Stick welding remains known as Arc welding by a full ton of oldsters. So instead of buck the trend, I will just glide and use each terms.
1.The initial factor you would like to know to be a smart stick welder is that you wish a good arc welding machine. Not a great machine, simply a decent arc welding machine. Like a Lincoln 225 A/C tombstone arc welder, or a Miller Thunderbolt Stick welding machine. Both will be bought on eBay or Craigslist for around 200 greenbacks.
2. The second factor you need is a good auto darkening welding helmet. 50 usd will get you a tight auto darkening welding helmet if you know where to look. A tight auto darkening helmet darkens in 1/20000 sec, is adjustable from nine-12 shade, and has sensitivity and delay settings.
Why do you wish one? Because when you're scratching around in the dark, you'll be astray by an in. or more and you'll get arc strikes all over the place. With an auto darkening helmet, you can see specifically where you are hanging your arc and that alone will create you a better stick welder.
3. The third issue you wish to understand is that polarity matters. If you get an A/C only welding machine, then you wish to urge stick welding rods that are designed to weld on A/C.
Not all stick welding rods work on A/C . That why grandpa solely had 6013 welding rods lying around.
6011, 6013, and 7018 will weld on A/C, but 6010 wont. If you like welding with 6010, buy an A/C and DC stick welding machine. You can usually get one for only about a a hundred bucks a lot of than what you'd pay for a A/C buzz box. Another bonus in buying a stick welding machine that conjointly welds with DC current is that you'll hook up a scratch start TIG torch later if you would like to venture into TIG welding.
4. Lastly, learn to carry a shut arc. This is the most important advise I will provide. If your rod sticks when you hold a close arc length, then you would like a lot of amperage or you would like to use a smaller diameter rod. Holding a shut arc can not only facilitate your set your amperage right, but for welding in overhead and vertical positions , it very helps the metal and sparks keep where they are imagined to...on the weld and not all on you.
