Welding Tips and Tricks

Hi all, I am new at this and i think i got the bead thing down pat. I want to try to weld 2 piecec of angle iron togeather what rod and temp would be the best? I have a lincoln welder 225.

Don't know the thickness of your angle but try a 1/8 6010 rod at about 90-100 amps in the flat.

1- Pretty sure that machine your usin is an ac-only with 15 amp presets similar to the one in my garage. If that's the case, dont buy 6010, it wont run worth a damn on ac. Buy 6011 instead. I would recommend buying a SMALL package of 6013 too, so you can see the differance between the two. After you feel comfertable with the 6011/6013, get some 7018. Makes REAL pretty welds.

2- Welding rod size and amperage setting all depend on the type of rod your using and the thickness of the metal. 6011 runs from about 60-90, and 7018 runs about 90-130, again, all depending on the thickness of the rod and base material. Also note that joint makeup will affect your heat too, open butt welds require less heat than say a lap weld.

Kermdawg is right. I just assumed the machine was ac/dc. If just ac go with what kermdawg said

welder is ac only. The angle iron is 1/8th thick.

If it was me, I'd run a 3/32 rod, either 6011 or 7018. I dont know about your machine ( I have that same machine but an older model), but mine has amp settings at 60, 75, 90, and 100. Thing is, you'll find that 60 is too cold for the 3/32 6011, and the 75 is a bit too hot. I run it at 75 myself, and just try to keep the pool the right size(just under a dime, or two electrode diameters) without burning through. At the end of the day, everyone likes the heat a bit differant, because heat settings will vary with travel speed. If I were you, I would run beads at both settings and see which ones come out better. Remember, the lower the amperage the lower the heat, so the slower you'll have to move. Likewise, the more amperage the more heat, so you'll have to travel faster to avoid burn through

And when all else fails, practice practice practice!

my range on my welder goes from 40 to 225

I know it goes from 40-225, but does it have single amp increments or like 15 amp increments?

yes it goes 40,60,75,90,105,120,135,150,175,200,225

Ya, like I said above-you'll find that you want somewhere in between the 60-75 amps for 3/32 6011, and somewhere between 75-90 amps for the 7018. But, it is what it is.