How short do you let filler rod get?

[Heartdoc]

Not that the price of filler rod is a big issue, but what do you do with all the filler rod stubs? I was watching a youtube video where a guy was OA welding and just fused the stub onto a fresh rod so as not to waste it. I tried it tonight with tig rod and it worked ok. Do most folks just toss the stubs? And if so, how short do you let them get before your fingers start burning? I guess part of that answer depends on how many amps you are welding at. Just curious.

[VPT]

Normally down to around 1.5-2".

[NicheFab]

Normally down to around 1.5-2".

Yep, just before you burn digits.. done.

-Niche

[MinnesotaDave]

Yep, just before you burn digits.. done.

-Niche

Be honest - the weld is almost done and it's going great, "I can make it" - two dips before the end you burn your fingers

[mikecwik]

I don't weld for Nasa..............but I could. I hold stubs in pliers to tack. I don't like to waste stuff.

[7A749]

Depends. Sometimes I'll let it get down to a little over an inch, sometimes, I'll get a new rod with 6" plus left.

I still save the short rods in a coffee cup, and will use them later for tacks or whatever.

Of course, I'm just a garage hack so it doesn't really matter. The AAACE pays for all my supplies.

[Louie1961]

don't cut your rods in half if you can help it. You will have 50% fewer stubs that way. I run them down to about 2 inches and throw the stubs away.

[VPT]

Is my cup half full or half empty?

[zapster]

3/4 inch with 1/16....


...zap!

[Heartdoc]

Wow Zap, your hands must be impervious to heat!

[MetalJunkie]

I have been practicing with 3 inch coupons so by the time I get to the end of the weld not only is there a hot arc to deal with but hot metal too. if the rod is less than 4 inches I grab a new one to practice on the next coupon. Feeding the rod is half of the practice process for me anywya. I like the idea of fusing the old rod to a new one. I have been fusing the 4" left overs together. Doesn't seem to make a difference practicing. Nothing I do is structural.

[zapster]

Wow Zap, your hands must be impervious to heat!

More like "No Brain No Pain" according to Mrs.zap.......


...zap!

[motolife313]

^^^ lol funny stuff. I Toss mine into the filler bucket with about 5 inches or more. I know guys that weld them together or use pliers to use the last few inches. Once you stop tho and your filler is only 5 inches long seems like a wast to only weld an inch inch with that filler again unless you have somthing short like an inch to weld. Like Dave was saying earlier you think you can make it to the end alot then with one or two puddles to go and you burn your hand and run out.

[forhire]

3/4 inch with 1/16....

Is that 3/4" AFTER you've fused all the shorts together?
http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ng-Filler-Wire

[zapster]

I only save/fuse 3/32" filler...

1/16 is too small to deal with...



...zap!

[NicheFab]

Be honest - the weld is almost done and it's going great, "I can make it" - two dips before the end you burn your fingers

Well, ok.. I cannot say that it has not happened in the past, cause I have burned my self all kinds of stupid ways

I was going to comment in the "I caught myself on fire" thread that I have on a couple of occassions finished my bead before tending to the fire, but didn't want to be a bad influence..

[Oldendum]

Depends. Sometimes I'll let it get down to a little over an inch...

Is that when you're wearing the blue dress?

[MinnesotaDave]

Well, ok.. I cannot say that it has not happened in the past, cause I have burned my self all kinds of stupid ways

I was going to comment in the "I caught myself on fire" thread that I have on a couple of occassions finished my bead before tending to the fire, but didn't want to be a bad influence..

Haha! Yep, here too

[Bistineau]

Is that when you're wearing the blue dress?

Would that happen to be the famous blue dress with the notorious stain on it??

[johnrbauer]

I uae 4inch Vise Grips you can burn them down to nothing.