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Cut metal with a stick welder?

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KEG

02-10-2003 17:58:35




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I overheard someone say that you could cut metal with a stick welder. Is this correct? If so, what rod would you use? And what kind of cutting could you do?

Thanks for any thoughts or comments,
KEG




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Andy

02-13-2003 23:08:53




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 Re: Cut metal with a stick welder? in reply to KEG, 02-10-2003 17:58:35  
It will work, but will not do a real clean job of cutting. If you are going to try it, best to use a DC welder and E6010 electrodes run on straight polarity (electrode hooked to the negative terminal )use a 1/8 or 5/32 electrodes and about 225-250 amps ( watch out that rod will be red hot ). You should grind the cut area prior to any welding to remove the burned/oxidized metal from the area you just cut. I think you will be better off saving up your money and buying a used name brand oxy acetylene outfit ( Victor, Smith, Arco ) if you buy what industry uses it will be cheaper in the long run and parts are easy to come by. Good luck! You might think about going to some classes at your local community college----can't practice at home as cheap as the tuition. Most of the night welding schools are taught by actual working welders not just a school tracher.

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A big thanks - KEG

02-11-2003 16:42:55




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 Re: Cut metal with a stick welder? in reply to KEG, 02-10-2003 17:58:35  
Thanks to all. I was thinking about buying a gas torch but I usually don't need to do much cutting. Was hoping to find a shortcut for those rare occasions. You guys really saved me some money.

Now ... when I become proficient at welding and get a bit more money .. then I'll start looking at the torch.

KEG



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me

02-10-2003 21:12:36




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 Re: Cut metal with a stick welder? in reply to KEG, 02-10-2003 17:58:35  
a whole lot cheaper than oxy acyetalene and usually quicker specially if you have the welder going anyway



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John Nelson

02-10-2003 20:09:49




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 Re: Cut metal with a stick welder? in reply to KEG, 02-10-2003 17:58:35  
I've used what is called a carbon arc gouger, it consists of 2 carbon rods one to the stinger and the other to the ground, making a arc between the carbons. After the metal is heated it uses a jet of compressed air to blow out the melted metal. It workes good to cut flat metal also, but is designed to dig out old welds, like where a blade is welded to a loader bucket. They are really handy, but I havent been able to find one anymore.
It should be easy to build one.
John

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jim

02-11-2003 13:44:21




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 Re: Re: Cut metal with a stick welder? in reply to John Nelson, 02-10-2003 20:09:49  
Lincoln used to sell a carbon-arc torch for their little AC machines. Using a thumb control,the two carbon sticks were turned to form a "V" which produced an arc. You could then braze or wire weld. A little awkward, but it worked.



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Paul Janke

02-10-2003 18:51:32




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 Re: Cut metal with a stick welder? in reply to KEG, 02-10-2003 17:58:35  
An electric welder with 6011 rod is a very easy way to cut thin metal. I often use it to cut the tops out of barrels. It is also pretty good for cutting expanded metal because you don't have to preheat to cut each little piece. Thicker metal is harder to cut, but with practice it can be done fairly well. It seems to work best to sort of push all the way through, back to the top, and stab through again. I was told long ago that it helps to soak the rod in water to use it for cutting. I think you can use bare rod like 40d nails in a pinch.

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old bones

02-10-2003 18:31:51




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 Re: Cut metal with a stick welder? in reply to KEG, 02-10-2003 17:58:35  
yes it's true you can cut with welding rod, but i wouldn't recommend it. don't know what rod would be best, as almost any rod will cut through if you crank up the amps far enough- it's the same thing as burning through while trying to weld too hot (i'm referring to cutting 1/4" steel with 1/8" rod- obviously you wouldn't want to try cutting 3/4" steel with a 5/32" rod).
what kind of cutting can you do? ugly-plain and simple. i would do it only if i was out of oxy/acet and it was an emergency (like my foot in a bear trap). it's kinda like moving the wife's china hutch with the bumper of my truck- it can be done, but it won't be pretty.

