How to Strike an Arc: Stick Welding Basics for Beginners
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- čas přidán 4. 05. 2024
- When starting out with Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), also known as Stick Welding, striking an arc is the first challenge to overcome. If you're wondering how to keep your rod from sticking, check out the tips in this video.
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I struck my first arc in 1971 in shop class. By 1979 I was a licensed fitter welder, I retired this past August 2020. Great career choice. My 21 year old grandson is currently nearing the end of his welding school. :)
Very cool.. my father was a welder almost 30 years however retired early cuz he hated having 20 year olds coming out of school licensed and making more than him instantly
Cool. I weld as a hobby, and I don't really understand why people have to go to schools to learn this. You can learn most of the skills in three afternoons, including breaks.
@@xl000 Our world used to be get in there and figure it out. Now it is all about the credentials.
@@xl000 you need to get a license to be allowed to get a job in welding for buildings or ships, atleast in the Philippines.
I was almost a certified SMAW/ stick welder i just quit lol
@@xl000 the school I'm at will cwb license me after 8 months up to 6g license plus options for mig, tig, stainless, structural. Private colleges are worth the money.
I thought it was called stick welding cause that's what the rod always does.
Good tips, thanks.
Haha good one
Nice one if that were true then I’m the best stick welder in town, mine stick so good i have to release the rod from my electrode welder
Ui
Pp
Lol
@@ES-hm5oc hehe same here, good work 🤙
You're much more approachable and watchable than many of of the other welding channels... much more well spoken and knowledgeable as well
I totally agree! Good teacher.
True
A lot of welding channels come off as super condescending to beginners. Your channel doesn't do that. Your very personable. I really appreciate it.
I took 3 semesters of welding in community college and had a natural knack for it. 13 military years later, I’m soon restarting my youthful trade as a professional welder in a U.S navy shipyard. My weld instructor showed a “push and twist” arc start technique. Think of a 90 degree perpendicular axis with your electrode & wrist. As you come in for the first contact, “push and twist” the electrode. That 90 degree twist can help eliminate a potential electrode stick over the conventional match strike or scrape technique. Depending on the thickness, he also bent his electrodes in the stinger about 90 degrees. This gave the stinger more grip within the clamp to help from sticking or added tension to help pull it out when you did without leaving your electrode behind. Thought this was worth sharing 🙂
Bro finally a person that actually makes sense for beginners lol. Glad I found your channel 🙏🏼
Thanks!
🙏
This is helpful, as well as your other tutorials. I actually did my first welding project at 10 yrs old with my father who was a welder for 35 years before retiring. He learned how to weld in the army and when he got home, he went thru an apprenticeship. We used to take trips to the junkyard for interesting items to make into animals. I had my bucket and after it was filled with goodies from metal pieces to large nuts and bolts. I made crickets, turtles, and all kinds of creatures. Dad is long gone now, but every once in a while I'll be thinking of him and I'll get a whiff of his cheap "Money Maker" Cigars and it brings me right back to those early years. Thank you pop.
Your tutorials have really helped refresh my memory and it is like riding a bike- you never really forget how to ride...
I'm really glad I stumbled upon this channel. I started working for a construction company as a fleet mechanic last year, and while I had experience with MIG over my past decade in automotive dealerships it was nowhere near enough welding experience to keep up with the workload here. Our higher ups were supposed to send me and another of my coworkers to welding classes to get up to speed, but staffing shortages in our shop and money shortages in the company kept us tied to the shop in order to keep things going. I was going to sign up for welding classes at our local community college just to get it done, but Covid restrictions made the wait list 8 months long at a minimum. I tried teaching myself stick welding but it did not go well AT ALL. This channel has taught me a lot in just a short few days and helped me to work on my weak spots and learn A LOT of new skills, all for just the cost of my time.
So for that, thank you, Tim. You're doing a great job and I hope to learn more from you in the future!
I respect the commitment expressed in this comment.
im self taught. i work in IT (but love to fabricate).
i start my arc on a scrap plate clamped to my job piece.
gets the tip clean & hot, this makes my first contact easy and predictable on thin wall tubing.
i have a $90 stick machine and zero training. these videos make life easier for anyone that lacks a teacher or experience💪🏼
I like the way he explain things, in a way you get it, A lot of people who makes videos don't have that gift and leave you confused.
