Hey guys I am new to welding but learning a lot. I currently have a stick welder in my garage and at work I always practice Stick, MIG and TIG when I get a chance and they offer me all welding classes for free. I am still learning a lot about MIG and TIG but I feel my stick welds will be good enough for me to use on some sort of application.

So what I am asking is what uses can I use my welder on?
Can I weld up exhausts, charge pipes, manifolds, downpipes, dumptubes ect?
How much harder is it to stick weld stainless steel then regular steel?
I understand it wont look as nice as a MIG or TIG weld, I am just worried about strength.

Also my garage is fairly small and I dont want to blow up with all the sparks flying.
What precautions should I take?
How likely is it something will catch fire?
I have oil, gas cans, and all sorts of cleaners in there.
Should I just weld outside?
How much effect will the wind have on my welds?

Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

stick welding has no place in the automotive industry ... it's for ironworks projects like bridges, road spans, high rise building, etc. It's like using a 2" paintbrush to write a letter that requires you use a fine tip ball point pen

 

i caught my pant leg on fire while miging last weekend. Wasnt much fun.

 

you could weld a submarine hull with one

 

lol thanks guys. thats what i figured. ill keep practicing mig and tig.

 

stick usually gets really good penetration and is generally used for plate rather than sheet; however they do have smaller electrodes and you can turn down the amps, so why don't you drop $5 bucks on some smaller diameter electrodes and do some hands-on testing with some 16ga. mild? cheaper than a new machine...

 

you can still fab up stuff. i have a licoln 225 arc welder and i use it for lots of things. like welding seat brackets for aftermarket seats and door hingest for verticle door kits.

ive also built go carts with it and large tools like an engine holder or engine crane.

it has a lot of use but it wont work for small delicate jobs cause its kinda too brute for it. but im sure i could even weld a header with it.
but it would be much easier with a mig.... and much prettier with a tig....