Stick welding thin wall SQ tube

[SeanMurphy265]

7014 is the "sheet metal" rod and runs quite well on sheet metal. I've had good luck running 7014 3/32 on 12g sheet metal. Sometimes you may have to speed up a little keep from burning through your metal.

[posixPilot]

Sean,

Do you recall what settings you used with the sheet metal? I have been running DCEP with the 6013 1/16", which I thought should be putting less heat into the base metal. I don't have any 7014, but I'll try to find a small box and see how it runs.

Thanks
Mike

[SeanMurphy265]

Sean,

Do you recall what settings you used with the sheet metal? I have been running DCEP with the 6013 1/16", which I thought should be putting less heat into the base metal. I don't have any 7014, but I'll try to find a small box and see how it runs.

Thanks
Mike

78-79 is the lowest I have ran, but you have watch your speed. Stick welding on sheet can put down a nice bead, but you may have to run fast.

[bobwills]

When ya weld it you will have to concentrate your heat on the thicker peice. When using the 3/32 keep it angled more towards the thick peice weaving into the thin piece. That sould help with the blowing through. And with the 1/16 rods you really just have to move slow. Also have too have a bigger weave to get the weld wide enough to hold on both sides. As before giving the thicker piece more heat. If your welding quite a bit of it then maybe look for some 5/64. They are hard to find but prolly bout the right thickness.

[posixPilot]

Fellas,


Sorry for neglecting the thread ... I've been traveling, and I just got back in town last night. I finally had some time to take another crack at it today.

The occasional spark down behind your ear is good, builds character, get in closer for a good look.

Jake, you must have been looking over my shoulder I have my head close enough that I get 3 or 4 in my helmet on every rod I burn

Do you have a magnifier lens in your helmet?

I don't, but I think I'll look into getting one ... on a couple of the beads I ran today, I was able to see a distinct puddle (like a bubble in the slag), so the magnifier might help me keep it in view.

And with the 1/16 rods you really just have to move slow.

Gabe, I tired moving really slow today (with the 1/16") and increasing the weave, and I was able to get better fusion between the pieces. But, it was still incomplete ... I think the slag is getting between puddle and the base metal, so I end up putting down a irregular bead instead of fusing the pieces. I ran a couple of flat beads with the 1/16" just to check out the speed:



I thought these looked pretty good. I ran these one after another, each is about 1.5" long and each consumed a 1/16" rod. When welding into a "tee" joint, I've been slowing down ever further, laying down maybe 1" of bead and weaving.

I'm not sure why, but I have fewer problems with slag inclusion if I use 3/32" rods. I've been able to back the amps down to 52 with the 3/32", which I think will keep me from blowing a hole in the tube. I need to get out there and practice some more .

Thanks
Mike