How To Get Good At Stick Welding

Weld splatter is not a good look mostly you will get weld splatter during arc or stick welding and even with the best MIG welders.

How to get good at stick welding. The stick in stick welding describes the consumable filler rod thats coated in flux. Use a wire brush or grinder to remove dirt grime or rust from the area to be welded. Recently when I purchased the new Miller Bobcat 225 I knew that I needed a long set of leads.

When you stick weld you must strike the arc like a match using the stick which can be hard to do. Stick welding can be used both indoors and outdoors. Ignoring these steps hurt your chances to make a good weld the first time.

This means that you will spend less money on the leads than a rig welder would. You can get shocked while welding. On top of that this is the most economical welding process which is also why most welders opt for it.

Choose a Joint Position and Electrode that is Conducive to the Metal. For most of the stick welding applications you need to connect your electrode lead to the positive terminal and ground lead to the negative DCEP connection. Connect the work clamp as close as possible to the area you wish to weld.

Flux is used when welding with the stick welding process and when using flux core wire on a MIG welder. A beginning stick welder can produce better welds by paying attention to the five basic elements to establish a good consistent technique. Avoid allowing the welding circuit to pass through hinges bearings electronic components or similar devices that can be damaged.

With the correct current set on the welder machine you should get smooth neat welds with little or no splatter. If you decide to weld aluminum with a stick welder the material needs to be thick enough to handle the electrode. When welding on 10 to 18 gauge sheet steel the fastest travel speeds are obtained with the work positioned at a 45 to 75 degrees downhill angle.