How to stick weld 👨🏻‍🏭: Intro to Arc welding for beginners, (Series Part 1)

[@RomeMarch]

Hello Greg , I have watched 12 videos so far and will watch all your videos, wanted to thank you sir for helping me learn a new trade without having to go to school. I am 53 yld and worked on the electrical field for half my life and you sir will help me make a living and built amazing things . I can't thank you enough Greg really , you are great at teaching please keep helping us all. God bless you sir and take care of you.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for your kind comment 😀. I want to share what I know to help people out, and help people develop their skills. When you can build stuff the whole world opens up.

[@RomeMarch]

@@makingmistakeswithgreg Greg you are Godsent and with an email and pics soon it will be there for you to see. All thanks to you my family will be drinking filtered water here in Nicaragua,but it will only be possible by the restoration of a 2200 liters that has been sitting there for 2 decades without maintaining it. Take care and pics will be sent to you soon right now I'm just sanding with a grinder the inside and it is a nightmare that nobody wants to do the work, 3 guys came and ran away like little girls. God bless you and keep up your great work.

[@MGS4LYFE19]

​@@RomeMarch. Awesome project you're taking on, man! Post a video of the progress if you can! I'd love to see your ambitions come to light! God bless!

[@gregrichard9192]

Best video for beginners I've ever seen, easily explained Good job

[@rarespop9500]

Instructions so clear, I welded my house up into the ducking SKY!!! THANK YOU, SO, SO MUCH sir, I took a lot of notes, everything was so good explained couldn't find a romanian person to explain everything that well like you did.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

You’re welcome, I am glad they helped you out 😀

[@sweenytodd202]

this is by far the best video out there on how to get started.Everything you need to know to get going .Very clear explanations and no music drowning out when you are trying to listen to what being said.This person doing this should be doing this full time teaching he has the knack of communication clear and not rushing things a true gift well done 😊😊😊😊😊

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind words 😀👍. I am not a “real” teacher in the sense don’t do it for a living, but I do share what I know on KZbin so it sort of counts for being a teacher 😀. It’s my goal to help as many people out as I can.

[@QuanBaby43G]

Facts

[@richardwatson7480]

I can only repeat what everyone else is saying. Your videos are fantastic! Learning to weld alone is a confusing business and you have perfectly figured out what we need to know. Thank you!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind words 😀👍. Welding is definitely complex and difficult to totally grasp. The great thing is with a bit of practice and some solid info you can become functionally decent and build a ton of stuff 😀.

[@DG-fn7qg]

I like that you don't promote having the latest and greatest equipment, run what we can afford. No "clickbait" BS titles! Keep it real, you're doing great, and I for one appreciate YOU!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

I am editing a video where I test out the Chicago electric 99$ flux core welder with a friend to see how it stacks up to other welders. If anything the video proves it’s more about the person doing the welding than the machine. A higher end machine makes things easier for a skilled welder, but unskilled it won’t make a huge difference.

[@paulwest2575]

80 years young. Just discovered your channel. Subscribed. I have a square body truck I need to repair using a mig welder. [I have never welded before] I saw this video and I have been inspired by your presentations to want to also to learn stick welding. You are an excellent teacher.Thank you!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind words and it’s awesome to hear your tackling projects. You have the right idea, watch some videos to get the knowledge and then practice. The start of learning stick is about 99% frustration (due to everything going wrong lol) but after than things get much easier. When you put down your first few good beads it will make it 100% worth the effort 😀

[@paulwest2575]

@@makingmistakeswithgreg Thanks I just bought a stick welder, a new helmet for welding, and a couple books [the books and helmet will be here in a couple weeks.] I have decided not to rush but to get everything ready for a great adventure. I bought a steel welding table plus a 1/4 inch 2 ft by 2 ft steel plate. to place welding material for practicing on top of it.I have been buying welding stuff over the years gloves, aprons, clamps, etc. Last week I decided to clean up my little shop. I found an Eastwood welding table and another welding top for the table. It is like Christmas time. Anyway, this new welding experience will teach me patience and a lot of prayer.I am a 7DayAdventist and I believe everything has its proper timing My time is so close to learning welding, bodywork, and painting. I have decided to slow down, finish straightening out my shop,weedwhack my yard put things in their proper place I like being organized and learning to do things the right way. Thanks for being such a wonderful inspiration.[I was thinking about so many homeless people living on the streets with drug and alcohol problems and I felt sad that often their talents or what could be talents are being robbed. Without a vision the people will perish] You must be a busy man You don't need to reply again. Thanks1

[@_hector__]

Your mig welder is perfect for body work because it can weld thinner metal easier and faster than stick

[@maneeshanimnajith8686]

The best arc welding video I ever watched.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the very kind comment 😮. I am glad I could help you out, and that you liked the video 😀. If you ever have a question feel free to ask 😀.

[@sandramasters3457]

How old do you have to be to stick weld

[@rfraser6097]

​@@sandramasters34575yr old up

[@j.w.7688]

Very well done vid man! I'm 60 years old and have never welded b4. I want to learn basic stick welding for small projects and hobbies. Really appreciate the knowledge and skills your so willing to share.😎👍

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem. Glad to hear you’re taking up a new skill 😀. I will tell you what I tell everyone else: expect a ton of frustration at the start and some terrible welds. But with some practice and a decent idea of what you should be doing (via videos) you should progress fast. Just focus on being smooth and consistent 👍.

