Stick welding help

[Gibson27]

Hey guys this is my first post, I'm an apprentice mechanic familiar with Mig welding, Oxy weld and brazing as well as limited Stick knowledge.

My question is, can i hold the stick electrode while i weld to keep things more sturdy, I have a slight shaky hand and i need to keep it more controlled.

Also i will be doing work on my 84 camaro, welding patches in and so forth, can i do i decent job with the stick , not looking to spend 500 on a lincoln when i have a good stick here.

Thanks

[MetalMafia]

Sure you can use your other hand brace the electrode, a lot of people do. I don't know anybody who grabs it or anything but I sometimes rest the stick between my thumb and index finger, kinda like a pool cue, for some positions. Don't burn yourself. By the time you can feel the heat through your glove the glove is REALLY HOT! Maybe get a heat reflector for the back of your hand...

[TxRedneck]

I agree with metal mafia. Theres been discussion on this subject int he past. It tends to turn into a big debate....similar tro a political debate. But for tose who have done it never had much of a problem. Yes you can get burned. Them big thick welding gloves are notorious for building up heat without you noticing it and then once there hot they dont cool off fast enough. So you do need to make sure you consider that. Ive done the pool cue thing. Main thing I think is dont get burned and wear gloves

[fallon416]

I have the same shaky hand problem. I found that if I hold one arm tight against me like when using a camera I then have a brace for the other arm. It takes a little getting used to but becomes second nature once you do it enough.

If you're right handed put your left arm across the front of you and hold it tight against you stomach or chest depending on size. Then just rest your right arm in your left hand. If your left handed just do the opposite.

Neil

[elvergon]

Well... I can add my experience....I have a AC Buzz box and I hate gloves. Last time I was welding with it, I tried holding it, and had my elbow resting on the piece. I got little shocks,....Nothing really hard,....

maybe its cause im using AC, or something else, but when people MAKE me use gloves I don´t get that type of little shocks.

Just be carefull, maybe someone has an explanation for this

[smithboy]

I think you have the explaination already...Living in an environment where you sweat alot and weld with AC and you are going to feel the pinch occasionally...zzzzzt. My first welder was the AC 225. Every so often, in the sweaty months of summer here in GA, I'd pop myself even through gloves.

[MetalMafia]

Yeah, you're closing the circuit with your own body. Another good reason to wear gloves...

[scott brunsdon]

I'm gradually getting more safety conscious.
I hate wearing gloves, too. But I make myself wear them now.
I also hate wearing shoes (as opposed to thongs) on the weekend, but I now do when I'm welding.
The 240v circuit my welder is now on has a cutout switch. Power is cut instantly if there is an overload.
Of course, death can be pretty instantaneous, too.
My cousin was running an auto repair shop last year and a young guy doing some welding was electrocuted and died. I never found out the exact cause, there would have been a few contributing factors. Guys in those sort of shops who do the odd bit of welding often don't take any precautions because they're not all the time. They'll put down a spanner and pick up a welder without thinking. Made me think, though.
I had to do one little weld on the weekend on a project that has dragged on for too long. I was tempted to do it bare foot with no gloves, but I made myself do it safely - it took longer to find some shoes and gloves and put them on than it did to do the weld.
It's funny though, I rode motor bikes for ten years (including a lightning fast 17,000 klm trip around Australia). I wouldn't even go down the local shops without boots, a helmet, and a leather jacket on.

[prop-doctor]

HEY IT KEEPS THE HEART PUMPING a real wakeup at 8 in the morning bare one hand tig will do the same

[prop-doctor]

but back to your 84 chevy got pics and body work needs mig not stick

[prop-doctor]

or so i'm told

[Roy Hodges]

I got a funny one for yuh . When i was an apprentice welder @Mare Island Naval ship yard back in 1966, one sat. on overtime ,i was tacking clips on a smokestack of a ship (sub tender). It was raining, i would TRY to put an electrode in my stinger , get a shock, & i'd throw it overboard . Then i finally get the rod in stinger , try to tack it on the stack. but, then it would shock the shipfitter who was holding the clip, &then he'd throw the clip overboard ! other guys watching said it was hilarious, but ,we didn't think so , then . I told the boss i'd never weld in the rain , again . And, i didn't . They told me to use rubber gloves over my leather gloves in the future . - No thank you

[zapster]

you guys are too much:laugh:

...zap!

