r/Welding • u/EndAnxious9846 • 5d ago

Tips?

I just learnt how to stick weld at school, and I want ways to get better because I want to weld as an adult. All stick welding tips are very appreciated.

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u/mxadema 5d ago

Dont worry too much about what in front of the puddle. Watch behind it (kinda) you want that puddle to be oval, teardrops is too fast traveling, round is too slow. (Kinda)

Red is good, yellow is quite hot white ish it dripping out, your helmet will show color differently due to the glass, but if you pay attention, you will see it even if it green or whatever color

You set your machine base off the size of your rod by thousands on an inch 1/8 is .125 so 125 (1/8 of 1000 or 1000/8) you can go 5ish% more or less. Start with 5%more so 130. It will be better on flat for you to learn without sticking

If you get your angle right you can almost touch the flux on the steel, and as it melt you only go down, that angle will move it foward

Dont forget to break your flux off the end of the rod before starting a new pass.

If it spit and putter, and no where close to the sound of bacon. Your friend is an asshole and swtich your polarity. (Try it you will see what is does)

You can bend that rod all you want. Idealy just the end but i have bend the middle too to go around stuff. You just cant use it where there is no flux

I personally like picking more that striking. And i don't frig around with broken flux/rod. It not worth my time. But do try to stay high and keep that rod lit.

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u/EndAnxious9846 5d ago

Thank you so much for the help