[@NPFederation0]

Sir Greg, started a welding apprenticeship in my village, they don’t do more than stick welds and with very little theoretical explanations. Thank you very much for providing this opportunity. I pray you keep dropping these gems.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem, and I am glad it has helped you. Since you’re starting out I will give you this advice: Expect to fail a lot, but don’t give up. Practice the basics until it’s hard to make a bad weld. You probably need to move slower than you are for travel speed. Try to be as smooth and consistent with your hand movements as possible. If you get frustrated take a break. And lastly if I can do it you can do it 😀

[@Anokaman]

A few minutes into this video I stopped and subscribed. You are a great teacher and the many comments speak to that fact. Like so many others, I have watched several "New to stick welding" vids to build my knowledge base. Your presentation is very complete and I'll be sharing your channel with others. The fun begins!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Glad to hear you are starting a journey to learn welding. You’re doing the right thing, learn as much as you can and then practice. You definitely can learn to weld, just expect to be frustrated a lot at the start 😀. Once you can reliably start a rod everything becomes much easier. Definitely worth while learning, welding is one of the most useful skills a person can have 😃

[@ThomasDiver]

As i am new to welding (also very excited to learn this art) your channel has become my ivy league.."The Weld Pool School" Carry on Professor!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind words and welcome. Since your new I will say it’s important to understand you will get frustrated a lot during the learning process. Focus on being as consistent as possible and being smooth. After every weld ask yourself what’s not consistent, what do I have to do to make it more consistent, and then do that. With a bunch of practice hours things will steadily improve 😀.

[@corbana4743]

I just picked for free a linde 230 , what a beast of a machine , learning to stick weld , your video been very helpful to me determining why my rod sticking . I love welding

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Hard to beat free lol. Once you get past sticking the rod all the time a whole world of building stuff opens up 😀👍

[@philipchampion]

Yo man, you can tell you are very intelligent, only highly intelligent people can explain things so well and easy to understand. Thanks a lot

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

You’re entirely welcome and thanks for the kind comment. I am fortunate with the ability to simplify things that are overly complex. I had a law professor that stressed “for communication to exist you must be able to relay a message to someone that they understand in the manner you want them to”. I realize the vast majority of people don’t understand a lot of the concepts with welding. If I can relate the unknowns of welding to things the average person can understand, I can be successful in both communication and sharing skills. I want to see people believe in themselves and build skills, so I try to do a good job to communicate in a way most people will be able to follow 😀👍.

[@philipchampion]

@@makingmistakeswithgreg absolutely. Einstein once said "if you can't explain something simply, you do not understand it well enough"

[@jdgibs3446]

Appreciate your sharing your thoughts, knowledge and experience. I'm 72 yrs old and retired. I have been wanting to learn about and begin welding. Have watched several videos and Really enjoy your tutorial. 👍🎯

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks and it’s never too late to learn welding. Just have patience and understand it’s like learning cursive writing. At first you make scribbles, and after a bunch of practice it starts taking shape. Stick welding in specific is all about consistency. After every practice weld ask yourself “how can I be smoother moving forward, more consistent in how I feed the rod, and how can I run a straighter line. Once you can be consistent it becomes easy, you just have to train your hands to move correctly. 😀

[@Chewpahmiberga]

At 72 do you ever wish you could learn how to weld when ever your were in your mid 20s??

[@sbeamox]

I took a welding class years ago, this was a great refresher. Thanks man

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem, glad to have you back welding 😀

[@zunairasattar9444]

You great you’re ways of explaining great

[@loloybaloloy4402]

i am not a welder , but i like your instructional method. And like we always say, I learned something new

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks and I am glad you liked it. I try to simplify stuff so everyone can learn something. Or at a minimum not be afraid to try learning a new skill 😀.

[@slipshft1]

Greg, I just wanted to thank you for your knowledge, manner of speaking, and the videos. You have helped me much more than many of the other videos that I have watched, and have encouraged me to practice my stick welding. You have also imparted a better understanding of what I was doing wrong and how I could fix it. I also have to say that your descriptions of the puddles and weld bead have great benefit. I am doing better at practice now than ever, and am going to attempt another job that I have for myself with a lot more confidence. Thank you sir!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem and thanks for the kind comment 😀👍. Welding is difficult to learn at first but when you can fix the small things that are wrong it doesn’t take a long time to get decent results. Once you master simple short welds it’s amazing at what you can actually make/fix 😀

[@tbhorse1970]

It's great to see someone explaining what ( ARC ) stick welding is. Thanks for the info.

[@jimmydickson8854]

Thank you for your effort in teaching us to weld I watch all your videos iv learned so much from your tutorials ,rookie in a shed in Australia ,nobody in Aust makes videos like this don’t know why

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Welcome to my channel and thanks for watching my videos 😀. I have put the effort into them because I genuinely want to help you (and other people) better themselves anyway I can. Speaking of Australia, you guys are some of the most resourceful people I have ever met. 😀 I am surprised more people aren’t doing welding videos over there.

[@lv9569]

I feel super confident after watching that, you teach like a dad would teach his child, that he loves and wants the best for, i feel like i can learn alot from you about welding, thanks for this vid

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind words. I want to see everyone doing the best they can. Welding isn’t easy and it’s frustrating as hell. If you’re trying to teach yourself it will be a struggle for a while, but with practice and a decent idea of what you’re doing, you will progress fast. The key is practice and not giving up.

