Vertical welds with 7014 and 7018

[canoetrpr]

At about the end of my second time playing with my welder I decided that hey.... maybe I should be trying some welds that are not flat. I can't always move an implement to get a flat weld.

6011 was perfectly fine side to side and vertically. I welded up to down.

With both 7014 and 7018AC, I got some serious dripping of the puddle. I tried both uphill and down hill and I tried pretty much the whole amp range I think. I'm doing this on DC+ btw.

I thought the 1 in the 7014/8 is meant that I can weld in any position. Any suggestion on what I might be doing wrong?

[smyrna5]

I am not sure if this is the case for you or not, but in my Arc Welding Videos he mentions that with the rods with a lot of slag (7014 and 7018), it is easy for beginners to mistake the dripping of the flux for dripping metal in out of position welds. The metal part of the puddle is pretty well hidden from view by the slag on some of these rods.

[canoetrpr]

smyrna. I realised that I hand not concentrated much on the portions about vertical welding in the videos. Tried to fire them up and my DVD player quit on me :-(. You are probably right.

[Sharp Tungsten]

Yes uphill with 18 or 14 series rods takes some getting used to. I actually like to say a little colder on the amps. I apply a triangle weace on T-joints and just a basics weave on ordinary small bevels. You can run stringers but I like the triangle weave best. Lots of metal in minimal passes. Just remember hold your sides and go fast across the middle. You want that weld flat as possible with no undercut.

[canoetrpr]

Only a marginal improvement today. I noticed on the video that he does not use circular weaves for 7018 and uses side to side instead (I imagine this is what you call stringer?).

For one reason or another it seems my side to side beads really suck.... but I can only go so fast with circular beads.

I was able to get some quarter decent beads in the horizontal position but not too much better vertically. I did notice that often the stuff dripping is slag - particularly on side to side.

Didn't think to try triangular. I'll try that next.

I've come to REALLY like the beads 7104 and 7018 are leaving so I'd like to get these electrodes working for me out of position! That said a good chunk of my welding will be ... or can be made to be flat. Not particularly desirable if I want to weld on an implement though :-).

No problems with the 6011 at all side to side or vertical. After three welding sessions I can start and control the arc with minimal sticking . I do find the beads not nearly as nice as 7014 and 7108 :-)

[Sberry]

This is a good case to find a lesson or 2 from someone that knows.

[canoetrpr]

SBerry - you are quite right. As the video recommended, 3/32 was a bit easier so I will practise with it again.

Any forum members somewhere in Ontario in the GTA area that would be willing to show me the ropes here :-) ?

[Big_Eddy]

Belleville - and by no means an expert - but we can burn some rods if you are ever out this way.