i just bought a 120amp Arc welder, (you know the one with the long stick) the ampage setting is kind of weird because the **** turns will No boundaries.

I used a 7018 electrode (1/8) it was not producing any welds.

So then i went back to harbor frieght tools to buy smaller electrode 6008 electrode (1/16) and tried welding with that but all that happens is it burns right through the sheet metal in the engine bay. No worry about the burns its a practice car.

So my question is if i buy smaller electrodes like maybe 3/64 7018 would it stop burning holes through the sheet metal?
or
Should i just buy a Mig welder because it looks easier to use and with better settings

 

Just FYI, a GMAW welder (MIG) is an ARC welder. The machine you have is an SMAW machine.

(GMAW stands for gas metal arc welding, and SMAW stands for shielded metal arc welding.)

A small GMAW machine would work better for body work than an SMAW machine.

 

I think 1/16 is as small of an electrode as you're going to find. You need to get E7018 1/16 or 3/32 is fine. Because the electrode you're welding with (or at least trying to) is most likely harder to weld with (I'm not familiar with it, unless you meant 6010, 6011, 6013). Is the welder AC or AC/DC. Because with that electrode you can either do AC or DC+. Make sure your leads are hooked up right if you're doing DC+. Practice on some flat pieces of metal just laying beads in a line trying to be consistent. Manipulate the rod to see what differences it makes when you change arc gap and speed. If you can justify spending money on a mig welder, I'd rather do that.

 

Yeah when i bought the welder i also bought a warranty because the manager said it would be alright if i wanted to upgrade. thanks for the tips guys or gurls

 

just to clarify your trying to stick weld sheet metal, if you can your a BMF

 

do yourself a favor and go to a real welding supply not harbour freight or home cheapo or costco and buy a mig welder and get someone to show how to use it. Someone you know for sure that knows so your doing the blind leading the blind thing guessing if your even close. If you can't do that then take it to someone that has the eqjuipment and the know how. If you can't afford either one you shouldn't be doing what your doing! You need to be really good to try and stick weld tin!!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Howitt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">just to clarify your trying to stick weld sheet metal, if you can your a BMF</TD></TR></TABLE>

I once tack welded the door panel back onto my 91 s10 with 1/8 6011 after I kind of peeled it off running over a tree lol. Do I qualify?


OP. SMAW (thank you K24m2 for that info ) is not very practical for any work that you will do on a car. GMAW is the way to go as it is the easiest to use and most versatile option available for what you most likely want to do.

 

Looks like you get
Howitts BMF Welder of the Year Award. HAHA

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Howitt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Looks like you get
Howitts BMF Welder of the Year Award. HAHA</TD></TR></TABLE>

OH SNAP!!!