Welding Question(s) patch/boxing tips etc

[fear_nothing]

I'm putting an extension on a trailer, a build thread is forth coming. I've have a few welding related questions. First a quick background, I'm using a stick welder @ 100 amps. The rod is 6013, metal thickness is roughly 1/4 inch.

• Does the shape of the "fisheye" matter?
• If I box the other side of the frame, can a thinner metal be used? Say 1/8"?
• Kindly bash my welds, however I would appreciate any tips. Looking to ensure proper weld penetration etc.....

Before welding:



Raw Weld


Patch, on top of weld

 

[diesel4me]

The welds look good--personally I do not care for 6013 rods much though,in my experience they are only good for trying to weld thin metal ,the bead they leave is flat and doesn't penetrate as deep as 6011 or 7014,and the rods with a "70" have higher tensile strength...it works best on clean new steel,not so much old rusty stuff thats been shined up with a grinder..but if you like it,it is ok to use..

I use 6011 on pretty much all my welding projects,it penetrates deep,and will blast thru rust,oil,grease,paint,etc..some say it leaves too much spatter,but I haven't had that be a problem,I think the coating on the rods has improved and it helps reduce spatter..

 

[fear_nothing]

Home depot had some 7018 rods in stock. Read several articles that indicate they offer good penetration. Well see what happens!

 

[diesel4me]

7018 are low hydrogen rods,some welders do not burn them too well--100 amps may not be enough for 1/4" steel...and they must be kept bone dry,otherwise the coating tends to absorb moisture and chip off..they are not the easiest rods to weld with if your a beginner,but do offer the highest strength out of all the rods available (other than specialty ones for stainless or other alloys)..

 

[brans87]

used 6011 before and they seem best for what your doing. I learned to go slow and do u shapes when welding on thick or thicker then what your messing with then take a chipping hammer clean slag off and see how pretty you did.

 

[tRustyK5]

7014 is your best bet. Also known as farmer's rod because it's probably the best all purpose rod, and the weld bead looks decent too. Any POS buzz-box will run it easily, and it digs plenty for what you're doing. It also goes through rust and scale quite well.

7018 is actually a poor choice for DIY stuff, unless you have a DC machine and a rod oven. Even then getting it lit can be super frustrating.

 

[cuervo]

Did you clean the paint off before welding?

 

[fear_nothing]

Did you clean the paint off before welding?

Sure did... it made double work but I was tired of looking at the awful blue/white paint.