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help welding 14 ga

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Dcop

02-17-2007 21:17:06




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I am getting ready to build a new carport at the house. I am using 4x4 square tubing for support post and 6 inch purling for roof trusses. The problem I have had in the past is welding on the 14 ga steel without blowing threw. My welder is a 225 amp AC only unit. I normally use 6011 rods for this and most other small projects I get into. Any advise as to how not to blow holes in what I'm welding would be very helpful.

Thank you.

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Dcop

02-19-2007 13:17:06




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 Re: help welding 14 ga in reply to Dcop, 02-17-2007 21:17:06  
I would like to thank evryone for the very good advise. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Dcop



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ed1

02-18-2007 20:10:16




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 Re: help welding 14 ga in reply to Dcop, 02-17-2007 21:17:06  
Stick welding on thin steel is difficult at best. 6011 penetrates more than 6013 so I would use 6013. I've had better luck with 1/8 set real low with short welds and then going back to fill in. I tend to burn through with the smaller diamater rods.

When the metal gets thin I switch to gas O/A and use coat hangers.

Years ago I learned how to tig weld and would use this if I had one.



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135 Fan

02-18-2007 11:32:13




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 Re: help welding 14 ga in reply to Dcop, 02-17-2007 21:17:06  
As was stated 1/8 rods of any type and going to give you fits. You can get as small as 1/16 rods but 3/32 should work fine. A lot of people don't understand 6011 or 6010. While I have used several different types of rods to weld thin gauge steel, for someone with less experience I would suggest 3/32 6011. Yes they typically have more penetration but they are also easier to strike when turning the heat down lower than they would normally be used. They can also be whipped back and forth a little to allow the puddle to cool slightly as welding progresses. You can also whip them going vertical down with a fast travel speed. If you rented a wire feed welder 14 gauge should be relatively easy with small wire. Hope this helps. Dave

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Steve A_WV

02-18-2007 07:39:18




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 Re: help welding 14 ga in reply to Dcop, 02-17-2007 21:17:06  
dcop:
Do yourself a favor.....use the decimal eqiv. of the rod diameter as a starting point of the heat you set, adjust up or down from there.

Worked for me for 50+ yrs.
Steve



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hay

02-18-2007 06:43:22




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 Re: help welding 14 ga in reply to Dcop, 02-17-2007 21:17:06  
i am not a welder, but what welding i have done on that thin 14-16 gauge is extemely hard for me to do without blowing holes in the metal. i even tried a 110 volt wire welder and turned the power down low and still had problems. maybe it"s just too thin to weld unless the proper equipment is used... whatever that is.



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mike a. tenn.

02-18-2007 06:54:02




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 Re: help welding 14 ga in reply to hay, 02-18-2007 06:43:22  
even with a wire welder you have to get going and move. sometimes if you "spot" and stop and then start at the spot, you can work your way thru it. make sure your surface if very clean and you have good shiney metel to weld so that you can get going and keep moving and have your weld flow nicely. dirt rust or other foreign matter on you weld site is going to slow you down, and that will be when you burn thru.
this is just from my own experience, i'm no expert either.

-mike

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shoeie

02-18-2007 06:22:09




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 Re: help welding 14 ga in reply to Dcop, 02-17-2007 21:17:06  
If you had access to a small 120 volt wire feed welder would be the answer to your problem. I've welded things together allmost as light as a pop can. You might think about renting a machine like this from one of the local welding supply houses in your area. once you have tried a wire feed, you'll never want to go back to a stick welder. A lot of the 120 volt machines will turn up to 130 amps and down to almost nothing.

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TomTX

02-18-2007 05:47:24




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 Re: help welding 14 ga in reply to Dcop, 02-17-2007 21:17:06  
I built a fron entrance fence/gate using over 500 pickets, which were 3/4" sq tubing, 14 ga, crimped flame top, primed. I used 7014 3/32. Only blew thru about 4 times on four welds on each stick. However, I did run DC with my Miller Bobcat 225. Lots of people use the 6013, but I get a better weld with the 7014. Tom



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Allan In NE

02-18-2007 02:55:56




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 Re: help welding 14 ga in reply to Dcop, 02-17-2007 21:17:06  
I'm no welder by any stretch of the imagination, but keep the power down and keep moving.