[@lv9569]

@makingmistakeswithgreg been practising this whole week, I even experimented with flux core wire using the rod welded handle as practice, was curious if it was even possible, I seem to be getting the hang of it, your tutorial was like the missing link for me, thanks greg

[@JimRudman]

Excellent video. Best delivery of the basics, I have seen. Keeping it nice and humble. Thank you.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Glad it helped you out 😀

[@TheBorzasiandras]

I am very thankful for your kindness in sharing your wisdom.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem, I share what I can to help people out 😀

[@johnkinnane547]

G’day Greg and greetings from Tasmania Australia 🇦🇺, I’ve only just happened to stumble across your channel and I am a beginner, I found this first video really helpful. I have subscribed and I am aware that you filmed this a year ago it’s still helping people like me, Thank you for the channel your very easy to follow and at my age 67 that’s a bonus, will follow the videos from now on. Kind regards John

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Glad the video helped you 😀. Surprisingly enough stick hasn’t changed a lot so everything will stay relevant for a very long time. As I say to everyone learning to weld, the key is to be smooth, consistent, and relaxed. If you can do those things you will progress fast 😀

[@robertlinkonisjr.2577]

Greg you seem like a really nice genuine guy and I bet you’d be really cool to hangout with. Keep up the great content. I’ve learned a lot from you so far

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind words. I am pretty fortunate to be in a position to be able to help out people. The fact I get to enjoy my hobby, and help other people out learning new skills, is a major win for me. In the long run once I can locate a suitable commercial building to buy, I will likely be offering hands on classes and programs to teach skills. The hardest part is I do everything on my own, so it’s a lot of work while working a full time job and a half. I enjoy it though, so it’s worth it 😀

[@welshhomestead]

I'm just going to say I am 7:22 into this video and I've already learned so much - as a noob - this is exactly the video (or series) I needed. Thanks for taking the time to do this. I appreciate it. 👍👍

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Glad it helped you 😀. Stick welding is really a test on patience and dealing with failure lol. Once you get a decent handle on it becomes super useful and a valuable skill. It’s also fun (when things go well lol).

[@welshhomestead]

@@makingmistakeswithgreg thank you. That’s a useful way to think about it !

[@TheWizardOfTheFens]

I’m just starting out learning to weld (I’m 65!) so I don’t have to keep waiting for people to have time to do my stuff and so I don’t have to ask for favours…Thanks for these videos.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Being able to do stuff yourself is a awesome thing. Much of welding with normal material is fairly easy and straight forward. With a bunch of practice you will be able to do stuff others would charge a lot of money to do. That’s mostly why I got into welding. To many things constantly required me to stop what I was doing and find someone to do the welding for me.

[@thelmaigbo8184]

A true teacher! God bless you!

[@briantremblay9157]

Fellow Canadian Eh... And a Northerner cheers. I am new to welding, thanks for sharing your wisdom.

[@stevenwilliams9413]

Just found your channel randomly today after watching form carpentry vids! The algorithm might be working in your favor.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Welcome 😀. That’s a interesting way to find the channel lol. A lot of new people have been rolling through lately, which is good. As long as I can be part of helping people learn some skills I am all for it 😀

[@AM-ze4hr]

Just found your channel and appreciate the well--organized, thought out and information packed episodes. There is quite a few channels that cover your content but honestly I found yours to be the easiest to follow. It deserves much higher viewership. I just got the Titanium 225 stick welder and want to up my game on it for a few projects such as two side gates and basement door. I do need to look into getting a 220 V outlet but need more research on it since my place is over 100 years old. Saving up for that and doing my own due diligence. Look forward to your content and will be working on my starts and running short beads. Thanks.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind comment and i appreciate you taking the time to write it. My channel will grow I am sure, I haven’t been on KZbin long and I am honestly way ahead of subscribers and watch hours than I could have ever expected. I will continue to produce simple, relatable, and quality content because it’s fun for me to do so. I have debated on doing a video showing how to wire up a 220 outlet, I am still on the fence about it. On one hand I can safely wire one up and understand all aspects of the process. On the other hand I can’t account for situations in everyone’s houses. My shop is wired properly and to modern code, someone else’s house may have some funny business going on in the panel which could lead to someone getting shocked because they overlooked something. I very well might tackle that rabbit hole in the future though. Obviously on 110 you’re only limited to around 70amps, which is doable for welding thinner stuff, but nowhere near enough to weld thicker material. Your best bet is to stick to 3/32 rods with 6013/6011 or 5/64 7018/6013. I know the 5/64 rod size is obscure but they are commonly available and will do a ton of solid work on 3/16th and under steel.

[@Bigjermo25]

Ima Railcar Mechanic 👨🏽‍🔧 beginner welder for 5 months now I been practicing my company we use E7018 that’s very true about how they stick when you’re using them in the beginning of the weld but just now looking at this video I think ima start using E6013 because they look like they perform a little better idk 🤷🏾‍♂️ I could be wrong ima beginner but ima try them out myself thanks 🙏🏾 for this video

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

So here are my thoughts. 6013 is easier to learn to weld with, but 7018 makes far stronger welds. 7018 is easier to weld out of position (meaning vertical and overhead) and is less prone to weld defects like slag inclusions. 7018 is more frustrating to learn to weld with but once you get good you will stick with them. 6013 is virtually unused in most of the welding/repair world other than thin sheetmetal. In countries outside of the USA they commonly use different “6013s” than we have to weld with, and it’s more common to use them, but in the USA they are mostly not found on job sites. I have been actively fabricating/welding for over 10 years and I don’t use 6013 at all, 6011,6010,7018 are most common.

[@jimgobrew]

Thanks for making such informative videos. I will admit I watch each video4 or 5 times to get everything I can out of them due to my retired old brain. I'm really enjoying my new hobby and after getting a cheater lens and padding beads on plate on 3 coupons my welds have improved dramatically. Your a good instructor!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Glad to hear things are improving nicely. With a bunch of practice and a fair amount of “mistakes” you will get it dialed in.

