welding rods wont weld ??

[robin]

cant get thes welding rods to work ?

they are real expensive one my friend took from work its like 20 quid for a pack of 22 thay just stick and donut hold an arc

 

[modelengineer]

They are 3.2mm so you need quite amperage. 100+ amps minimum. If the rod is sticking it means not enough amps. Not entirely suitable for kart welding.

2.5mm rods are better, and cheaper, for kart building.

 

[robin]

i generally use 2.5 and 2mm rods but some times i use 4mm and 3.2 just i got lots of them and its a shame not to use them, my stick welder goes up to 180 amps they just wont hold an arc and stick

 

[thgrahamjr]

What amps are you trying to burn them at and what is your arc force set on? Did you try to weld with another rod to make sure it's not your machine?

 

[thgrahamjr]

3.2 MM converts to .128 inch which is about a 1/8" welding rod here in the states. I'm a first class welder by trade and depending on the thickness of the material I'll burn a 1/8" rod at 150 amps lower for a vertical weld but normal amprage for that size rod is between 110 and 125 depending on the machine and I would probaly have my arc force set to about 4...

 

[robin]

i have tried it at amps from about 60 to 180 same happens thay just stick my welder works fine with most rods even real cheep ones i was wondering is they were for a different type of welding of mettle i also have tried baking them in an oven to no avail

 

[thgrahamjr]

Safdry welding rods are for stainless steel...That could be one of your problems...

 

[robin]

thanks i thought it would be something like that do i need to do any thing different when welding stanles steel ?

 

[robin]

would probaly have my arc force set to about 4...

what is arc force i think i can only adjust amps on my welder

this is my welder http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/scripts/details.php?cat=Arc Welding Machines&product=21416

 

[thgrahamjr]

do i need to do any thing different when welding stanles steel ?

Stainless steel burns alot hotter than mild steel and your metal needs to be clean, when metal is contaminated (not clean) your weld will try to stick to one side. Also with stainless your welding puddle will be alot smaller than mild steel.

 

[thgrahamjr]

what is arc force i think i can only adjust amps on my welder

Your arc force is your striking force, example: your welder is set to 100 continous amps your arc force (0-8) will allow higher arcing amps when you strike your rod making it easier to get going without having to beat your rod to pieces trying to strike an arc.

 

[robin]

thanks you have helped me out allot now i have to wait till after work tomorrow to try it, can i well steel to stainless steel

 

[thgrahamjr]

Yes, there are certain rods for that. There are two common stainless rods 316 which welds stainless to stainless and 308 which welds stainless to mild steel.

 

[sayre315]

you may need to pop them in the oven to dry em out
i'd say (jst spitballing) 200 degrees for 1 hour?

 

[robin]

yeha i already did that on them is says 2 hours at 350c

 

[rmkrider1]

Use 309 for welding carbon to stainless steel

 

[thgrahamjr]

Use 309 for welding carbon to stainless steel

308

 

[rmkrider1]

308

Wrong....I know you think you're "first class welder" and all but you need to get educated.

I wasn't going to say anything but could you tell me what a first class welder consists of? I've never heard anybody but a wannabe call themselves that. Is that a union term? maybe that's a step above journeyman? Can I see a few pics of something YOU welded

 

[thgrahamjr]

I'm not going to argue with you about my qualifations, and yes that is a union term for me being state certified in mild steel pipe welding, stainless steel pipe welding and structural welding with stick and mig. Working on getting certified in tig. 308 is a stainless to mild steel welding rod, that is not saying that there are not others. So before you start jaw jacking about something you obviously think your the **** at, no what your talking about.....This conversation is DONE.

 

[rmkrider1]

I'm not looking to have a battle of wits with an unarmed man but apparently you don't have google
http://www.weldingelectrodes.net/welding_electrodes.htm

To the O.P. .....I'm sorry to hijack your thread and I would like to help you out but I'm not familiar with those rods or your machine. Are you using the correct polarity?

Thgraham could you tell me more about the pipe tests that you passed to get "state certified" Like process, position, Joint prep, what code is the certification. How did they test the welds?