Just spitballing but using a cast iron rod and preheating maybe?

Disparage away, obviously something isn't right here so I need to change something. Grinding isn't allowed during the test, so I've been not doing it unless I had something go way out of whack and wanted to clean it up for the sake of practice on the next pass. I tried one where I put like a 15-20 d...

Oh and just for fun I bought a can of lincoln excaliber, in case the hardware store unsealed 7018s were the problem. They seemed to run no different though. I'm using a 150amp electrode holder... can't imagine that matters though. Forgot to mention it's 1/8" rod, which I've heard is tougher tha...

Hardest part about 7018 vertical up is getting used to seeing the slag drip off and fall away but not reacting, but learning that the metal is still getting deposited. I learned about that a while ago and don't react. As far as long arcing, I usually have the rod shoved right up against the metal, ...

Here are some pics. Again the root pass falls apart after an inch or two. Subsequent passes improve but with a crappy root it's pretty rough. Lincoln 350 MP, DCEP, 108 amps, 10 arc force https://i.ibb.co/ChnGDDT/RIMG-20210621-181251222.jpg https://i.ibb.co/VqSdLfh/RIMG-20210621-182902445.jpg https:/...

I don't mind paying a bit more than a new set. I doubt the new ones are built as solidly. Plus not nearly as retro-cool.

I got this set from an employer in lieu of pay nearly 30 years ago and it's been sitting in storage ever since. I'm wondering what all it might take to get the cutting torch,welding torch and at least one of the two sets of regulators working. I was hoping the pics turned out better so you could rea...

My welding instructor worked with East Germans in the 80s and said they all had scarred up hands because they welded without gloves most the time. And they were excited to share bananas that were given to them by the company. Even though everyone got as many as they wanted in the break room. Dunno i...

I don't know how a local welding school would feel about letting someone off the street get their scrap, but I managed to get a lot of scrap from them as a student. I could have loaded a truck up and they would not have cared. The students use plate and pipe etc but there's still often good metal le...

My friend got an old set used from somewhere and he and I cut a car in half as teens and did a lot of other dumb stuff with it. He still has it 20 years later and we both use it now and then. We have all our fingers, toes, eyes etc and never burned anything down accidentally. I just started seeing t...

I don't feel like angle is it. Or at least changing height doesn't seem to change things. I have 1/8" rods and there's very little room to either side in a 1/4" gap. I try to set the plate at 5/16" since that's allowed but it's still tight. I did a few more and seemed to maybe get awa...

Having trouble getting a decent root pass on this. Always seems to start well, then the bead gets stuck to one side, then it just goes to shit. Heat buildup is one obvious issue but that can't be all of it. Any pointers on what I should be doing and what might help practice root passes appreciated.

BugHunter wrote:Rent/lease machines.

https://www.red-d-arc.com/

Yep, can't find the model on their site. I'm guessing it's an old model. You can buy the machines also, so checked ebay but nothing looked close.

And yeah, used it to power the suitcase as well as stick welding.

I was at a shop taking a welding test and I was trying to figure out what model machine I was using and I can't seem to find it online from what I recall. It was a Red-D-Arc long narrow machine. I would say the dimensions were 12x12x36 and it had a red LED voltage readout. I was using it for DCEP SM...

So she's done. I posted in Member Introductions with more photos. I took Louie1961's advice and bolted the top. With my plan of countersunk flush socket head Allen bolts (couldn't find torx easily). I'm really glad I accepted that advice. I can remove the top for various reasons, no heat distortion ...

Here's the table, took an extra week but I think it was worth taking my time. Things learned during construction... I used magnetic squares on the legs but I also should have clamped them on both ends and planned a bit to reduce heat distortion potential. Also, should have ground the square stock cr...

Sure sure. When you said "tack" I envisioned a half dozen pea size beads around it such that you could zip it off with a grinder to flip it if you wanted.

Counter sink is a good thought too. Tapered with flush torx head might look very clean.

Should make progress this weekend. I'm making adjustable footings that can be replaced with casters if needed and mounting a big vise on one end. Debating bolting the top rather than welding. Debating gussets.
So some little bits to work out still. Will try to update with finished table.

Thanks, glad I asked. I actually meant to say 2-10 pitch when I said 2 inches every 8 inches. But sounds like that's a warp risk and 1-18 pitch or 1-24 would be better. Wouldn't have thought. I'll think about bolting it down. Don't like the heads sticking up but maybe it would be a non-issue after j...

New member, hobby welder for years now looking to make a second career of welding. Thinking to possibly get into underwater work after getting some experience. Building a table to practice on: https://i.ibb.co/Hxvzkbt/IMG-20210326-192448-01.jpg Using 1/8" 7018 DCEP, Lincoln 350MP in the backgro...

I'm trying to weld a table top into a work bench and it's going to involve welding 3/16 channel to 3/8 plate (the top). I'm thinking this size difference might be a little bit of a challenge. I'm using 7018, 1/8" rods. But happy to change if something else might work better. What technique shou...