[@dbest5575]

Thank you sir for this video..I've been a fitter half of my life, i want to add it with welding.. thank you sir for your simplicity your method of teaching... i feel i can weld anything now... God bless you sir....

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Welding is definitely worth learning. It’s all about being smooth and consistent. Expect a lot of frustration at first but it will get easier as you get better 😀

[@sewerman8194]

Got fascinated with welding recently and started borrowing my dad's arc inverter. I love the way you explain the foundations of getting a good weld down, in a way that is nice and simple. Brilliant videos, looking forward to the next "lessons" you've put out! 😁

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind words. I am happy to be able to help 😀.

[@ExtremeRecluse]

When I was in VOCED welding in 1975, we did nothing but ARC and Oxyacetylene. I did some pieces that remained in the showcase for 25 years

[@sonofguns1016]

I have never enjoyed listening to a video more, I’m subbed and can’t wait to go back and watch this series

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Glad you enjoyed it, I will be going back into some stick welding in the near future when I cover cast iron welding 😀

[@briancarton1804]

The best stick welding video for beginners I have watched and I have watched lots. The first one that explains what the numbered on the rods mean. I am going to watch the full series. I've been in construction for years and find it difficult to get special jobs done to my desired standard and specifications. I have a project to do at my own home that needs welding and I'm going to do it myself as any welder I approached wants to do it differently , the easy way and not the quality way.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

If you have an attention to detail it is definitely hard to find people to do quality work. That’s the main reason I got good at everything I have done, because relying on others to do things right is really tough. I always thought it was bizarre how someone could go to a supposed expert (someone who is offering a service in a particular skill) and get sub par work. It pays to have skills in today’s world.

[@Whatsahandle4]

Good info. I'm going to start practicing running beads while things get slow. We're doing structural steel

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

The better you can run a simple bead the easier everything else is. When you can run a straight bead that’s consistent, and layer them, then you are on the right path 😀

[@toddwalters5496]

Thank you for these lessons just bought a welder that does it all stick,.Tig ,mig wire, with or without gas Flux core and 110 and 220 so looking forward in using it all

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Good to hear, you will have a lot of options 👍.

[@JohnSmith-cl2iq]

This is the best tutorial I've seen, thank you so much. I've started stick welding about 8 months ago and having trouble with my fillet welds, the weld won't fuse to both pieces (like in your video 'how to fix bad welds'), very frustrating. Anyways, looking forward to watching more of your tutorials, keep up the good work!!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind words. Within the next two weeks I will have a ton of content out that should help you a lot. I will have a whole video that will cover just fillet welds in all positions. By the end of the series my goal is for the average person to understand how to figure out what went wrong with their weld and make changes to fix it. That’s why I make mistakes in my videos and show how to change things to get a different result and show the before and after. I know I didn’t learn much from people who were perfect, because perfection doesn’t teach you how to fix mistakes, it just shows you what no mistakes can look like. Making mistakes is 99% of welding in general lol.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Just as a heads up I uploaded a video this week just for fillet welds specifically, it should help you solve your issues 😀

[@JohnSmith-cl2iq]

@@makingmistakeswithgreg Awesome, thanks!!! You've uploaded lots of content, I need to catch up.

[@Benny223]

This channel deserves so much more subs!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind comment 😀. Things are growing at a solid pace. My main goals are to get people working on projects and having more skills/ confidence to tackle what they want. At the end of the day as long as I am helping some people I am not worried about how many 😀.

[@TheChiefCoin]

Thank you for the work you put into this tutorial video. God bless you, brother 🙏🏼

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem 👍👍

[@vmodracing]

Hey Greg, Thank you for making this series! I recently took up welding and really liked stick welding! I came across your videos and really appreciate your in depth instructions! I recently purchased an old Lincoln AC-180-S tombstone and plan on restoring it and using it to learn on. I am also a fellow Milwaukeen!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Nice to see a fellow Milwaukeeian 😀. The ac180 is a pretty uncommon welder, I see one of those for every 150 normal tombstones lol. It came in two versions, one with multiple output taps and one with adjustable amperage. I have never welded with one but always liked the way they looked. You can definitely learn to stick weld with that machine. A lot of people overthink stick welding. If you can master running beads with a ac machine it will instantly transfer to dc output machines. The key is to be smooth in movement, consistent, and keep the arc gap to a minimum. With a bit of practice you’ll be doing good 😀

[@adeh503]

Superb, exactly what a beginner video should be like 👍

[@corbana4743]

Thank you for putting the time to teach others

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem 😀👍. I make the videos because I want to see people better their skills 😀

[@tyrotrainer765]

I'm a few months in now and have finished 2 biggish projects (1 metre squared storm drain covers) first with stick and then flux core, which I really like as I think it's more user friendly for DIY. On the safety side I made a major blooper a week ago which I think is worth relating. I live in the Philippines and it was really hot and humid and I really did not fancy wearing a top, and I was only throwing a few (well, 40 or so) tacks down before finishing for the day, so I went ahead and welded without my usual long sleeve cotton shirt. Boy did I pay for it that night - my chest and upper arms were painful and itchy as hell with sun-burn. A week later my skin is still flaky and peeling. Done it the once, never again!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

It’s crazy how fast UV can burn the unprotected skin, glad to hear you’re recovering ok 👍. I have a tendency to forget to button up my shirt neck and that will also get you without realizing it lol.

