Welding Tips and Tricks

Hey folks!

I was hoping to get some questions answered on 6011 and feedback on my whip and pause technique. I am a CC student learning how to stick weld. We are welding on angle iron X's at the moment to get arc time with 6011. The instructor has 30 students so keep in mind that he isn't always around to answer all my questions, but he does his best. He was saying that you don't need to whip and pause but could if you wanted to.

1. With a 6011 or 6010 should you always be whip and pausing, or are stringers ok as well?

LINK: https://ibb.co/jkxTHn
2. How does that bead look? Should I be coming back into the puddle more? I was building up the puddle and whiping forward when I thought the puddle was built up enough, but not exactly coming back much for fear of slag inclusions... and a mess to clean up and weld on top of.

Thanks !

It doesn't look too bad. You could maybe come back into the puddle a bit more, but I think the bigger issue is consistency. Your bead thins out too much in spots. Work on filling the puddle to a uniform size when you come back into it and keep the toes of your bead parallel. Looks like you are rushing in the middle. Each backstep should get a nice round consistent puddle. Some of yours are kind of pointy, suggesting that you were rushing. Slow down and don't be afraid of restarts.

I like to whip everything 6010/6011 just because when I don't I can't get it consistent or to lay in the joint very well. It doesn't look aesthetically pleasing either to me so I whip everything.

Farmwelding wrote:I like to whip everything 6010/6011 just because when I don't I can't get it consistent or to lay in the joint very well. It doesn't look aesthetically pleasing either to me so I whip everything.

I feel the same way, which is why I started trying to learn the whip.

Louie1961 wrote:Slow down and don't be afraid of restarts.

Sounds good, I will continue to practice and thanks for the feedback.