Correct Amperage for Welding?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,385
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From: Mercer County, OH
Correct Amperage for Welding?
Is there a "rule of thumb" for setting the correct amperage on an AC welder?
-For example; welding two pieces of 3/16" mild steel with 6011 rod. What would be a good setting?
-For example; welding two pieces of 3/16" mild steel with 6011 rod. What would be a good setting?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,493
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From: SE Iowa
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 626
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From: Rome, GA
The best way I have ever heard it described to tell whenyou have it close is that it will sound like bacon frying. You can tell if it is to low because it will spit and sputter and want to stick. If it is to high it will be blowing the weld pool out and gouging into the metal. Every machine is different. You can get a amperage range that will be close but it takes practice and getting used to your machines characteristics to get it set right. You should be ablr to establish a good uniform weld pool (the molten metal) without it sputtering or trying to gouge out. Remember the sound of bacon frying, you should be getting close. Thats the way I learned, I'm sure there are others with equally god ways of getting it set right.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
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From: The Big, Oregon
There is an amperage range for each size of welding rod, then work within the range, lower amps for thinner metal. Then you have to adjust the amps for the position, whether it's vertical, horizontal, overhead, or flat.
Aside from that, you also have personal preference. I tend to run my welds cold most of the time, but usually run overhead hot to keep it running. Of course, if I am working on something thick in flat or horizontal, I will crank it up and burn the weld in.
Aside from that, you also have personal preference. I tend to run my welds cold most of the time, but usually run overhead hot to keep it running. Of course, if I am working on something thick in flat or horizontal, I will crank it up and burn the weld in.
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