[@Robert.Chauval]

Really great beginner lessons. So many stick welding tutorials dont focus enough on the start.. if you can get consistent high quality starts going then a quality moving puddle will just follow naturally. New sub thanks

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind words. No doubt the start is critical. Even with my experience if the start is rough the first 2 inches of bead is sub par. With less skill it can be really hard to bring things back and you wind up with slag inclusions, a bead that only welded on one side, etc. Mastering starts and tie ins is huge.

[@Robert.Chauval]

@@makingmistakeswithgreg cheers mate.. youve also got a very good teaching voice. Clear with a good cadence and you dont endlessly repeat yourself either - my pet hate sigh.... Focusing on single starts and doing LOTS of them is a more productive path - and cheaper lol - to quality beads than running lots of bad beads and as you demonstrated the beginner will quickly develop a more instinctive feel for cold and preheat effects. Your vid just made so much sense. Im not a pro welder just a 62 yr old diyer but ive been working in the engineering field since i was 17. And from this i learnt that the answers to most questions/problems are inherently simple. Build a strong foundation first always... everything else after is easier because of it.. Something you may wish to mention sometime about cheap DC welders - i got a 140A stick and TIG rig - is the poor stability of the current control and how to manage it as it changes with workload... AND planning your weld to suit the limits of the duty cycle of cheap welders.. i figured this out the hard way... Ive been having fun with my cheap welder. I made my own argon solenoid 24Vdc control box with thumb and foot pedal switches and it works a treat. A nice diyer upgrade for a basic setup.. And i forgot to say i really love your handle. "Making Mistakes" lol. Perfect.. making mistakes is how we learn and in this time of risk-averse "perfectionism" we need to reinforce esp for youngsters to not be afraid of mistakes but to use them well.. keep up the good work.. ill be busy watching your library in my free time here in New Zealand..

[@elgkas9928]

Merry Christmas Greg 🎄You have a way of making the steps build one upon another to make the process simple enough for a beginner, like myself, to grasp.

[@mapex311]

Tried stick welding for the first time ever today with 6011. It did not go well LOL. Kept sticking and then popped the 15 amp breaker. Blah. Will watch your entire series. Thanks

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

6011 is tough to work with if you’re new. It is easy to start, but makes rough welds if you don’t move slow and consistent. I have a video directly on 6011 that you would find very helpful, link at the bottom. If you can make good looking 6011 welds you will find all other rods to be fairly easy to run. Expect to make some pretty bad looking welds for a while, but once you get the whole balancing act down it will become easy 😀👍 How to weld with 6011: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHyao313qtSDgKcsi=M9wJ-GtpjzEsDBcu

[@edregister4530]

Great video series, I'm going through and watching a second time. I'm getting pretty Cobain with 6013, 7018 due to your heart instruction and lots of practice!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Your practice is what will make all the difference in the world. I can provide all the info to help you understand what you should do, but you teaching yourself how to move via repetition/practice is what will build the skill. Congrats on building your welding skill, just think if you keep going how good you will get. Thats when the fun starts, when you realize you can can actually do really solid welds and build stuff 😀

[@MikeJones-ju4fi]

I just want to say I love the video thank you so much I look forward to the rest of the videos. May God bless you for your time. ❤️🙏

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem, I am glad they helped you 😀

[@luisvelazco5264]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, I'm trying to learn a bit just so I can do little home projects, keep it up, you do a great job explaining and demostrating what you are talking about, much appreciate it

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind comment and thanks for putting in the effort to better your skills 😀. With some practice and the right information you will be able to build/fix all sorts of stuff. Expect to fail a lot at first but it gets easier as you get more experience, thats just the nature of it 😀

[@Ben__1867]

Hi, there. I just wanted to say thank you for putting together such an amazing series. I look forward to watching them all and taking notes.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem, glad your learning 😀

[@Puchog]

Thank you sir for your contribution to the new stick welder learners I appreciate it

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem 😀. Stick is tough to teach yourself, but if you focus on trying to be smooth and consistent (plus practicing a lot) you will get good at it. When you realize how much you can build when you can make decent welds, it’s a awesome feeling, so stick with it, it’s worth learning how to stick weld 😀

[@wonkylommiter6364]

Subscribed..... This is exactly the golden info that I wish someone would have given me a long time ago! many thanks dear friend! appreciated!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the subscription and I am glad the info helped you 😀👍. I wanted to make sure everyone had a ton of knowledge to work with so they can learn to stick weld.

[@TheScalysnake]

Great video, recall helping my dad weld when i was young and this gives context to the mess we made :P

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Glad you liked it 😀

[@MC4175]

Thank you, I currently don’t have access to a trade school, thank you for making this video

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem. I know a lot of people don’t have access to schooling and that’s why I try to put a lot of info in the videos so people can learn without needing to spend a ton of money on schooling 😀👍

[@brad799]

Excellent video, looking forward to watching the rest. Thank you for making these.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem, happy to help 😀

[@papaloongie]

Greetings!! I’ve enjoyed every one of your videos. I’m glad to see the channel numbers rising. Putting content out is key, I’m glad you aren’t keeping us waiting. Thanks. Joe.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind words and I am glad you have enjoyed what I have put out. I am pretty fortunate because my content is fairly easy to produce because I don’t have to spend a ton of time on the research end (that was done over my whole life lol), and the whole point of things is to show realistic challenges and solutions (mistakes included). I also work 4 on 4 off so it gives me a ton of time to actually make videos. Welding is only one aspect of stuff I am involved in (and since it’s winter it’s easy to focus on that due to weather) so I should always have useful content. Ultimately I hope to motivate/inspire people to pickup a tool of some sort and go build/fix something. It’s great when you can actually fix stuff/solve problems/save money instead of throwing everything away lol.