[cheeseclip]

rest your forearm against something i do it all the time and it works great.

[carshauled4u]

rest your forearm against something i do it all the time and it works great.
Are you talking with the work piece flat on the table? I am new @ stick. Is it best to pull or push the rod and @ what angle when welding flat?

[cheeseclip]

like i mean rest your left elbow(if left handed) on something and hold the handpiece with both hands to get it steady.i think you always bring the electrode to you like pulling i guess

[BBchevy396]

Ok, I guess I'll get in on this one.................I've held the stick many times, for different, oddball, and spazticated, close quarter positions, and if you hold on long enough, well......... if it catches, let it BURN!!,
No seriously......... I dont think anyone has addressed the other part of your question..........to weld on an '84 camaro...........

I know a thing or two, about the third generation GM pony cars, and while a fan, I dont think there is anything on one of those babies, that is thick enough to weld with a stick................. When I rebuilt/modified my share of them, a mig , with .24, or .030. wire, was the only way to go....And even then, the metal was thin, thin, thin!!!.........save yourself the hassel , of chasing burned through holes around, and get yourself a good little mig machine.........and save the stick for the little thicker gauges of metal.

Oh, and by the way........ most of the unibody sheetmetal, is sandwiched together, spot-welded galvinized........ can be a real b*&^ch!

[TxRedneck]

pull with stick

[cheeseclip]

i deleted my post

[ss42768]

With stick welding you'll always want to drag (pull) and lean your electrode
10-15 degrees towards the direction of travel. An easy way to rember this is
"slag you drag" so anytime you are welding, and their is a flux over the weld
(Mig w/Flux Core Wire for example) drag it!!

Good Luck!

[TxRedneck]

With stick welding you'll always want to drag (pull) and lean your electrode
10-15 degrees towards the direction of travel. An easy way to rember this is
"slag you drag" so anytime you are welding, and their is a flux over the weld
(Mig w/Flux Core Wire for example) drag it!!

Good Luck!
i like that....have to remember slag you drag

[TxRedneck]

why did you delete cheese

[TEK]

Gibson, its like rifle shooting- the better braced position you can get, the better you'll do. When I have to,I lock into things by bracing knees, elbows hips, shoulders-whatever it takes.:drinkup:

[Gibson27]

Thanks for all the help guys, I preety much knew that welding my car with a stick was a long shot and I could do a much better job with a Mig welder. I went to Princess Auto here and I tried their Deca130 Mig I believe it was (wow a place that actually lets you try out welders, imagine that) and i found it really good for 1/8 steel with gas. I doubt I'll be welding anything that size on my car, I already have my sunframe connectors welded in with a cheap machine I had before.

It's on sale next month for 329 from 429. I think i'll get it with gas.

[wizard]

For just a bit more you could be into a Miller or Lincoln welder. Something to consider anyways. i have no idea who makes the Deca welder so can't say much about it, just that I'm a Lincoln owner and a guy that work with, who is into hot rods, and owns a Miller. I honestly believe that this is a get what you pay for type of industry. In any event do realize that the price you see is likely to leave of the gas and may even leave out the regulators and hoses. It pays to ask questions.

YOu might also want to consider an upgrade to a 220 volt machine for your auto work. It is not absolutely required but does give you a bit more flexibility. Of couse that is more money, but can be money well spent if in the future you expect to do work on frames and such.

[horseturd]

Good news/bad news. If you hate wearing gloves and need to rest your elbow on the work or table, use a glove as an insolator between your elbow and the part. Don't do this bare footed or with wet shoes as the current will now travel from your fingers through your heart to your feet instead of just to your elbow.

[TxRedneck]

Thanks for all the help guys, I preety much knew that welding my car with a stick was a long shot and I could do a much better job with a Mig welder. I went to Princess Auto here and I tried their Deca130 Mig I believe it was (wow a place that actually lets you try out welders, imagine that) and i found it really good for 1/8 steel with gas. I doubt I'll be welding anything that size on my car, I already have my sunframe connectors welded in with a cheap machine I had before.

It's on sale next month for 329 from 429. I think i'll get it with gas.
ah a Canadian, where Ya at?

[cheeseclip]

i wrote something but i didnt look on the next page when i saw it didnt show up

[Gibson27]

I'm from Newfoundland