TIP#1
IF YOU WANT TO WELD STAINLESS STEEL TO MILD STEEL OR HIGH ALLOY STEEL,TRY USING
309L-16 ($5.00—$10.00) PER POUND, INSTEAD OF THE MORE EXPENSIVE MAINTENANCE
ALLOYS ($15.00—-$30.00) PER POUND!!!
TIP#2
ALWAYS USE A WELDING FUME RESPIRATOR.THIS COULD ADD 10-20 YEARS TO YOUR LIFE.
TIP#3
IF YOU ARE USING 6011 ON EVERYTHING, EVEN CLEANER MATERIAL,TRY USING 7014.7014 IS STRONGER AND RUNS VERY SMOOTH. ALSO THE SLAG ALMOST COMES OFF BY ITSELF!!!
TIP#4
WELDING CAST IRON W/OUT PRE-HEAT; KEEP PART COOL! NEVER SO HOT THAT YOU CAN’T PUT YOUR HAND NEXT TO THE WELD. USE STRINGER BEADS, NEVER MORE THAN 2″ LONG. PEEN WELD AS SOON AS YOU FINISH THE BEAD.
TIP#5
IF YOUR ROD HAS PICKED UP MOISTURE,JUST PUT IT IN AN OVEN @ 400 DEGREES FOR AN HOUR AND THAT SHOULD BRING IT BACK TO NORMAL.
TIP#6
IF YOUR WELD BEGINS TO ACT STRANGE AND MOVE AROUND ON YOU,CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR WELDING CABLE IS WOUND UP.IF IT IS ,UN-WIND IT AND TRY WELDING AGAIN. IF IT IS WELDING GOOD AGAIN,YOU HAVE JUST EXPERIENCED ARC BLOW.WHEN YOUR CABLE WAS WOUND UP,IT CREATED A MAGNETIC FIELD,CAUSING YOUR ARC TO BECOME ERRATIC!!