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Matthew

02-10-2003 18:27:30




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 Re: Cut metal with a stick welder? in reply to KEG, 02-10-2003 17:58:35  
You may find this hard to believe, but this is correct. I have even tried it before. It can be done, however, I found it to be very uncommon. lincoln electric recommends to you use the 6011 because it's a general purpose rod, but if you were going to try it, I would use the 6010 because of its deep penetration. It is done by turning your machine all the way up which is 225 amps on mine. Then, you gather the metal you want to cut. Next, use a work angle of 90 degrees and strike and hold an extremely long arc(as long as you can get it). This will allow little or no metal to be deposited from the welding rod. Hold the rod there until the metal gets red hot and push the rod through the metal making sure that the metal is hot enough so the rod doesn't get stuck. Like I said, the process is impratical in my opinion but can be used to pierce holes or even cut a line(but that would take forever). Hope this helps, just my 2 cents worth.

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Neil Powell

02-11-2003 05:24:09




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 Re: Re: Cut metal with a stick welder? in reply to Matthew, 02-10-2003 18:27:30  
My problem, years ago when I did some welding, was not that I couldn't figure out how to use the welder to cut when needed, but rather that I couldn't keep from cutting with it when I was tryin' to weld.



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Terry H

02-17-2003 07:22:34




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 Re: Re: Re: Cut metal with a stick welder? in reply to Neil Powell, 02-11-2003 05:24:09  
Same here, Neil.....I do more cutting with my welder, than welding. 6011 rod soaked in water, and with practice, can do as good a job, if not better than the torch.

Terry H



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Matthew

02-10-2003 18:28:31




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 Re: Re: Cut metal with a stick welder? in reply to Matthew, 02-10-2003 18:27:30  
Be careful not to exceed your duty cycle.



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Bill in Ohio

02-10-2003 19:01:27




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 Re: Re: Re: Cut metal with a stick welder? in reply to Matthew, 02-10-2003 18:28:31  
I bought a surplus Japanese generator, and while getting acquainted [all the labels are in Japanese] I found out it is a cutting machine! This is a DC unit and it makes nice clean cuts with a 6011 rod. I tried some special cutting rods, but could see no advantage to them. I was told by a welder friend to soak the rods in water and it would be better yet. I cut up a bunch of scrap with it, rusty thin stuff that would foul a torch and I was pleased with the results.

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vince

02-10-2003 19:19:22




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Cut metal with a stick welder? in reply to Bill in Ohio, 02-10-2003 19:01:27  
you can get cutting rod [dont know the noumber] at the weilding shops your 6011 or old rod is good to use



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Scott Green

02-11-2003 04:02:54




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Cut metal with a stick welder? in reply to vince, 02-10-2003 19:19:22  
Yes , they had a cutting rod at a factory I worked at. I don't remember the name/number. But they do make it.



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chet in okla

02-10-2003 19:43:17




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Cut metal with a stick welder? in reply to vince, 02-10-2003 19:19:22  
our mainance man at work does this all the time he cuts from 3/16s to 3/8 steel with a gas welder not a will clean cut but good enough to weld together again.



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Joe

02-11-2003 16:32:28




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Cut metal with a stick welder? in reply to chet in okla, 02-10-2003 19:43:17  
Some people find they can do a better job of cutting with a stick welder than a torch, with a little practice of course. Ripping up old iron and sheet metal is much faster and cheaper with a stick welder and it's a good chance to use up those old rods that have gotten a little damp over time and won't weld worth a hoot. Also unless you have an iron powder torch or some of the more expensive cutters it is almost impossible to cut stainless steel, but it is a breeze with the stick. Just crank it up and let it eat. Another great use of the stick welder is to free a frozen bushing. Just run the electrode around the inside of the bushing making it arc for a bit and the bushing almost falls out by itself. Has to do with rearranging the molecules with the weld current and the bushing actually shrinks up a bit.

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