Striking an Arc with a Stick Welder - 5 Tips Every Beginner Needs to Know

Arc or stick welding is one of the oldest forms of welding that man has invented. Also called shielded metal arc welding, it is somewhat different from flux core welding as flux core welding requires a MIG torch and flux core wire while stick welding needs a welding rod holder and a stick welding rod.
However, if you’re a beginner with stick welding, you may find it hard to strike an arc and this video is what it is all about - teach you how to strike an arc quickly. In stick welding how to strike an arc is the most common problem that every welder wannabe wants to know. So what’s the common problem with shielded metal arc welding? It’s the sticking of the arc welding rod on the metal when trying to spark an arc.
As you’ll see in this video when I try to start an arc, the end of the rod won’t spark but instead gets stuck to the metal I am trying to weld. But because I have enough experience in stick welding, how to strike an arc is not much of a problem for me. So to help you avoid this, what you should do is follow my 5 simple steps and learn how to strike an arc with ease.
The number one tip I want to emphasize to you here on how to strike an arc quickly is by cranking up the amp on your welder to provide the right current to the electrode and heat it. Second is by bending the rod slightly in the middle so that the distance between the welding rod holder and the metal will get somewhat shorter giving you more control of the rod and avoiding wobbling.
The third tip I want to share with shielded metal arc welding to produce a continuous spark is by scratching the end of the rod right on the metal as if you’re trying to light a matchstick on the side of the matchbox. And the next tip in ensuring how to strike an arc is by holding the arc welding rod with your other hand halfway the length of the rod while wearing thick leather gloves. This is to avoid jerky movements of the end of the rod by making it stable with your other hand.
And the least I want to share with you on stick welding how to strike an arc is by cutting the length of the rod in the middle if you want a more stable and more solid control of the rod though you must ensure that you hold the end of the rod with your welding rod holder that’s without the flux.
These tips on how to strike an arc on stick welding can best be adopted by beginner welders and I can vouch to you that these will help until you can master arc welding just like a pro.

[@kenkennedy5516]

Thanks for the advice, from a newbie…..🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍

[@petestools]

Welcome my friend

[@wildwestunlimited]

I bought a stick welder on Amazon about a week ago...... TODAY was the first time I had a chance to use it. I was gonna practice, practice, PRACTICE! I got it all set up and turned on the welder to 80 amps. I tried and TRIED to use it, but that's ALL it would do is STICK!! The more frustrated I got, the more that the thought of, "TURN THE TUNG UP you stupid!" got further and further from my head. YOUR video is the second place that I just found that told me I was an idiot for NOT turning it up more.... Sheesh! I'll try again tomorrow and run it at a starting of 100 amps. I'm using a 6011 stick so it should take, at most about 125 to 130 amps is that about right? Ya, I was a bit too low to do any good welding! Thanks for your video!!

[@petestools]

Thanks for watching and I'm glad my video could help you troubleshoot the issue with your stick welder! Good luck with your welding practice and I hope you have better results tomorrow!

[@C-M-E]

I bought a 150amp multi-process welder a number of years ago mostly for mig and flux core, but it had the ability (at least according to the box) to run stick. Mig and flux ran fine, though I suspect that 150amp claim was heavily inflated even on 220, but it won't run stick for nothin! For the longest time I was sure it was me, then had a professional welder buddy come over and diagnose it for me. Sure nuff, the electrode plugs coming out of the machine were backward and I got lucky with the flux operation I was doing at the time as it was reverse polarity. I do recall that I had to run the plugs backwards for several spools, but it definitely worked better opposite of what was dictated in the destructions.
Never dismiss the human element on the other side of the gun. 😁

[@petestools]

Yea mate always check .Never assume LOL

[@bradthurkle7217]

Great video mate. Good tip. Try it out soon.👍

[@petestools]

Cheers mate

[@tinkering123]

Starting up again with stick welder. My problem is every thing i need to fix is super thin sheet steel. Probably 4 or 5 gauge. This is a bigger challenge than I thought. Lot's a practice n patients..
Good video mate

[@petestools]

Yea mate a also have trouble welding thin shit.

[@Nicecalgarian]

Thanks Pete. This was helpful. Funny enough I prefer arc welding than flux core. I am amateur 💕🇨🇦🙏

[@petestools]

You and me both!

[@Nicecalgarian]

@@petestools Hee haa 😎

[@timbailey8254]

Thanksforthestickti

[@petestools]

lol

[@mks0712]

👏👏🇧🇷

[@petestools]

cheers