He has a great teaching mentality dont he? I have sbs small brain syndrome so its ez to learn from him
Thanks Tim! Got me rolling and I was able to fix my balcony handrail with dad's old arc welder. Dad taught me the very basics about twenty years ago, and I got spoiled with a MIG welder at the college I worked at. It was nice to dust his gear off and put it to use.
Thanks for posting. I just bought a cheap 110v stick welder and did a really crappy but serviceable weld on a license plate bracket (first weld ever). Watching your examples of all the different variables is really helping me figure out what I did wrong. This is a great channel for a beginner like me to learn from.
I can’t tell you what a relief it is to have this channel available. This is definitely the best welding instruction I’ve ever seen.
Thanks bro! You are much nicer than a lot of guys that belittle you for being a rookie!👊
Tim I watched one of your YT videos yesterday and implemented your tips. I was amazed because by implementing your tips my welds starting looking professional where as prior to watching that video of yours my welds weren't even acceptable. And prior to watching your video yesterday I had watched a dozen or so other welding videos. Thanks for the brief education contained in your videos! When your welds come out looking good its a lot more fun to do this.
Thanks Tim, really practical points, explained in a simple, and straightforward way.
Watching this makes me so eager to do my first weld. Thanks!
Thanks for such a simple video 🙌
Just got a new assignment to my work and I'll be starting to weld together large skeletons for docks and it was a pain as it was my first time and just had to figure it out somehow. This video explains alot, thanks 🙌
Great video, even after I have been welding on and off over 25 years. I find a new electrode on a new weld is more prone to sticking until it has been struck and used a little. After is is warm it is much easier. I also find rubbing the end of a new rod on the concrete helps to get the flux off the edge and enables the strike.
Love your videos mate. Hoping to tackle my first project Friday. Nice to see someone putting out great, positive content for the world 👍
I'm just starting to learn to stick weld (and to weld in general), and videos like this are already coming in really handy.
Really cool pal. I'm Brazilian and an English teacher as well.Some of my students who are welders asked me to help them about the welding literature in English. And you have been helping me a great deal. Thanks again.
Hey Tim, just struck my first arc today. So happy that I have to rewatch this video to help me when the stick practically just sticks to the plate. LOL. so happy.
Thanks for the good memories. I remember sitting down in our apprentice shop the first time and learning to strike my first arcs.
So glad I found you just now. You’re very detailed your explanations. Really appreciate it thanks.
Thanks so much!
Ive been mig welding for a few months now and bought a cheap 3 in 1 machine from amazon...and i mean cheap in every sense of the word. Wasnt sure if its total junk or if its because im a greenhorn, but i couldnt get the stick to arc but only once by chance. This is giving me a LOT more confidence in my purchase an myself. Thanks Tim.
Awesome channel brother!
A little over 20 years ago, I was an iron worker. I sanded, painted, and loaded flatbed trucks for delivery. Then I began being taught how to weld. The second morning I was to train, that sad day 9/11 happened. The next day, I was laid off, never to return to my welding journey. Now, I'm old and trying to teach myself how to weld. I bought one of those cheap little 20amp to 120amp welders and have attempted to practice at night. Two separate times, about 20 minutes each, all I managed to do was stick the rod to the piece, melt the piece, or turn it into Swiss cheese. You're right, SO frustrating. So I have CZcamsd the topic and luckily I found you. You seem easy to learn from and not a dick like I remember the iron worker teaching me was.
Thank you for this video and this channel! I think I will learn a lot from you.
I agree with “D”, your attitude and approach are SO much better than 75% of the welding videos out there. It seems like almost everyone talks down to the audience, but you don’t have the, “ I’m a pro and you are lucky I’ll even talk to you!” Arrogant attitude.
Thanks for your vids Tim!
A lot of people don't know that you can also preheat your rod by touching the table or your work with the rod straight up and down and keeping pressure for eight to ten seconds, or until steam has released from the rod. It will stay hot for a minute and will be less likely to do a blow out on material thinner than your rod and also make a smoother looking finnish weld bead.
