[TheForge] RE: Welding

[frosty at customcpu.com]

A couple things about E60xx rods:

They don't generally make pretty welds, they're generally heavily ridged. It's 
one reason folk overamp it, trying to get it to lay smoother.

You HAVE to weave/flag. (whatever moving the rod around to keep the puddle 
where it needs to be is called these days) Whether you're welding with a 
torch, mig, tig or stick the same basic rule applies: Make a puddle THEN fill 
it in.

60xx series rods tend to have arcs that jump around as the resistance changes 
so you have to keep it aimed where it needs to be to keep an even sized 
puddle. Most typically the flagging pattern looks like a series of arcs 
connected at one end in a zig zag pattern. There are a LOT of patterns to keep 
the puddle where it needs to be, especially when welding vertical or overhead.

In short you can't just aim the rod/wire at the meddle of the joint and expect 
a good weld, especially with 60xx series rods. The dangerous aspect of mig 
welders to make pretty welds no matter where the wire hits or where the puddle 
lays. Migs tend to follow the path of least resistance too so the arc wants t 
stay on one side of the joint and cold lap the other. This is why migs are 
kown as the lawyer's welder.

Basically what I'm saying is don't confuse pretty with good welds. 7018 or 
migs have the ability to lay down beautiful beads that won't hold for spit. 
While some rods like 6013 lay down pretty darned homely welds that will hold 
beyond what the parent metal will.

Frosty


Quoting Bob Ehrenberger <eforge at centurytel.net>:

> 
> I haven't had very good luck with 6013. I would lay down what I thought was
> a nice weld and then when I chip off the flux it would be horrid. It tends
> to jump from one side to the other and not stay in the middle. I'm sure it's
> my fault but thats what happens when I use it.
> 

> Robert Ehrenberger
> Shelbyville, Mo.
> eforge at centurytel.net
>