Forums Forums General Forums A - Z Leisure & Hobbies Need Help Welding

Right, as some of you know I bought myself an Arc welder.

I've never tried welding before so I'm a complete novice and have no idea lol

so I practised with it over the weekend and I'm having a few problems....either:

a) I have the wrong set up
b) I have the wrong electrodes/rods
c) I'm shit (most likely)


The problem is, I can get it to actually arc and weld. The best I can do is strike the electrode like a match along the bit I want welding, but the electrode just gets hot and melts and doesnt even stick.

I've watched how to videos and they make it look so easy lol

If I don't do that and try and run it along maintaining an arc, the electrode just sticks and I end up dragging the plate.

I've tried it at 45 degrees, 90 degrees, tried maintaining the arc, but it just doesnt stike up and stay, ive tried increasing the current too.

I've tried everything, so somethings up and im thinking its me or the rods.

Any ideas??

Are the surfaces clean?

If i remember from when i was a lad lol

Tap it first to start the arch and then you should
be able to keep it going.

Instead of trying to WELD Tap it then WELD when its Arching.

You probably have shit Rods, and that's why it looks
easy on the videos. Or the settings need tweaking Kyle should
be able to help with that, throw a link in your MMC to this topic.

Let us know how you get on.

the surfaces are clean - bare metal to bare metal (shiney)

If I tap it, the rod just sticks, no arching??

Probablt is jsut shit rods, I'll buy some thicker ones anyway

try supporting half the rod as it will be easier to arc,

when you tap it pull the rod away a little bit (around 5mm)

if the rods are from the kit i can't see them being wrong (should say on end of box or pack what material they are for.

what amp are you trying to weld with?

ive cut the rod down to half, even a quarter.

5mm wont even cause an arc?

theyre not out of the kid, so yeah, theyre probably wrong.

around 50amps

I did say mig or tig arc aint really suitable for thin plate bud

I appreciate that, but I bought it before you told me

< Virtual Slap > Got yu

dont worry mate you just need to keep practicing it taqkes time now the most important thing when welding is to keep the surface clean of paint and oil, now because you are only welding a car the plate will be thin so you will only need thin rods such as 2mm 5mm are just to big now when im setting a arc up i just try practicing on a thin plate till your ready to weld and just keep adjusting the amps and just keep striking it on the plate and it will start welding mate

now if your rods are sticking this is because your amps are not high enough but you dont need it to high or it will just destroy the plate it doesnt really matter how long your rods are they will still weld m,ate hope this info helps

cheers for the info

I've bought some different rods, so will give them a try when they come 2moro

looks like i had the wrong rods.

I can finally weld, but im totally shit.

after going through about 10 rods, i managed to weld an L bracket to a 3mm thick plate and it stuck, and held the weight of the plate, but the weld quality was shite as if i pulled on the L bracket, it came off with little force.

I also managed to do a pretty neat weld in a line, but I got too frustrated in the end as the rods keep sticking still.

I found if I hold the rod at the smallest angle (i.e. close to the plate) its a lot easier to maintain an arc.

Practise, practise, practise

i no mate not easy at all but as you say keep at it takes practise

Keep trying Joe I'm sure you will buging a grinder next
to get rid of the lumps

You will get it sooner or later

You haven't given yourself the best job to start with.

I had another practise the other week. Only just found the photos.

I actually managed to get it to weld and stick.....although the weld quality is completely shite.

It holds my weight if I stand on it though, so im happy lol.

Just gotta learn to keep it steady to get a good quality weld.

Might practise again this week before it starts getting too dark of an evening