With your video I was able to strike an arc for the first time and was able to hold it. Glad I found you videos THANK YOU.
I just got my ESAB Rebel 205ci for Christmas and this definitely has helped open my eye up to stick welding, I took a class on it and I always had it stick or never wanted to go and I never thought of the sandpaper or file trick.
Thank You for the great information. You showed us some great tips. Your demeanor made receiving the information enjoyable.
I had all the troubles mentioned when i started. :) My biggest problem was the length of the stick and to keep it stable and the right distance from the material. Solved it by holding the rod in the middle, much more stable and striking an arc and a nice bead became much simpler. Then i cut the rods in two for the same reason. After a while it becomes easier and full length rods are no problem anymore.
I keep wondering why I only have a problem with brand new sticks sticking definitely going to try cutting them in half now good idea
Me too I’m not good at handling the long rod…. Oh boy this is sounding like something other than welding
Very helpful, TY! New Sub here for sure...
I'm an OJT Mig welder since 96'... Factory floor assembly work mostly so my technical knowledge about welding leaves much to be desired...
I really connected with your words on muscle memory as well... I struggled for a while initially learning Mig, but was in a spot where I was given the time to get the hang of it as it were...
One day, it felt like it suddenly started coming to me more naturally...
Most simple explanation I've seen so far, thank you
I definitely think I’m too aggressive striking my initial arc, thank you that tip on its own is priceless.
Thanks! I know that's what I struggled with for quite a while.
I stuck my first ark and i was so happy and lost my weld but now im gettin better just learning from mistakes and teach your self is my best advice
You're a super likeable guy. Very easy to learn from. Can't wait till I'm striking an arc without thinking about it. Thanks for the video
I work in construction and weld a lot of rebar and such, the "strike a match" and file thing just saved me a lot of frustration😂
If I hadn't already subscribed, I would be again... Double great video. Tim, you have a natural style of teaching. Keep going baby. Stay safe, Jim Tree
I tried my first stick weld today. Welding two hinges on a gas bottle wood burner door. The stick got stuck and the heat travelled all the way up it and began to glow. It actually scared me a bit.
I’m going to try it again now after watching your video. Thanks for the tips. 🇬🇧
Genius. We need more people in the world like you!
Thanks. I am just learning and find your tutorials very helpful.
Duuude this is the best channel I’ve found so far for beginner tips. Thanks for the great content man.
Great presentation. Clear and to the point. Kudos.
Subscribed yesterday because after watching one video i knew you are able to teach me a lot of basic welding principles.
Cheers bro, always getting my electrode stuck. Thanks for the tips
Thank you so much me and my grandpa 13 and 79 are beginning stick welding and we have this problem a lot now I actually know how to strike an ark thank you so much
This is my first time using this electrode welding, i am a retired Chef's from Las Vegas, Nv. US now i am in Thailand, i don't like to buy wood for creating a table or other kind of furnitures because wood in Thailand are not 100% perfect there are tiny holes in it covered by saw dust that seems to be perfect but this are the tiny nest of a termites, i have to learn welding because i can create a metal furniture & on top of this, termites don't eat metals, i practice each time i have free time welding & i prefer my study from your website, i created me a portable sink using metal like 1cm x 2cm x 13 meters in US they used inch, also i created me a rest area by the farm using metal & cement but the surroundings are termites colony, i like your video, thank you for showing me more to master this kind of profession
Thanks for this video. I recently started to learn how to stick weld and today I got super frustrated not being able to strike an arc and the stick kept getting stuck. I ended up putting it down for the day over frustration. Im not discouraged but this video made me feel better.
For me just starting out, I learned using a forward match strike. Seemed to work well as it preps your position, let’s you ark and drag it back to weld over, and it’s almost like the coating keeps you from actually touching the plate after. I forget where I got the trick from.
Thank you! I was erring on the low side of my Amps and welding my rod every dang time I tried to strike an arc! Frustrating is a kind way of putting it!! Lol
Thanks to you, I turned that bad boy up and haven't had much trouble since!
