I figured the Paint and Body geniuses here might be able to help me with this situation: my dad got a welder from someone and turned it over to me. He's never welded before and niether have I. I don't know much of anything about this unit's practical applications.

Here are the stats:
-Arc welder
-Input-115V
-60 cycle
-20 amps
-single phase
-Output-50 amps @ 25 arc volts
-45 OCV (what's OCV?)
-Temp rise 135 C
-Duty Cycle 20

It says on the front that I can weld anything from sheet metal up to 1/4" thickness. What else can anyone tell me about its practical applications? I guess I need some welding rod.
I have bought a book and video, but was hoping to get some BTDT words from others. Thanks!

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Tom H.
Member #259
'67 www.iquest.net/~harold2/ (http://www.iquest.net/~harold2)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TH:
I figured the Paint and Body geniuses here might be able to help me with this situation: my dad got a welder from someone and turned it over to me. He's never welded before and niether have I. I don't know much of anything about this unit's practical applications.

Here are the stats:
-Arc welder
-Input-115V
-60 cycle
-20 amps
-single phase
-Output-50 amps @ 25 arc volts
-45 OCV (what's OCV?)
-Temp rise 135 C
-Duty Cycle 20

It says on the front that I can weld anything from sheet metal up to 1/4" thickness. What else can anyone tell me about its practical applications? I guess I need some welding rod.
I have bought a book and video, but was hoping to get some BTDT words from others. Thanks!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The OCV is the "open circuit voltage" which is the voltage when the welder is turned on, but you are not welding. The duty cycle of 20 means that you can weld continuously for 2 minutes out of 10.
Buy a variety of small welding rods and practice on some old metal junk. Welding is like playing a musical instrument; the more you practice the better you get. Remember that the weld is created in the molten metal puddle, so watch the puddle and you will become a pretty good welder.

An arc welder is not what you want for welding sheetmetal.A mig is better.

Sell it while it's new. Stick welding is hard and takes lots of practice. It doesn't work well with very thin metal. I'm not trying to be negative but don't waste your time with it. Buy a gas mig or let someone else do your welding.



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Regards,
RLK
70SS LS6 coupe
71SS LS5 elk
72SS LS5 ragtop
02SS LS1 ragtop 35th SA
TC Member #918
ACES member
Metroplex Muscle

A stick or arc welder is useless when it comes to welding sheetmetal. It might say you can weld sheetmetal, but its no walk in the park and more often then not it gets warped beyond repair. Sell the thing and buy and MIG welder. A MIG welder is much easier to learn on and a way better alround welder then a stick or arc welder.

JWagner,
Thanks for the OCV definition.

Others,
Thanks for the advice and input, but let me clarify a little further. This is in no way a new welder. I have never welded anything before and thought this would be a relatively cheap way to get started.

My thinking was that I could by the safety equipment, some rod, and some scrap steel, and just play around with the whole deal. If I decided I liked it much I could figure if I wanted to step up and spend some bucks on a better welder.

I don't intend to go welding up body panels right off the bat. I just wanted to get *any* experience with welding. The safety equipment (gloves, shield, etc.) I could use later with any other welder, so that cost is a given. I just figured it's pretty cheap to buy some road and weld up some flat stuff and some angle iron. I mean, how much does a box of welding rod cost, anyway?

Oh, and by the way, I already have a box of rod, but I'm afraid it's no good. I have been reading that rod is not supposed to sit unless it's sealed from moisture. I found this rod in a box in my garage (sorry, don't have the humbers offhand) and know that it has been sitting for at least a couple years. Can it be used at all or is it trash? Pity if it's junk---looks like none has ever been used.

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Tom H.
Member #259
'67 www.iquest.net/~harold2/ (http://www.iquest.net/~harold2)

You've done a good job researching. Yes, the flux around the welding rod will absorb moisture and spatter. If you insist on learning stick, then get some 1/4" plate and practice butt welds. Move the stick around in a circle creating a puddle that you walk down the joint.

If you've done it right, your weld will look like a stack of quarters that have fallen over at an angle. If you've done it wrong, it will look like a big bird flew over and took a dump. Practice, practice, practice.

Once you have butt welding down, move on to vertical joints. Start with downhill and move to uphill. Play with the heat setting to get your penatration just right without burning a hole throught the metal. Trust me that you will burn throught many times.

You'll learn later than it sucks welding sheet metal and will give up on it. Most of us learned that lesson as well.

Stick plays out around 3/32" thick on sheet metal. Only a master (which I'm not) can go thinner than this and make a good weld.

Have fun.



------------------
-----------------------
Regards,
RLK
70SS LS6 coupe
71SS LS5 elk
72SS LS5 ragtop
02SS LS1 ragtop 35th SA
TC Member #918
ACES member
Metroplex Muscle