Ask your WELDING questions here.

[slackmeyer]

Newb question here:
A friend was moving, and gave me an older Lincoln buzzbox (A-225S, I think the model is), and a big (open) box of 7018 electrode, probably open in a humid climate for the last 15-20 years. I think it works, though I'm still waiting for the local utility to give me a new service drop so I have 220v at my house.
Anyway, I've never stick welded before, though I've done a bit of some other types (mig and tig, and a fair amount of gas welding). This seems like a decent enough welder to play around on and make some functional stuff. If it doesn't work for me, I'll try to trade it for a mid size wire feed welder. My hope is that I can dry the welding rod just before I use it with a light bulb/ cardboard or wood box arrangement.
Any comments, either about the rod, the welder, or whether an old simple stick machine is a good all-purpose tool these days?

[Benesesso]

Originally Posted by slackmeyer

Newb question here:
A friend was moving, and gave me an older Lincoln buzzbox (A-225S, I think the model is), and a big (open) box of 7018 electrode, probably open in a humid climate for the last 15-20 years. I think it works, though I'm still waiting for the local utility to give me a new service drop so I have 220v at my house.
Anyway, I've never stick welded before, though I've done a bit of some other types (mig and tig, and a fair amount of gas welding). This seems like a decent enough welder to play around on and make some functional stuff. If it doesn't work for me, I'll try to trade it for a mid size wire feed welder. My hope is that I can dry the welding rod just before I use it with a light bulb/ cardboard or wood box arrangement.
Any comments, either about the rod, the welder, or whether an old simple stick machine is a good all-purpose tool these days?

Just bake them in your kitchen oven for an hour or two at high temp.--up to ~500F if possible. It's not like you're doing code welding, right? If arc starting is a problem, get some 7024 electrodes, crank the amps WAY up, and just jam the electrode into the work. Just make sure to use 7024 flat or horizontal, not vertical or overhead.

If arc starting isn't a problem for you and you want to weld dirty/rusty/painted steel, get some 6011. Run it at the recommended amps. The welds may not be pretty, but 6011 digs real deep.

[David R]

Perhaps you could just buy a few pounds of 6013, 6011 or 7014. All are AC rod and for all position.

Baking the 7018 will dry it out but its still a DC rod.

If you have dirty metal, clean it.

David

[clintnz]

I want to TIG weld a 4" dia bit of stainless steel tube to a mild steel collar, what filler should I use, stainless, ER70S2 or ? (assuming '?' is likely to be available at the local engineering supplies store)



I have machined a recess in the ring so the tube fits in snugly & will be able to weld the inside end as well as put a fillet on the outside. Any other tips on welding SS to plain steel appreciated.

This is the start of the exhaust pipe for the ginormous turbo a mate is busy bolting to the side of the 1JZ Toyota motor in his race jetboat. The ring still needs to be machined down a bit a fit the v-band that will clamp it on the hairdryer. We will probably be adding a support brace for the tube so it can't flex & crack at this join.

Cheers
Clint

[NitroAcres]

Originally Posted by clintnz

I want to TIG weld a 4" dia bit of stainless steel tube to a mild steel collar, what filler should I use, stainless, ER70S2 or ? (assuming '?' is likely to be available at the local engineering supplies store)



I have machined a recess in the ring so the tube fits in snugly & will be able to weld the inside end as well as put a fillet on the outside. Any other tips on welding SS to plain steel appreciated.

This is the start of the exhaust pipe for the ginormous turbo a mate is busy bolting to the side of the 1JZ Toyota motor in his race jetboat. The ring still needs to be machined down a bit a fit the v-band that will clamp it on the hairdryer. We will probably be adding a support brace for the tube so it can't flex & crack at this join.

Cheers
Clint

Use Stainless wire...

[EvoLife]

ER309L is the general go-to for carbon to stainless IIRC

[fxstbiluigi]

That may not be easy to come by where he is.
About a year ago or so I was going to send 1 lb of tig wire to a guy in NZ.
The wire didn't cost me anything as it came from my former employer however the postage was well north of $50.00. I didn't send it.
E-309L is the preferred dis-similiar fill wire but E-308L will work.

[EvoLife]

I would think with all the boat building on the North island, stainless filler should be abundant.

But then again I could be wrong. It seems to happen daily.

[clintnz]

Thanks Guys!

I work in the pulp & paper industry & they stick stainless onto carbon steel quite a bit so there's a good chance the rods for it will be available here, if not, or if they only come in big packs I'll see if I can bum a couple of lengths from one of the local workshops.

Cheers
Clint

[slackmeyer]

Originally Posted by David R

Perhaps you could just buy a few pounds of 6013, 6011 or 7014. All are AC rod and for all position.

Baking the 7018 will dry it out but its still a DC rod.

If you have dirty metal, clean it.

David

Thanks.

I read somewhere that 7018 could be an AC or DC rod, but mine just says "7018", so it's probably made for DC like you say. I'll get a little starter kit of some of the 6 series rods.

[David R]

7018 will run on AC, but its aggravating. It sticks to the plate when starting especially with a buzz box. Not the best way to learn to stick weld. Good idea to use something easier until you get the hang of it. Then try the 7018.

Have fun and show us pictures of your welds.

David

[xcflyn]

Originally Posted by EvoLife

ER309L is the general go-to for carbon to stainless IIRC

+1

[larryboy]

Originally Posted by slackmeyer

Thanks.

I read somewhere that 7018 could be an AC or DC rod, but mine just says "7018", so it's probably made for DC like you say. I'll get a little starter kit of some of the 6 series rods.

I've got a couple boxes of 7018AC you can have. They're just collecting dust since I have a mig at home now.

[slackmeyer]

Originally Posted by larryboy

I've got a couple boxes of 7018AC you can have. They're just collecting dust since I have a mig at home now.

That would be most excellent for my screwing around with metal. I wish PG+E would get around to giving me 240v. . . .

[larryboy]

Originally Posted by slackmeyer

That would be most excellent for my screwing around with metal. I wish PG+E would get around to giving me 240v. . . .

I'll put them in the trunk, stop by the dump Mon-Fri, 1300-2130 hours.