Much appreciated 😊
I've done a lot of MIG and TIG.... i never did stick, but bought a TIG machine with stick capabilities... I made all the mistakes you mentioned.... Thanks for this.
Better welders have a “hot start” feature. When striking the arc, the welder delivers more amperage for that short duration. That helps to prevent the sticking you sometimes get.
That's cute till your in field 4 floors away from machine with 300 foot of lead
@@chrisjones6165 works there too.
chris jones or your first day on the job at a shop that has an older welder without such a feature and you can't strike an arc.
@@calvinhandley2373 u think I can go hotter
Horacio Salinas No idea without seeing the welds you're asking about. Are you getting good penetration?, what's the bead look like? If you're running practice beads keep stepping the amperage, a little at a time until you start seeing signs of excess amperage. For practice I recommend welding with as high an amperage setting as you can control with a good looking flat bead.
these videos are really helpful, thank you for the tips. A Really good channel for beginners like me.
These are wonderful options. I used to scrape the rod on the concrete floor.
I’ve never welded anything till yesterday, I suck. But found it fascinating and memorizing to watch it melt.
Super informative thank you sir! I will check out more stuff of yours as I start welding school on Monday
Awesome! I really enjoyed welding school; I was always looking for little hacks to get the most out of my time there. Best of luck!
Long time since I did any welding but I used to strike an arc by what I can only describe as "bouncing" the rod tip with a slight flick of the wrist movement. It's a way to start which if you bounce too much you just start again but you avoid sticking the rod to the work peice.
Thanks , watching your videos is enjoyable and knowledgeable
Nice tips. My welds are like jam but really strong. Gotta love welding.
Excellent explanation Mr. Tim . thank you.
Thanks, Tim Great tips... Always appreciate! I'm a newbie here! I like the idea of the marker on the practice plate.... I will try that...Meantime, I'm having fun watching myself progress!
I’m a freshman in welding shop class and after the first day, I was already interested.
Thanks, great video, well presented.
I appreciate the info . . .just purchased a Mig/Stick machine . . .Stick seems to be the cheapest, but hardest to learn:)
I love running stick very satisfying when done right
I taught myself to stick weld 45 years ago with zero guidance or instruction. I didn’t have an auto darkening hood and struggled to spark an arc behind the shade. I “cheated” and exposed my eyes many many times to a very brief arc and then put the shade in front of my eyes. I burned my eyes. Several hours after the welding session, it felt like someone was grinding sand into my eyes. Was very scary. I was lucky and suffered no permanent damage. I was young and ignorant and had no oversight.
Thank you - this is really helpful.
the burst of flames shocked me. But I will learn this one day. thanks for the useful information
Another hugely helpful video Tim, thank you so much for the information! Again you've taught me several things I'd never found out about this and I'm excited to put them into practice!
Keep up the amazing work mate and stay safe till next time :)
Thank you. Always great advice
Thanks for the tutorial cheers, I'm just learning how to stick weld any advice much appreciated, kev from the UK 👍
You can use the screws on the side of the electrode holder as well
And in nederland also
You got a good temperment for teaching.
My dad was a damm good welder but didnt have much patience for teaching.
I never did catch on.
This was really, really helpful, I am a student in welding and I kept having my rod stick to the steel, so this was immensely helpful. I was also using a 7018 rod on 120 amperage, so it’s sorta my fault, but this helped me get it for the few times it didn’t stick.
so what rod is best for 120 amperage ? lol
@@adanramirez1353 1/8 inch?
I suggest set it to 150
Thank you for basically teaching me to weld, recently bought a harbor freight welder for non critical welding hobby stuff, I have run into an issue I cannot find any info on or maybe I’m wording my search incorrectly.
My welding rod, 6011, has a big fizz or sparkler effect every so often. I have been welding conduit pipe very thin, I should probably use 6013 but I’ve become quite proficient at welding this stuff by striking an arc letting it sit for about one second then pull away, doing this over and over until i get all the way around otherwise the conduit pipe 1/8” probably a little less just blows out big time.
Basically I’ve been learning to weld on this stuff, your direction for amps and how to strike an arc was such valuable information thank you.
