ArtMetal

Valerie:

I have been wondering why, for a given amperage, you can weld thicker steel with stick than TIG or MIG. I think that I have heard that if you use flux core MIG wire you can weld thicker metal than with plain wire and gas.

I have a TIG/Stick machine, Synchrowave 180, so don't have a ton of power. It seems adequate for what I do, I have yet to use more than 110 amps or so with 1/8 inch 6010 or 6013 rod. I don't have any 5/16 inch or heavier rod. On the TIG side, I rarely turn it up above 100 amps, but I basically use TIG for sheet metal. Not sure how thick I could go with 180 amps of TIG. Most of my welding is 0.043 inch copper, but I do weld steel to build tools.

By the way, how should I be welding thicker steel? (IE 1 inch square bar). I tend to just crank up the amps a bit and use 1/8" rod. I have some 3/32 inch rod for when I want to stick weld 1/8 inch or so steel.

Anyway, this is not a setup question, but it is related to stick welding. ;-)

Richard

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com
Sculptures in copper and other metals