EDITED: re-sized pictures

so I haven't done much welding since high school but i want to get back at it

I have an OLD Lincoln AC stick welder, this is the first time i have even touched it in years.





these where the first three and a half

 

Doesn't look to bad for Arc. Curious as to what kinda rod you're using? Looks pretty clean too..but you have a high profile (crown) on most of em'. Some parameters to what you're welding might help us to help you...voltage/ amperage rod type and how old you buzz box is?

 

i was running it at 100amps
1/4 plate
6013 stick


its old i mean old but it was also $50, heck the hood cost me more

 

i tried a bead with 6011 but it over heated the rod and i couldn't get it to run consistently the rod its self was much smaller then the 6013 also the 11 rod i have is harbor freight so...

is a high crown bad?
does it meen a lack of penetration?
im hoping to do most my own fab work so i need to get on par for structural beads

 

A high crown means the amps may be a little low, which means you wont be getting the best penetration. Those welds aren't real pretty but structuraly they look decent. I have an ancient buzzbox similar to yours, and it is very picky when it comes to rod choice. I use 6013 for anything with a slant or vertical welds, but anything that can be welded level 7024 is my favorite. 6011 is kind of tricky with an AC machine IMO. Your welds look plenty good for most structural stuff.

 

Would you be able to tell if he got good penetration by flipping over the steel and checking it?
Still trying to learn myself.

 

Stick welding like any welding requires the proper settings, the right materials and a skilled person to weld.

Owning a welding machine doesn't make you a welder. Practice makes better.

By looks alone, practice some more.

:wabbit2:

 

Running a bead on flat plate maybe gives you a little practice in making the puddle dance!!

The best way to learn on your own is to weld tee joints . weld one side break the joint it will tell you just how well you did.Repeat as needed!!

It is easy to pick up bad habits and real hard to unlearn them.

Really if you are at all serious take a class for stick welding. Although once you weld with DC you will be spoiled.

 

I agree with Wabbit..welding takes a ton of practice. Let me rephrase; welding good takes a lot of practice. I'm only cert. in 3G MIG/GMAW...but am going to school for my 3G Unlimited for structural welding as well as 6G and am currently taking a TIG class..though this is a 2nd semester of just TIG work alone...this TIG is a whole nother animal...but I'm almost there for cert on Aluminum then I'll jump to steel (stainless). Let's just say I've prepped a whole lot of plates and spent a bunch of money on tuition just to get to where I'm at now...and I still have a long way to go. Practice practice and then some practice. I'm fortunate enough I MIG weld just about everyday at work so i get lots of practice. Good luck and keep it up...

 

Try using a coat hanger and two car batteries.

:wabbit2:

 

Oh!...and stand in a puddle of water with bare feet to huh? No thanks.

 

oh i have more pics to add later, and i know flats are easy, i took some classes in HS, but to take more at the local C.C. requires that you are in their program and there is a wait list....

i picked up 61 lbs of scrap at the yard a few days back but Im nearly out of electrodes, as soon as i make it to the store and pick up 10 more lbs of each 6013 and 70??-ac ill get burning!

i have plate, box, T, L, channels, an some tubing to play with.

EDIT: i`ll try breaking some for y`all, and i got some manuals videos and charts now, the 6013 is giving me a much better flow and penetration at 130, also i found out the 6011 i have should be run at 60-90 amps its working much better for me at 75

 

good luck with the welding i start the welding program at a local school here soon, i welded a few times started with bobbing my bed (bad way to learn) took a lot of bondo to make it look good. then i did my sas, nothing has broke off yet aha