Two DIY questions

[The Lone Rider]

It's not so bad now - I am now running those 2.6mm rods with the welder on less than 75A and only occassionally tripping the circuit breaker.

Point in fact - Jmnemonic I believe was correct in that it was technique. Not to say a lot of the other things haven't helped. Did a read up explaining how it works, how to arc and drag, and last weld I just tried I did a full weld in only two goes, fully filled, and not too bad looking. Makes me smile

One thing... I can weld things that are horizontal or right angles from each other but welding downwards.

But say something like two upright plates and wanting to weld along the middle, downwards. Any trick to doing that? Because most of the melted rod seems to splash downwards

[geoffm]

Your in trouble now - it is all downhill from here. You will be wanting a bigger welder soon, and MIG and TIG and...
Try the welder makers sites;
http://www.esabna.com/euweb/AWTC/Lesson1_1.htm
http://www.hobartwelders.com/elearning/#stick
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/knowledge/
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/knowl...rcweldfund.asp

There are some Youtube guides as well. Welding overhead or vertical is harder than on the flat. See if you can get soemone to show you - it is easier.
Have you got some good gloves - you will need them. One is to stop hot stuff, the other is to stop bad sunburn from the arc and the resulting skin cancer...

[Ixion]

Sharrup. Sharrup. Sharrup. And don't even think about muttering about machine tools. I can't hear you.

[CookMySock]

It's not so bad now - I am now running those 2.6mm rods with the welder on less than 75A and only occassionally tripping the circuit breaker.

You won't hurt the extension lead or the plugs (put your hand on them - mildly warm is ok, check pins slide in firmly) but you will eventually destroy that breaker and this can be dangerous. Either replace it with a 15A breaker or use a different socket.

Steve

[The Lone Rider]

Have excellent leather welding gloves.

Other issue.. the fumes! Anything special to wear over my nose/mouth? Or just keep garage door open and weld in small quantities?

[rickstv]

That welder is rated at 6kva. 6000 watts devided by 230v is 26 amps AC. I'm not surprised you're tripping a breaker. I doubt if any wiring in your house is rated for that capacity except the stove cable. And then the socket will only be rated 15 Amps anyway.
Rick.

[The Lone Rider]

My understanding is it can be switched over to 3 phase by opening the cover and changing some pin connections. The cover outlines pins and how to connect them for different voltage inputs.

As I said, my boss has had it for years and always running on single phase in his garage.

At this point I am becoming consistant in that I am getting an arc without sticking and then tripping circuit breaker. And I've been able to get the rods going good nearly around 55amps (the lowest it will go).

[rickstv]

Unless you "stick" the rod you're not likely to trip the breaker at 55Amps.
secondary volts 60 X 55 Amps =3300 Watts. 3300 Watts Devided by 230 Volts = 14.34 Amps AC.

Make sure the welder is actually wired for 230Volts.

Dont go down the 3 phase road unless the house is already wired.

Instead, get the local sparky to fit a higher current carrying capacity socket in your garage with larger wiring and a 30 Amp breaker. This will be a dedicated outlet and nothing else except the welder will fit it.
Rick.

[JMemonic]

Once you get arcs striking etc, 100-140 amps for 3.2mm rods is the normal range, I might PM you once I get time and come and have a look something sounds odd.

For welding vertical you weld up hill not down, practice down hand to start with, I can recommend doing the basic course at tech if you have time and money, you will not regret it.

[gatch]

Once you get arcs striking etc, 100-140 amps for 3.2mm rods is the normal range, I might PM you once I get time and come and have a look something sounds odd.

For welding vertical you weld up hill not down, practice down hand to start with, I can recommend doing the basic course at tech if you have time and money, you will not regret it.

what he said..

he he if you want to have some fun with your arc, you can use soaking wet rods as a git-er-dun version of an air/arc machine..

[The Lone Rider]

I might PM you once I get time and come and have a look something sounds odd.

For welding vertical you weld up hill not down, practice down hand to start with,

Any help welcome!