Professional Documents
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These are questions likely to be asked by a beginning welder. I will not get too technical,
yet I will cover what I feel that you need, & what you want to know. I will be adding more
from time to time. "Contact me" via the blue button on the left to ask questions that I
haven't covered.
Latest Questions:
Why can't I see the puddle?! (I get lots of people asking this).
* First check & clean the helmet lenses.
* Get as close as possible, reposition yourself or the work-piece.
* Check for "fingernailing", where the rod coating is extending beyond the metal end of the
rod. Break it off & try again. If it continues, get another rod. (don't store your rod outside
unless you have a warm, dry place for it).
* Slag in the way? Try to slope the job a bit, angle the arc more, or turn the AMPS up.
* Maybe you're using the wrong rod? Check it. I welded for the first time earlier last year
with 6013 & I'll never use it again. I had LOTS of troubles. I changed to 6011 & no further
problems.
* When using a cutting torch, do you bring the torch toward you or away from
you?
1) Sometimes you might need to do either due to conditions you're working in. Normally
you would be cutting cross-ways or at least somewhat toward yourself.
2) I'm left-handed so I cut from left to right. But I usually don't direct the torch & the
sparks directly at myself. That can tend to get your clothes on fire.
3) Cutting away from yourself is more difficult because you can't see as well, as to what's
going on.
* How long do you need to keep a fire watch after welding or cutting?
1) A lot depends on the surroundings & conditions:
* At our sawmill, my helper went to "relieve" himself after we just finished welding.
* A few minutes later, I was running water on a fire that started on the floor below!
* Luckily, I got it out before things got out of hand! (and before the helper returned).
2) I usually "look & smell" things in the area, between each rod that I run.
3) Just STAY in the area for awhile & finish removing slag, grinding, etc.
3) By THAT time, you can probably leave, after making one last circle around the area.
3) Here's a good welding question: What am I looking for through the helmet?
* You need to wait momentarily when you start a weld, to allow the puddle to form. The
puddle is molten metal that should be roundish & clear.
* If you see slag coming into it, it can look pretty mixed up. Angle the arc more toward the
slag to help keep it away. You may also be going too slow.
* You're also looking at bead width of maybe a couple times the diameter of the rod. Oh
yes, you need to SEE where you're going so you are welding the pieces together & not
running somewhere else!
* Once you have welded several beads, you can concentrate more on running them nicer &
straighter. At first get the puddle going bright & clear & not too wide, THEN work on the
finer points.
7) Please answer this welding question: My tack welds don't hold very well, why
not?
* First don't use 6013, because that was MY first clue that something was wrong.
* Generally, it's either because you aren't running the weld long enough or you're not
sweeping across enough to catch both pieces.
* Having too low of an AMP setting, can be a problem too.
1) This isn't actually a WELDING question, but why can't I get a clean cut? It's hard
to get the pieces apart.
* You may be too close to the work. Just let the tips of the blue flames touch the metal.
* You could be going too slow which lets the metal re-join & not clear out.
* If you're too fast, the flame moves backwards & doesn't cut straight down, & therefore it's
not clearing a slot as it goes along.
* You're at a good speed when the sparks are either going heavily straight down or slightly
ahead of the flame.
* Make sure the tip orifices are clear, that you have 40 PSI oxygen pressure, & 12 PSI "gas"
pressure.
* AND PRACTICE MORE!