Joliet, Illinois
Which REALLY makes me wonder why in the heck the welder manufacturing company ever bothered to make this buzz-box adjust down to 25 amps in the first place, if it won't weld anything there. Go figure!
It's not the first time something was sold as a nonfunctional POS!
They also sell those MIG welders Without the gas attachments to save on the cost per unit and you cant upgrade them!
I would never try to use a "stick" welder to do sheet metal.
I got a Millermatic SP 170 T the one that works off Household surrent (the dryer outlet @220V) and it can go from 24 GA/ .024 in. to 12GA/ .105 with the .025 wire and Co2 gas, and from 18GA/ .048 to 5/16 with the .045 innershield wire (no gas).
The wire feeds out automaticly and can be adjusted easily, and not much if any slag to worry about.
It's not the first time something was sold as a nonfunctional POS!
They also sell those MIG welders Without the gas attachments to save on the cost per unit and you cant upgrade them!
I would never try to use a "stick" welder to do sheet metal.
I got a Millermatic SP 170 T the one that works off Household surrent (the dryer outlet @220V) and it can go from 24 GA/ .024 in. to 12GA/ .105 with the .025 wire and Co2 gas, and from 18GA/ .048 to 5/16 with the .045 innershield wire (no gas).
The wire feeds out automaticly and can be adjusted easily, and not much if any slag to worry about.