I have never even welded thicker metal that wasn’t round yet but after 20 or so rods I’m no longer embarrassed by my welds and even got a compliment from a trade school welder.
But why does my rod act like a sparkler at times, this typically happens when i pull away and the rod is several inches away from the metal but has a big fizz like the last seconds of a sparkler
I’m new too and you probably have this long answered by now buuut the further away your rod, the wider and more cone shaped the arc will be. Get the rod closer and the arc will be smaller and more spherical rather than cone shaped.
your videos are amazing!! Best one out there by far. thanks so much
Thank you for the content sir!
Thanks, I am new to this you were easy to follow I hope to stay with you, thanks again.
On cleaning the end of a the electrode. I keep a small chunk of concrete paver on my bench to tap on, avoids it flashing and leaving arc strikes but is also super good
Very helpful video. I needed one when I was starting learning stick welding an I couldn't find one.
Thanks! It's kind of hard to explain, but you can't weld much without striking an arc, so I thought it would be a worthwhile video.
Eureka! I struck my first arc today. I did have the amps too low and was striking way too hard. Thanks Tim. You got me going.
Awesome! So glad it helped!
Great video and seems like such a decent dude!
I wasn't looking at the fly! Can you do a video on welding overhead? Thank you for posting these, great delivery. Saved me some headaches.
He just gave all of us flash burn. Thanks buddy. Kidding. Thanks for the video.
Absolutely love your vids man,thanks for the info
This was very helpful! Nice video
Simple but useful tips 👍
I agree with "dan" that you are very approachable and watchable. Some videos I find there are bit and pieces I must be familiar with before the content makes sense especially the jargon. Tim's videos are like watch and learn within it. Excellent work. I can't start building sh_t I am so excited. :)
Thanks for that! Have fun!
Very informative video, thanks!
Thanks mang your a life saver 👍
Thank you this did help a lot!
I’m 14 and I’ve started to stick weld at home this was really helpful
Please keep your eyes well shielded and always cover all your skin, I see too many welders not having proper coverage of their skin, especially the neck line. Stay safe, Jim
@@aerialrescuesolutions3277 nice of you for giving him some support not "oooh kidoo leave that for when you get older" kind of shit
i also had electrode sticking problem ....tanks tim
Good advice. I was introduced to stick welding sixty years ago and have dabbled in welding from time to time ever since, and still learning, so advice like you provide is helpfull. Personally I would like some instant dexteriety. 😀...
Recently I patched up a embrittled section in the deck of a rotary slasher, cut out the thin fragmenting section and in order to add reinforcing I used 2x2 inch lengths of angle iron welded side by side to cover the hole with about two or more inch overlaps beyond the cut-out. Welded from the top and underside and stitch welded between each section of angle iron. I preheated the angle iron a little, as well as the edges of the hole before welding each section of angle iron in place...
So what was the outcome? Well, not ideal, because as the angle iron sections and deck cooled it contracted enough to twist the rotary-slasher (bushhog) so much that the machine can't cut evenly any more😔... Now I am contemplating the possibility of straightening the machine by some means, but because of the side skirts stiffen the whole machine I am not confident that I can straighten it.? 🤔
Stay safe and enjoy life.
☆ Niels 💕
Thank you for useful info
Most of it comes down to fresh dry rods and good solid clean grounds more than actual technique. Also if you’re way to low on amps that won’t help either.
Bput to go to welding school next year . Can't wait !
I am subscribing since I want to learn how to DIY weld some parts of our house. Thank you
You should put up some painting or pictures of your work and check points to dull down the acoustics in your work room 😆 it's very echo-y. I absolutely love you tho dude you have taught me how to go from sticking and puddles and or not enough to perfect arch and no drag or too much drag to almost perfect lines or Cs or cursive Es. I actually welded my flange on my muffler and then welded the muffler to the flange on the vehicle..which without a lift is almost impossible.. but I did it. Because of you man... I can't pay for this kind of knowledge. Also mot master welders don't want you to know these things in fear of job loss or competition. Thanks again man. After I get super comfortable I'm going to teach my 11 yr old son how to stick weld and tig weld... thanks again...