[@papaloongie]

@@makingmistakeswithgreg I’m glad you have the time to show up your talents I also love the format, enjoyable commentary and no annoying music. Thanks again.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

@@papaloongie I put music on a few videos (it was quiet, and only during the fast forwarded sections) and then got a few videos pulled for copyrighted music (on 100% free to use music) so I think I will avoid that in the future lol. Thanks again 👍. I will have another set of videos out by Friday this week along with a weekend video.

[@papaloongie]

@@makingmistakeswithgreg can’t wait!! ✨✨

[@xanatax1844]

I’ve learned a bit, and own the PPE … finally bought a welding unit, and I made the decision to save some money, and get one that can *only* do DC stick welding. Good enough! 😊👍 Wow, these little guys are cheap, in 2023! They’re almost paying us to take them. 😅

[@xanatax1844]

yeah, looking forward to just getting some hours of practice … but in between, I’ll try to watch the rest of your series? this is fun, thanks for the tips. 💜

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem and welcome to the fun world of learning to weld. Practice and patience is key, and don’t give up. Expect to be terrible at first but you will get better. Before you realize it you will have the skill to make things 😀

[@wilhelmdekock1034]

What a lesson on welding. It is such a good video. Thanks buddy will be trying al lthese tips. Im just starting out and have been strugeling with starting the strike. 👍🏻

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Glad it helped you out. Once you master starting the arc and running short beads the rest will become much easier. The key is to do enough of the stuff you can’t do well so the worst you do is better than your current best. It might take a few days of practicing rod starts to get that down. It won’t be much fun but what you can build once you can weld will be fun 😀

[@geneautry2091]

On all my rods, especially 7018, I just flick the hollow flux off before I strike an arc. Plus, at my stinger I bend a 45° on my rod. That way as I'm welding on a radius I can maintain contact and desired angle without braking arc. Also, an "overhead" is an "upside-down flat", is how I set my heat. Plus, "reverse polarity" is for deeper penetration as its current flow is from yo ur base metal to your filler metal.. "Straight polarity" current flow is in the opposite direction from your filler metal to your base metal. is shallow penetration and allowed only with certain rods and "innershield fluxcore" (needs no external shielding gas).

[@markashlock9017]

I am really enjoying you welding vids. They’re great! Currently binge watching!!! Thanks!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

You’re welcome. There is a ton of info so don’t expect to retain all of it in a short time 😀. I am Sure your skill will go through the roof with the info I provided and some practice 😀

[@MikeJones-ju4fi]

Great class I’m definitely all eyes and ears.

[@engjds]

Best course I have seen so far, hope you cover welding body position as well, great content, helps a lot!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

I shot a video on that specifically since a bunch of people requested it 😃. It will be out in under 2 weeks 😀

[@engjds]

@@makingmistakeswithgreg Thats great, also I am sick to the teeth with slag inclusion-mainly when I try and fill gaps, there is not a single video out there I can see that explains the nature of slag, what causes it to collect. Also can you weld directly over a fresh weld without cooling then chipping away the slag first?, how do you do with uneven surfaces? all the videos online seem to be on fresh clean flat plates , but DIY stuff is often welding over irregular surfaces and you havent got time to be cutting material to fit into a irregular gaps. Thanks again!.

[@rwg727]

Thanks Greg! You explain things very well and the video camera captures it well!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Glad I could help you out 😀

[@tyrotrainer765]

I echo the others Greg, a good mile ahead of the rest, although Tim Welds is up there close to you. I really like your step by step approach, baby steps to getting there. I was so frustrated but now, on day 3, I'm striking up and running small beads, and have got my head around reading the puddle, it is coming together nicely. Baby steps.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Glad to hear that. What you mentioned is really the way to learn. There are simply too many variables to control at once to have good results right away. By improving each individual variable (arc starts, arc gap, travel speed, etc) it will slowly come together to improve the bigger picture. Mastering the simplest thing makes the complex easier. A solid arc start and a short 3/4in weld done really well, done over and over will do a tremendous amount to improve everything. No joke, even at my skill level a bad arc start can wreck most of a weld, so dialing that it makes a huge difference. Keep up the good work 😀👍

[@tyrotrainer765]

@@makingmistakeswithgreg Yep! The 6013s really are a blessing to learn the basics with. I agree; I can do a fairly nice 2-3 inch bead pretty consistently, but if I aim for longer I lose focus and it all goes pear-shaped. So as a result I keep it short and get to do lots of restarts, and that's another important skill.

[@reptilesrodents]

Really great class im just looking into weilding to get an idea of whats going on but if I am able to get a weilder I would love to learn more.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

If you pickup a welder plan on being frustrated for a while as you learn. You have the right idea, learn a bunch about it so you don’t go in blind. The time you spend struggling will be very small in comparison to a lifetime of having the skill. It pays to get good 😀.

[@reptilesrodents]

@@makingmistakeswithgreg thank you and hopfully ill get one soon a skill like that can be very valuble. Even though i'm learning at a laiter age (36) I should still have plenty of time to make use of it.

