Q&A for How to Arc Weld

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  • Question
    How do you determine the correct arc length for welding?
    Jones Welding & Industrial Supply Company
    Industrial Welding Experts
    Welding can be a complex and potentially hazardous activity. The information provided here is meant to serve as a general guideline, but it is crucial to prioritize safety and consult with a qualified welding specialist or instructor if you have any doubts or concerns. Welding techniques, materials, and equipment may vary, and the proper procedures and precautions may depend on specific circumstances. Welding involves inherent risks, such as exposure to high temperatures, intense light, fumes, and electrical hazards. Therefore, it is essential to receive proper training, follow manufacturer's guidelines, and adhere to safety regulations and practices. WikiHow and Jones Welding & Industrial Supply, Inc do not assume any responsibility or liability for any injuries, damages, or losses resulting from the use or misuse of the information provided. Always seek professional advice and take appropriate precautions to ensure your safety when engaging in welding activities. You can always consult with your local welding supply store to be led into the right direction!"
    Industrial Welding Experts
    Expert Answer
    Maintain a consistent distance, refer to the manufacturer guidelines, make adjustments based on the electrode type, and pay attention to the appearance and sound of the arc. Practice, practice, practice!
  • Question
    Do I have to wait until my weld is cooled down before taking off my helmet?
    Community Answer
    Generally no, it's the arc you strike while welding that has the ability to damage your eyes.
  • Question
    Can I hold (direct) the electrode while welding with my free hand that is not holding the stinger? And if I can, will it not give me an electric shock?
    Community Answer
    Not advisable. If your gloves become damp with sweat, then doing so may shock you.
  • Question
    How are the leads set up to weld steel with a stick rod?
    Community Answer
    If you are using a DC set, then connect you return, that's the one with the negative sign on it ( - ) to the work piece. This has to do with the electron flow and the control of heat. By doing this, 2/3 of the heat generated will be in the work piece and 1/3 in the electrode. There are exceptions to this; notably cast iron is sometimes welded positive return to keep the work piece as cool as possible.
  • Question
    Should water be applied immediately after the welding?
    Community Answer
    It is not necessary to apply water. If you weld the piece correctly, it will cool down and bond like it's supposed to.
  • Question
    Should I take my gloves off before removing my mask?
    Community Answer
    No. Leave your gloves on. Your work piece will be hot.
  • Question
    What causes electrical shock during welding?
    James BoBo Fuller
    Community Answer
    Electrical shocks can be caused by bad grounding of work piece. Electricity follows the path of least resistance. If the grounding is bad, the current goes through you instead of the lead.
  • Question
    Should I start at the top or the bottom when I'm welding vertically?
    Community Answer
    Start at the top, and go back and forth very slowly (horizontally) for an even more professional look.
  • Question
    Which is negative: the clamp, or the one with electrode?
    Community Answer
    In a DC welder, the clamp is the negative (the one with the minus sign), and the stinger, or electrode holder, is positive.
  • Question
    Should I push or drag the electrode?
    Community Answer
    You should drag the electrode instead of pushing it. The steel get attaches better if you push the electrode.
  • Question
    Do I need cylinders of gas to stick weld? If so, what kind?
    Community Answer
    Not for arc welding because it is an electrical arc, but there is another kind of welding called gas and setaline welding which requires gas.
  • Question
    Why might my weld not be strong when I am welding a rusty iron rod?
    Community Answer
    Oxidization is the most likely answer. Rust is going to weaken the iron.
  • Question
    What does striking mean?
    Community Answer
    Striking is the method used to initiate the electrical arc between the metal and your electrode ("stick" or "rod") so that you can begin the welding process. You can choose to strike an arc the same way you'd strike a match, or you may prefer to tap the end of the electrode on the metal instead. Some rods work better with one method than the other, so experiment and see what works for you. Always remember to wear your hood when striking an arc.
  • Question
    Why does my rod keep getting stuck when I weld?
    Community Answer
    Your electrode is not far enough away from the work piece to avoid sticking. Try adjusting just a tIny bit further out so you're floating above the work rather than touching it when you weld.
  • Question
    I would like to weld a 16 gauge plate together. What kind of electrode I can use?
    Community Answer
    16 gauge is approximately 1/16" thick. You won't be able to use a stick welder on something so thin. Instead you can use either a MIG or TIG welder, or braze it together with a gas torch.
  • Question
    How do I connect a welding machine?
    Community Answer
    You will need to connect the machine to the recommended power source first, unless you're using an engine-driven welder. After that, assuming you're using a stick welder, all you need to do is connect the welding leads. Where you connect them on the machine depends on what polarity your weld requires, unless you're using AC output. The machine will be labeled as to which lead goes where.
  • Question
    If I make a mistake beading and need to stop the process to clean the slag, do I just lay the stinger on the table with electrode still attached and the current still running? What's the proper step?
    Mzm555
    Top Answerer
    If your'e using a metal welding table (in other words your work surface itself will be electrically live), then the proper step is to always take out the electrode from the stinger before setting it down. However, ideally you would go a step further and hang or place down the electrode lead and stinger away from the welding table/workpiece (which is connected to the welding machine's "earth cable"). In the latter case, so long as the electrode is not at risk of accidentally touching the welding table/workpiece when you don't want it to, you may leave the electrode still in the stinger with the machine/current still running, so long as you remain in the area. Turn the machine off if not in use.
