stick welding sheet metal?

[chopperrr]

Some people tell me it can't be done. I know it is not easy 'cause I tryed it, but as I only have a stick welder it would be great if I could just tack the sheet, if not make a bead. Any tips or suggestions?

[Hairy-Neil]

Some people tell me it can't be done. I know it is not easy 'cause I tryed it, but as I only have a stick welder it would be great if I could just tack the sheet, if not make a bead. Any tips or suggestions?

I've a mate that is brilliant at it, mainly because he's only got a stick welder and has never been told it can't be done.

You might try dressing the edges up slightly at the joint, say 1mm each side. This is a dodge regularly used when tig welding aluminium and might help.

[chopperrr]

I've a mate that is brilliant at it, mainly because he's only got a stick welder and has never been told it can't be done.

You might try dressing the edges up slightly at the joint, say 1mm each side. This is a dodge regularly used when tig welding aluminium and might help.

Well it will be hard to dress it because I am trying to weld 1mm thick sheet.

[underdog57]

Hi Chopperrr ,
I like reading your posts , ( out of the box creativity) ...
On the welding light gage with stick , I watched a guy weld a crusty exaughst pipe with it ....
The trick was he used the stick , but added in another stick rod and fed it in the puddle like gas or tig welding . This kept the arc from blowing a hole...
Thought it was pretty neat !!
Good luck
Bob

[chopperrr]

It's nice to hear that someone likes what I post.
I heard that necesity is the mother of all inventions but I feel so frustrated from time to time. You probably won't believe this, but me and my wife live out of cc. 150euro per month. The good thing is that we don't pay any bills (the bad thing is that my mother in law pays them and I know it will come back to haunt me in the future). So, as the end of a month aproaches I'm freaking out, and I can't even think of going to a junkyard and getting some scrap for post dollies and slappers, but, I should get a job in a month or so..

I will try the method you mention. It's so crazy it might even work.. Thanks!

[custommetal]

Stick welding sheet takes a little practice but the biggest thing to make it easy is to use 1/16 diameter (1.5mm) rod. Sometimes it isn't easy to find but it makes the job a lot easier as you can use 20A to weld instead of 40 or 50 with a larger rod. Also make sure the weld area is clean!!!.. Tack every inch then go back and stitch weld the panel. It works better than trying to run a continuous bead on the thinner metal. Practice, Practice, Practice.
George

[rsanter]

I have welded sheetmetal with a stick welder. my local shop had the welding rod to do it. it worked ok but caused some warping. I am sure that was mostly an operator problem though.

bob

[beaulieu]

Are you just using the big RED buzzbox ???

I know it would be easier with a DC arc welder but those are pretty expensive.

[chopperrr]

Thanks for all the advice. I have a DC welder that looks like it came from the last century, but it works fine on thicker material. When I go home in a few days I'll try it out with the sheet and post my success... or faliure.. :)

[chaparral2f]

Thanks for all the advice. I have a DC welder that looks like it came from the last century, but it works fine on thicker material. When I go home in a few days I'll try it out with the sheet and post my success... or faliure.. :)
I gotta say it.
If your welder is more than six years old, It is from the last century. :-D :-D
Just like almost all my tools.

[abonecoupe31]

The gizmo you need is sold by Eastwood in Malvern, PA--it's a rectifier built into a welding rod holder that takes a small welding electrode--you turn it down amperage-wise and use these small welding rods...for years this was advertised with a testimonial from a 15 year old kid who was restoring a 57 Chevy...

Sears used to sell a contact electrode for welding small guage steel--I tried it but had poor results....it did weld ok, but blow thru was/is a problem. :-o

Mark aka Abonecoupe31

[gilligan]

i used to have to weld metal door frames up on jobsites with a stick welder the trick i found is alot of practice and the smallest stick u can find do short welds 1" or so and be carefull not build up to much heat. Good luck

[spark dog]

I've a mate that is brilliant at it, mainly because he's only got a stick welder and has never been told it can't be done.

You might try dressing the edges up slightly at the joint, say 1mm each side. This is a dodge regularly used when tig welding aluminium and might help.
If you know the right welding rods to use ,it's a piece of cake!
Try using the same thickness rod as your metal, 7014 is a down hand rod
for welding sheetmetal, you can use it in all positions.
6013 is used for welding on rusty parts. There are several more.

[chopperrr]

Thanks! I'll see what I can make of it..