[@joshsundiwa]

Well explained thanks for sharing👍👍

[@usernamemykel]

The ONLY reason that you've got this new subscriber is because you've created an excellent video.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

I appreciate it. I know I am pretty bad about subscribing to channels myself. Realistically I am unsure as to how much subscribers help a channel get pushed out to to other KZbinrs (the algorithm) but my main concern is to help out people better themselves and their skills. Every little bit helps me towards that goal so like I said I appreciate it 😀

[@usernamemykel]

@@makingmistakeswithgreg It is my pleasure to learn from a master teacher. I am grateful for your time and effort in producing these very clear and thorough videos, with great audio, camerawork and script. And, you get a PLUS for your humor.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

@@usernamemykel you are entirely too kind 😀. Thank you 😎

[@usernamemykel]

@@makingmistakeswithgreg You're quite welcome, Sensei 😀

[@chutetearer1253]

Thanks a lot for this very clear beginners guide, highly appreciated.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem, glad it helped you out. 😀

[@themole184]

Great help and very well explained I am new to welding and your video was just what I needed thankyou from Tom UK

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem, I am glad the video helped you out. Learning to weld is frustrating but once you get past the steep initial learning curve you will be doing real good 😀

[@louisgrant4388]

Great job. U are an excellent teacher. U need to be infront of a wider audience.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind words 😀. I am a pretty new channel at just over a year old. More people will join as time goes on. I am just happy to be a part of helping people to learn skills and believe in themselves 😀.

[@JAKOB1977]

Extremely good video, with good perspective on explaining what could be relevant for a newcomer. Im a newcomer.. never welded..very little daily need, but do have a need from time to time. got a handheld ARC-welder and trying to find my heading.. Its an Insulated gate bipolar transistor based inverter welder. Got quite a few settings. Trying to understand the meaning. * Hotstart 0 to 9 percent. (as you explained,I reckon its a start feature that will add more ampere in the beginning) * Force 0 to 9 percent ? * Valley 0 to 9 percent ? * Frequency 0 to 99Hz (could that be handy, as why would it give access to that on a DC based IGBT welder) * VRF (some human-safety concern where it will stay in low voltage side 14.8v vs 66v until a pool) * CC or CP (Seems to be the rod type, Acid vs Alkaline) Settings : kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGSkoYh6bt-Gb9k Its a small mobile unit .. and what appealed to me

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Hot start is a temporary boost in amperage to help get a welding rod running better and not have poor starting fusion. “Force” is generally arc force, which boosts amperage as you tighten the arc. Arc force control generally produces more difference with 6011 than say 6013 or 7018 rods because it possible to close the arc gap more. I am not sure what valley means, it might be a cutoff for at what point the arc shuts off when lengthening the arc. Frequency could refer two a few things. If it outputs a/c frequency would adjust the frequency of how fast it switches positive and negative. If it has “pulse” then frequency control would adjust how many times per second that happens. The most useful setting on a stick welder is hot start. Having that makes a welders start much cleaner. Beyond that most of the settings are really situational dependent 😀👍

[@A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A]

Thanks man, this is the most informative video i have yet watched about stick welding. And i watch alottttttt about stick welding

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Welcome and thanks for the kind comment 😀. It’s good to watch a ton of videos, you will get to a higher skill faster by doing so. Whatever you do don’t let the frustration at the start get you down. Every good stick welder went though the same issues with poor welds, stick rods, melting holes, and flat out failures. After a while of practice those become few & far between and that is when it really becomes fun. That’s when you can build awesome stuff 😀.

[@A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A]

@@makingmistakeswithgreg thanks for your kind motivation 🙏

[@DoverDanny]

Thank you so much for creating this video. I’ll be watching the ones to come. As a newbie I’ve been debating on arc vs. wire welding but your video is helping a lot.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 great job👊🏻

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

You’re welcome 😀. Stick vs wire is a hard debate. If you want to weld thicker steel or have limited power, stick is the way to go. If you need to weld thinner stuff wire welding is the way to go. The great news is, no matter what process you choose if you get really good at it the skill will transfer to another process, so you will learn faster.

[@billbarry2984]

I have both stick and wire welders, I'm not good at either, but I love welding. It's just something about joining to pieces of steel together that captivates me! lol 😂 one of my favorite hobbies!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

It is a awesome hobby. The days everything goes well and the welds go down smooth are the highlights and make it the best. The days nothing goes right and you’re frustrated are the parts you have to get though lol. It wouldn’t be half as fun if it wasn’t a challenge though. It’s just you trying to tell a electric arc and some Liquid Metal who’s boss lol.

[@maxsingleterry]

best intro I have ever seen. you're an awesome dude instant subscriber and thank you for the info

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind words, I am glad the video helped you out. It’s my goal to get people up to speed and building stuff 😀.

[@Cptnbond]

Hi Greg. I just find your channel (subscribed). This is super helpful for me as a new welder. Thanks a lot. Cheers.

[@StayFreeAlways]

Awesome video. More than my class instructor told me.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Glad to hear it helped you out. You’re doing the right thing, researching more info so you can better your skills 😀👍

[@SN-qu2gz]

You are a great teacher. Thank you!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

You’re welcome 😀👍. Thanks for taking the time to improve your skills 😀

[@philosophicaltool5469]

Yesterday, I watched your video. Me today; "I can now progress" - Thank you for a great video, Greg. You're a wonderful teacher! Edit: *goes to watch part 2*

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks much for the kind words 😁. The cool thing is with a bit of practice and the knowledge gained from the videos, you will surprise yourself with what you can actually do. Just expect failure for a while before things click and you can do it. It’s like learning to ride a bike, it sucks and first but it’s totally worth it in the long run 😀

[@philosophicaltool5469]

@@makingmistakeswithgreg exactly that. thanks again! (I fell asleep the other day watching your playlist. My roommate told me he thought it was the sweetest thing, me in my happy place, with welding noises as a lullaby.. ) 🥰

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

@@philosophicaltool5469 haha I do that all the time except I am editing the videos 😅. I always fully watch the stuff I upload before uploading them, it’s pretty common to find stuff that wasn’t edited because I fell asleep at the wheel lol.