  • Question
    What is the best setting for arc welding. AC, -DC,+DC?
    Mzm555
    Top Answerer
    Usually DCEP, but DCEN and AC can also be used with certain electrodes - if you are welding as a hobbyist at home it's up to you for your personal preference, but if you are working at a shop/for an employer ask your supervisor what they recommend.
  • Question
    What is wrong when the alarm light is on and there is no output?
    Mzm555
    Top Answerer
    The machine has probably exceeded its duty cycle - give it a rest for 10-20 minutes and try again - read the welder's manual to confirm this is the case - if in doubt, contact the manufacturer.
  • Question
    Why do my weld rods keep sticking to the job is it that I need more practice?
    Mzm555
    Top Answerer
    Either your volts/amps are set too low for the size rod you are using, or you are holding the rod much too close to the work - turn up your settings and weld another bead, close but not too close to the metal - you will find a huge difference. Also consider what rods you are using, 6013 or Stainless rods are generally some of the easiest to stick weld with, 6010/6011 and 7018 rods are a bit harder, then aluminium arc welding rods being by far the hardest.
  • Question
    Which speed should I use when dragging the stick rod?
    Mzm555
    Top Answerer
    Hold the rod close and drag slow - practice with different speeds and you will be able to see the difference between going too fast, too slow, and "just right".
  • Question
    Why does my work sheet say to drag my electrode while welding?
    Mzm555
    Top Answerer
    Any welding process that creates slag - stick welding and fcaw to name a few - are reccomended to drag, not push, when welding. This is because the pushing action can inadvertently create slag inclusions in the weld - small pieces of non-metal slag - this can significantly weaken the strength of the weld.
  • Question
    Which is much stronger weld? Stickweld or Mig for 10mm thickness steel plate and above that carries load? Like a crane.
    Mzm555
    Top Answerer
    Both welds can be equally as strong so long as the operator(welder) has sufficient skill to weld the joints correctly and at the right settings - that being said, it would be much easier and quicker to get a strong multi-pass mig weld on a 10mm steel plate, than it would with doing multi-pass stick, where slag needs to be angle grinded off and cleaned after every pass.
  • Question
    When finishing a bead, the arc welder is still on, where do I put the live stinger and rod before going back to turn off the machine?
    Mzm555
    Top Answerer
    If you can hang the stinger and rod somewhere its not going to touch any metal, go for that, otherwise remove the rod and place both down on the table.
  • Question
    How do I know what setting to put my arc welder on?
    Mzm555
    Top Answerer
    Run a few "beads" (test runs of weld) on a scrap metal the same thickness as your workpiece. Too high of a bead profile (your weld) means you are not using enough volts/amps...turn it up a little. too flat of a bead, and burn throughs (holes in your metal) mean you are using too much volts/amps...turn it down a little. After a while you will become used to knowing what volts/amps are good for what thickness metals and joint types, also depending on your welding style. Not all welders will use the same setting, as some people weld faster or slower than others.
  • Question
    I have bought a Rohr MMA-160FI. Can I use this on a 10amp rated extension lead?
    Mzm555
    Top Answerer
    Depends on your country and plug the machine has been fitted with. If in doubt, contact the manufacturer to avoid damaging your machine and/or voiding your warranty or causing possible electrical damage/fires/ short circuits, etc.
  • Question
    What causes little beads of metal around the weld?
    Mzm555
    Top Answerer
    Little beads of metal around the weld, known as spatter, are virtually unavoidable when it comes to stick welding. However, spatter can be reduced by welding clean metal, setting the right amps and travel speed for the thickness of metal to be welded, and keeping a short arc. Spatter around arc welds can be angle grinded off afterwards, however if you want a clean weld every time without the need of any grinding afterwards, TIG welding is the way to go, however it does require significantly more operator skill and the use of shielding gas.
  • Question
    My eyes get sore and partially blind with tears running down. Any advice?
    Mzm555
    Top Answerer
    If you are having this occur, it is highly recommended that you change your welding helmet Immediately as it is likely defective. Ensure that the welding helmet you are using is rated for welding, regardless of what shade you are using on a proper welding helmet, partial blindness should never result, regardless of how long you welded for in a day. Some eye soreness however can result from using either too high (dark) a shade lens, or too low (light) a shade lens.
  • Question
    Which electrodes are used for mild steel?
    Mzm555
    Top Answerer
    Some popular electrodes used for stick welding mild steel include, but are not limited to: 6010, 6011, 6012, 6013, 7014, 7018 and 7024. Each stick electrode will have different characteristics for welding, e.g. 6010 can be only used with DC, whereas 6011 can also use AC; 6013 is considered great for beginners, as it offers decent penetration with minimal spatter and easy-to-remove slag. However, it should be only used on relatively clean steel, whereas 6010/6011 electrodes are able to be used on dirty, rusty and even painted steels (however, a clean steel surface is usually recommended to get the best possible quality weld).
  • Question
    Will the metal get hot when welding?
    Galasy4969
    Top Answerer
    Yes. Always wear proper safety equipment, which includes leather gloves. Use pliers if you need to move the metal before it has cooled off.
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