• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Stick welding help/////

Danno

Danno

Well-Known Member
Local time
2:58 PM
Joined
Sep 12, 2022
Messages
58
Reaction score
47
Location
Akron, Ohio
Im getting ready to weld the brackets for a buddy seat in
my 65 Coronet. I bought a cheapo arc welder "arcCaptain 130".
I was curious if anyone might know a general amperage to use...floorpan is pretty thin.
Thanks in advance !!!
 
Best to practice on some scrap to get a feel for the machine. They are all different and usually the cheapo ones are the worst. Also, a MIG welder is better suited to sheet metal.
 
As low as possible and many tack welds. If you try to run with it you will burn through. Try to keep the heat/puddle on the bracket its thicker.
 
Cranky said:
Best to practice on some scrap to get a feel for the machine. They are all different and usually the cheapo ones are the worst. Also, a MIG welder is better suited to sheet metal.
Click to expand...
Thnx Cranky. Im gonna practice fersher!! I knew I shouldnt
have been sooo cheap when I went shopping...
pnora said:
As low as possible and many tack welds. If you try to run with it you will burn through. Try to keep the heat/puddle on the bracket its thicker.
Click to expand...
Thnx pnora...Ill be doin that..and keep my fingers crossed..lol
 
This is 1 fellas review on this welder.

1742419171619.png
 
You know, There are some pretty cheap multi process welders out there that are pretty good for their price!
One of them is a YesWelder. If that's too much Moola, maybe a Harbor Freight???? You need to M.I.G. the
sheet metal with 0.020 diameter wire! The only other thing you'll need is Argon. Stick welding is for heavy
penetration and the rule of thumb is one Amp per thousandth of diameter of the rod. If you're burning a 1/8"
rod you'll set the machine at 125 Amps.
 
Can you return your arc welder and go buy a cheap mig at Harbor Freight? You will be a lot happier with that for any automotive welding you would have to do.....
 
Absolutely.
Stick welding is crude and sloppy when trying to weld thin gauge metal. The MIG welders can make a novice look pretty good.
I just finished a welding class today. We did stick, MIG and TIG. I started with stick welding 30+ years ago and quickly abandoned it.
I have years of hobbyist experience with MIG so I took the class to see how I could improve my skills. I didn't care to get better at stick because MIG does everything that I need. TIG is much more involved and requires a higher level of skill and coordination, that of which I neither had nor cared to develop.
 
Don’t bother to use a stick, it will look like the surface of the moon. Flip a buddy some cash to weld it up otherwise.
 
Harbor freight 90 amp flux core mig welder is cheap and just about perfect for small jobs. Its a little splashy with spatter but it will work and they are les than 100.00 The bad thing is that Harbor freight doesn't sell .030 or .025 flux core. The best you can do is .035 Which will do it just don't stay in one place too long. Practice a ton before you actually use it.
 
F4R/T said:
Don’t bother to use a stick, it will look like the surface of the moon. Flip a buddy some cash to weld it up otherwise.
Click to expand...
For someone that's somewhat experienced, you can weld sheet metal with a stick machine. I've done it more than once. Filled all the body trim holes on 2 different cars. Just have to use good DRY rods and know how to keep the heat in check. And you couldn't tell once the minimal body work was done. Have also joined sheet metal using stick. It can be done.
 
I just did some floor pan patches on my W350 with .024 wire in my mig and it was like welding tissue paper, I would never try welding sheet metal with a stick.

IMG_3799.jpeg
IMG_3829.jpeg
 
I agree completely Cranky, my great uncle was one of the best I’ve ever seen with a stick. Experience is key and knowing the machine is the other major requirement. I’d be curious as to what rod you used. My great uncle had an old 50s ice box that had a heat source installed to keep them all dry . He also had a coke machine with tiny coke bottles I still remember !!
 
That needs a 3/32” or 5/64” welding rod. 1/8” will not work very well, too big. 1/16” might be better yet, a little harder to find.
 
Your arcCaptain 130 can run .030 flux core mig wire. Use that instead of stick and practice welding some scrap pieces together of the same guages as the brackets and floor pan. It should work good for the job your doing.
 
If you can find a machine (maybe HF) in your price range that will do flux core and gas, that would be a good option. Not that you need it, but once you get use to the machine you can add a small bottle (75/25) and the welds really clean up. IMHO.
 
Didn't read all the above but I only use arc/stick on thicker steel. Mig is the way to go on body metal like a floor pan.
 
Thin metal is veeeeeeeery difficult to weld with a stick welder except for experienced welders.
Two things I have found that help:
- cut the rods in half. It gives you more control & a 'steadier' hand....
- use s/steel rods. They just work better....
 
I stick weld on sheet metal with good success using 3/32" diameter 309 Stainless weld rod. Start on the lower volt setting (75-110 volts) and go up from there to get to the optimum setting to avoid burning through the material. Practice on scrap material until you get comfortable with it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

cudak888
Less BS about changing tire alignment specs from stock (a.k.a. let's rant about Mopar suspension some more)
2 3 4
Replies
74
Views
6K
dvw
dvw
6
  • Locked
SOLD 1963 Plymouth Belvedere Wagon Drag Car (Roller) ...
Replies
0
Views
3K
69 Charger 500 Fanatic
6
one_classy_hobo
  • Poll
NEW PICS! COST BREAKDOWN AND HONEST REVIEW ON MY TIJUANA, MEXICO INTERIOR - '65 CORONET
Replies
6
Views
4K
GetX'd
GetX'd
MaxWedgeWagon
1970 Coronet Wagon - "Queen Bee"
2 3
Replies
48
Views
9K
Derwud
Derwud
cudabee
Auto-Darkening welding hood???
Replies
18
Views
1K
beanhead
beanhead
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top