[@johnstone5380]

Thanks guy for the lesson I've been Welding a couple years.time And what I seen you do Hey help me out Thank you for the lessons hurry helpful any explain everything perfectly.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem 😀, glad it helped you.

[@pablolynch1152]

Hey Greg, I guess that you are a Libra, a very giving person cause I'm sensing that really want us to learn from you. Welding was your first love!!! Thank you!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

I am actually a Gemini and actually a twin 😅. My first love was restoring historic buildings, and my second was welding for sure. I definitely do want to help people. If I can inspire someone to pickup some tools and make something I can change the world for the better. Inspiration is the only thing that will stay relevant as time goes on. At one point welding will be irrelevant (lasers or some other device will replace it) but inspiration will never be irrelevant 😀

[@pablolynch1152]

What a dedication to a passion! I hope that your channel grows to be a large one and that you are well remunerated. I'll share it with the people in the class I'll be joining next month. Thank you Greg 🎉

[@mackbankson]

Greg - Thank you so very much for your lessons

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem 😀👍. I want to help people out as much as I can

[@victorbarranca2910]

This is just what I needed, you do a fantastic job explaining things. Thank you.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind words, glad the video helped out 😀. I probably didn’t mention it much in the video, but when learning stick prepare for a bit of frustration, that’s totally normal. Keep with it and the stuck rods, rough starts, and difficultly making consistent welds will fade away pretty quickly. 😀

[@jonathanjudeoneildelisle481]

Excellent instructor. Thank you.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind words 😀. Thanks for spending time to better your skills 👍

[@JamesCouch777]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and time.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

You’re welcome, I am glad I can help 😀

[@user-lf7en6rf8m]

Excellent, subscribed, thank you , im total new and simply want to do basic wire feed welding and make small cool stuff, your videos are awesome

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Welcome and thanks for the kind words 😀. The great thing with you being new is you will be able to progress rapidly and (provided you spend the time to practice) will be able to build a lot of cool stuff. Wire welding (MiG and flux core) is a great place to start, and is very capable. I am still doing gas shielded MiG videos so I have a few more of those coming out. If you have any questions/ don’t understand anything feel free to ask and I will help you out 😀

[@lt1376]

How on earth do you have so few subscribers!? Great content, keep at it!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

I am a pretty young channel. Subscribers have been pouring in lately, everything takes time :0. I am just glad that I can help people 😀

[@nikkilovetheyardsale-again2608]

If you can do one on basic set up and safety i know i for one would ruky appreciate that oh so much. Being a single mother trying to just be half as good as any professional i want to make sure i come home to my son. 😊

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

I have covered some random videos on safety over the past year or so. I am definitely due for a new one. I will share this info for the time being: I have been welding/repairing things full time for about a decade. I have had some decent injuries and some close calls. 95% of my injuries were preventable. Wear your gloves and wear proper gloves for what you’re doing. I have suffered serious hand burns from pure stupidity of not wearing gloves (or the right ones). Wear eye protection 100% of the time, even while wearing a welding hood. It will safe your eyes. Not only do they keep debris out but many block harmful UV light, so an arc flash will do far less damage. Use tools properly, don’t put your fingers places where they could get injured. If you feel something is dangerous come up with a better way to do it. Beyond that I will say this: most of the dangers with welding are the accumulation exposure. Dust, smoke, fumes all damage lungs. Wearing a simple 40$ mask can add years to your life. Virtually all of welding is bad for your lungs. Eye damage can happen over time due to arc flashes, so wear a good hood.

[@nikkilovetheyardsale-again2608]

@makingmistakeswithgreg thanks so much for you time I truly appreciate it and yeah I did find your safety videos after I commented and watched till I passed out at like midnight 😆 but I went today and got the welding/mechanic job!!! 22 hr start. A bunch of benefits and add ons and bonuses!! 10 minutes from my house. Can't get more perfect then that. I tip my hat to you 😉

[@frankmarkham5913]

Fantastic, very well explained and gives me confidence to have a go 👍thank you.

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem 😀. Just expect to fail for a bit before it makes sense. Learning stick is frustrating for a while, and can still be frustrating at times even after your good lol. Luckily if you have a decent idea of what you’re doing and practice a bunch it will slowly get better. The coolest part is when you look back on where you started and you can have a laugh at what your first welds looked like vs where you wound up.

[@peteryeung111]

Sir, you are such a great instructor. Love your channel and I just subscribed 👍💥

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind words and welcome 😀.

[@hugobaires2113]

Thank you very much I've been looking for this all the videos don't really tell u much great video

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem, glad to help out 👍

[@mattwaters6987]

Just the video and information i needed to get started. Thanks Greg. You earned a new sub!😊

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Welcome 😀. If you’re struggling with something don’t hesitate to post a question on a video😀

[@Allen-ln6gz]

Thank you for your time and service

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

No problem 😀

[@Bullelkbill]

I have really enjoyed your video , i will be watching all you have to offer. , Where is your ground connected ?

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

I connect it to the steel table top in the video. The electricity completes the circuit through the table 😀

[@savinggracechurch4112]

This guy is brilliant!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind words lol. I prefer “made enough mistakes to know what works”. Lol

[@jacquescote2585]

You’re a great teatcher! Thanks!

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

Thanks for the kind comment 😀

[@amy-joe5772]

I like the twist stinger handle

[@makingmistakeswithgreg]

I am not exhausting sure why, but the twist style is virtually non existent here in the states. I have one somewhere I will have to break out 😀

[@dennisyoung4631]

Have wondered about getting a “stinger” with a slightly smaller diameter of handle, but not sure where to find one - or wonder if they even exist?