Stiks sticking!

**toolman** · 04-09-2009, 07:00 AM

any tricks to keep electrode from sticking to work on thin metal? I'm having lots of trouble on 18 ga and low amperage....

**Gaustin** · 04-09-2009, 07:01 AM

The lower amperage is going to be related to the size of the electrode. 60 Amps will have differing results for a 1/16", 5/64" or 3/32" electrode.
18 Ga and stick welding can be a challenge. 6013 works well on thin stuff.

**KHK** · 04-09-2009, 07:03 AM

To me 18 ga stick welding is one of the most difficult welding process that there is. I no longer attempt it I use TIG.
keith

**toolman** · 04-09-2009, 07:04 AM

i don't know what o/a is?

**Gadget** · 04-09-2009, 07:05 AM

Oxygen Acetelene.

**toolman** · 04-09-2009, 07:07 AM

Oxygen Acetelene.

**torqueman** · 08-05-2009, 08:53 PM

Just for my education is there a reason to stick weld such thin metal? When I had welding at the voed center we never even considered stick for anything but very thick material.

**matteh99** · 08-05-2009, 09:09 PM

The only reason I can think of is stick welders are really cheap so it may be the only thing you have.

**Gadget** · 08-05-2009, 09:22 PM

I always used O/A on thin metal because it isn't necessary to pool the metal to get a bond. Much less chance of blowing through that way. The downside is the added head causes lots of distortion. TIG heats much quicker and can be done in small starts and stops with less distortion but since the metal has to pool the chance of a blow through is higher, especially if you are a fairly new TIG welder like me.
Dan

**torqueman** · 08-06-2009, 05:46 PM

That makes sense. Like I mentioned in Vo-Ed they never said why they just always told us to use oxy/acetylene on thin metal. We didn't have these fancy wire welders back in those days or at least if they did the school did not own any.