14 gauge material ought to tack in fairly easily.

Allan



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Stan in Oly, WA

02-18-2007 00:52:54




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 Re: help welding 14 ga in reply to Dcop, 02-17-2007 21:17:06  
Hi Dcop,

I'll second soundguy's suggestion that you try 3/32" 6013. It's AC friendly and it strikes and holds an arc a little easier than 7014, and a lot easier than 7018AC. I run it between 50 and 60 amps when I'm working with 16 gauge sheet, but that's DC. AC seems to run about 15% cooler on most small AC welders I've used so you'll have to push it up a bit, but if you could get it to stay lit and wash in well at 70 or less, that would be great.

Whatever you decide to use, the best thing you could do would be to spend about half an hour practicing on the same materials you'll be using for the project. Learning how not to burn through on practice stock is time better spent than time learning to patch holes on the real deal. I hope it goes well.

All the best, Stan

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soundguy

02-17-2007 22:17:33




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 Re: help welding 14 ga in reply to Dcop, 02-17-2007 21:17:06  
I have a 235a hobart stickmate. i just got done welding some sheet metal. i had great luck using somewhere between 70 and 90a and 3/32 6013 rod. 6011 that you are using is high penetration, and not the best look. 6013 is lower penetration, and a steady hand will produce a 'row of dimes' nice clean bead.

if this is out of position, then the 7018ac fast cool may be a good choice also in a 3/32 and low anp setting.

Soundguy

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Dcop

02-17-2007 21:44:20




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 Re: help welding 14 ga in reply to Dcop, 02-17-2007 21:17:06  
How low of amps are you talking. I use 1/8 rods now. I normally run the amps around 90 when welding 14 ga. Is this to high. Never heard of the tile thing before.



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old

02-18-2007 07:15:36




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 Re: help welding 14 ga in reply to Dcop, 02-17-2007 21:44:20  
1/8 rod is way to big and that amp setting is also. You need 3/32 rod and down around 40-60 amps. I'm a retired welder and back in my day with a tig machine I could weld a beer can back togeather, but thats been years ago. Also if you can keeping your welds about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long will help a lot. Or in other words make a lot of big tack welds instead of one big long weld. Then if you want you can clean off the slag and go back and fill in the gaps but again keep the short welds. Give the metal time to cool down since when you blow holes in it your melting the metal away because its getting to hot

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NcNE

02-18-2007 10:52:27




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 Re: help welding 14 ga in reply to old, 02-18-2007 07:15:36  
I agree with Old. Make a series of small welds and allow time for proper cooling. An air compressor with clean dry air might work to cool your welds off in a relatively fast manner. Just be careful not to cool the welds too fast as that may cause cracking of the weld. If you can find it and the funds allow find some 5/64" rods. Use a 6013 or similar rod. Just make sure to clean all the slag off. A wire wheel on an angle grinder works well. If you have access to a wire welder make sure and use shielding gas and MIG wire as it produces a clean weld. Many of the flux-core wires burn hotter and you then have to contend with the slag.

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banjo

02-17-2007 21:52:00




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 Re: help welding 14 ga in reply to Dcop, 02-17-2007 21:44:20  
you will just have to experiment on the amps . usually have to start low and check the penetration. Might try a 7014 rod or 7018ac little easier to weld with.



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old

02-17-2007 21:38:14




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 Re: help welding 14 ga in reply to Dcop, 02-17-2007 21:17:06  
Very low amps, small rods and if you can clamp a piece of creramic tile on the bad side or a piece of some other steel on the back side. Be careful with the tile because it can brake of sort of explode but doesn't happen often



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