Welding 16ga steel?

[Micah22]

Hello, first post, looking for some wisdom here. I hope you guys will bear with me and help a guy out.

I have a fabrication job that requires welding 16ga steel pipe and plate. My access to welding equipment is limited, and necessity has guided me to an Arc welder.

My question for you more experienced/knowledgable is: What rods/amp range would you suggest for welding 16ga? From what I've researched I've found 6013 rod at 20-40amps; can anyone confirm that?

OR, is it just a waste of time to even try this will an arc welder? I'm pretty good with an arc welder, so I'd prefer to use one if I can, just all of my practice has been on thicker steel so the thinner stuff is unfamiliar to me.

Any guidance is greatly appreciated guys, looking forward to learning.

[Rocky D]

1/16" diameter electrode 6013 20 to 45 amps...the base metal thickness determines the right amperage...in your case try 20 to 30..if the fits are metal to metal, with no gaps...you will be OK ...however it would be a lot easier with a wire feeder.

[cncworks]

hey rocky,

would that be ac... dc.. dcen ... dcep?

[Micah22]

1/16" diameter electrode 6013 20 to 45 amps...the base metal thickness determines the right amperage...in your case try 20 to 30..if the fits are metal to metal, with no gaps...you will be OK ...however it would be a lot easier with a wire feeder.

Excellent Rocky, thanks very much for the info. It is metal to metal with few-to-no gaps (depending on how straight I can cut). I'll give it a try with the arc welder, if I have no luck, I'll do what I can to track down a wire feeder.

Cheers,
Micah

[Rocky D]

hey rocky,

would that be ac... dc.. dcen ... dcep?

all of the above...AC may give less penetration, which is what you want here. 6013 is a general purpose rod, and the little ones are fun to use.

[Sberry]

With smaller electrodes 16 can be welded fairly easily, I do it frequently with 1/8 6010 even.

[TOMWELDS2]

No gaps and dont run too slow..

[Scott Young]

funny, i just welded up 16 ga tubing and sent it off. i used 3/32 at 45 amps. i butted the joints leaving no gap. practice on a couple of pieces first to get the feel for it. i used straight polarity and clean metal. i found that if there is a gap then you have to go really fast and let the metal build up on the edges. you have to then clean the slag off and go back and tie it together with another pass.

i would love to try 1/16th 6013, but it is expensive here more so than the 3/32 and 1/8th.

[MAC702]

Back home I was out of practice, as that would always see the wirefeeder anymore, but since I got here, I've been welding that stuff on a regular basis with DC Stick, using 3/32" 6013 at about 60 amps, moving quickly and with some serious whipping. But I've gotten fast at it!

[Aeroweld]

6013 would be a natural choice. The soft arc and shallow penatration is perfect for thin material. Depending on the joint configuration I would more than likely go with 3/32" dia. 60-70 amp range should "Git 'er done"

The one thing you have to be careful of with 6013 is making sure you distinguish between the weld puddle and the molten flux, The flux can give you a false reading of the puddle because of it soft arc. You can get incomplete fusion if you are not careful, especially on a fillet weld.

[dda52]

....and I would do it with a 6010 or 6011 3/32 at or about 60-65 amps DCEN.:D

[MAC702]

...The one thing you have to be careful of with 6013 is making sure you distinguish between the weld puddle and the molten flux, The flux can give you a false reading of the puddle because of it soft arc. You can get incomplete fusion if you are not careful, especially on a fillet weld.
I would second this. You'll get to where you can feel the difference when you chip the slag as to whether or not there's a sound bead underneath, or a hole, which can take a surprising amount of chipping to uncover.

[Critter]

The 6013 works pretty good, I only have an AC welder, like they say, flush butts and keep a steady pace. Another one that works good for me with more penetration is 7014 and move just a little faster, slag is easier to remove and the bead lays almost flat. Don't stop, it will go right through.

[Zrexxer]

....and I would do it with a 6010 or 6011 3/32 at or about 60-65 amps DCEN.:DSheesh, I gotta get you to show me how to do that one day. I know there's no way I could do 16 ga with a 6011 without some instruction.

[Micah22]

Thanks guys, all great info.

[Critter]

Sheesh, I gotta get you to show me how to do that one day. I know there's no way I could do 16 ga with a 6011 without some instruction.
I want to be in that class, all I get at 40 amps is instant burn through.

[Broccoli1]

Z,

sporting a new Avatar I see- Problems in the hood?:D

[Zrexxer]

Z,

sporting a new Avatar I see- Problems in the hood?:DOh there's always problems in this 'hood... sigh. But the avatar was in response to a Colt 1911 v. Glock .40S&W discussion in another thread :D

[dda52]

Sheesh, I gotta get you to show me how to do that one day. I know there's no way I could do 16 ga with a 6011 without some instruction.


Welp, you know where I be.:D

[Sberry]

I can do it with 1/8 6011 at 85 for limited amounts, I turn it down 5 or so if I have far to go. Sometimes the large filler is a help.

[MAC702]

...Sometimes the large filler is a help.

You mean like putting a nail in the gap? :)

[dda52]

Cary, I usually prefer 3/32, but when I go down to 20 gauge, a 1/8 rod usually works better. I do know what you mean, though. More heat to melt the rod than blow out the work.....I've done it a few thousand times.:D

[Sberry]

This is something I will have to get some pics of, I should get some smaller rods but its so rare I can get by with whatever is at hand and I am usually too lazy to walk back to tune a machine, I do something as while back, must have been going more than a foot to the rod, just a little as it took as fast as it could be.

[robsd]

I used some 6013 3/32 on some 16ga tubing this weekend. My Lincoln only goes down to 40amps. I think this was a little to hot. I had a few burn throughs. I did notice on some the puddle didn't want to connect (picture a split bead if you will). This is probably my skill level though and I might have been moving to fast. On others it laid a nice flat bead.