Stick Welding: How to Tack Weld

[@rootkit459]

When I started watching your videos I had no idea how to weld. Today I'm finishing my metal railing, made and welded by my self! I have A LOT of room for improvement, but I'm so excited I want to weld everything xD. Keep it going, great videos!

[@ayb2337]

Nice job. I would love to see that

[@BLUE-jo9uu]

Same my mom was really proud about it

[@GregsBlueTacoma]

2 years later and some dude named greg in dayton nevada is using your videos to get started in stick after years of fcaw. Your videos have been SO valuable to me. Thank you.

[@thechronicgeneralist]

Clear and concise as usual. Thank you for making me a better hobbyist welder!

[@m11akos]

For better start, you can always preheat your electrode on a scrap piece of metal and start welding / tacking while the tip is still red hot. Works well for me. Thanks for your informative videos!

[@DavidMoore-br7ge]

Yeah or just whack it perpendicular to the metal so it breaks the flux off

[@jimbob5891]

I got a 1980's buzzbox and this seems to be the only decent way to get a 6013 started.

[@cotybumgarner3460]

I'd never held a welder before, after a few months and multiple trips to harbor freight I'm actually getting things to work! Thank you SOOOO much Tim

[@malcolmmutambanengwe3453]

Many thanks from Zimbabwe, Africa. I am learning to weld and was struggling to tack using 6013. Many thanks again. Subscribed :)

[@richardcarey169]

I thought of the file trick with 7018 as I was learning, very happy I saw it here also

[@machinegun333]

Just recently bought a cheap little dc welder on ebay and Tim I've got to say you make the best "for beginner" welding videos on KZbin! You have a great way of explaining things and your videos are nicely edited, I also like how you show us examples of everything to try and copy. And on top of all that you have a likeble personality, I reckon this channel will go far! Thanks again - From the UK (Also thanks for adding metric units in your videos, it ruins the flow of a video when you have to Google the conversions mid way though) :)

[@Beavesweaves]

Starting welding school on monday, your videos have been super useful for learning at home so i can further it in a school.

[@nealesmith1873]

Great tips! Could have used them yesterday...when I tried stick welding for the first time.

[@haahnbalghan6556]

informative and inspiring...ive just started welding classes. i routinely watch your videos for help. i plan on purchasing your classes soon to get that extra boost! thanks for all the help!

[@middleagedpunk8923]

Thank you for these videos Tim. I finally got started today after watching a lot of your excellent tutorials, and although I encountered every conceivable beginner's snag, being forewarned made things a lot less daunting. I'm hoping to actually make something tomorrow so no doubt I'll be dipping in and out of these excellently well put together tutorials. 5 minute DIY, but still really accomplished, videos like this are absolutely what KZbin is all about!

[@miszced]

For those who have AC on their power source. There are consumables of the 7018 quality that are ideally suited for skip/tack welds. Arc initiation is easy & can run also on DCEP or DCEN.

[@amielrumbaua8387]

Ayyoo finally, ive been waiting for something like this. Had a lot of hours on my practices and dang i absolutely suck at tacking specially with 6013 with its misleading thick slag. Thanks for the info!

[@shamirkhan7055]

Another great video, I'm not even suprised. 💯💯

[@danielchambers1958]

Great tips Tim..... I use the e6011 for tacking..... 6013 and 7018 was to much trouble for me. Thanks again for the tips..... much appreciated 👍✅

[@TimWelds]

Thanks Daniel!

[@Irondrgntp]

I love your channel. So comprehensive and professional. THANK YOU!!!!

[@falkirk8413]

For better restarts with 7018 as you terminate the weld or tack just flick you wrist and the molten slag bb will fly off and leave a good clean electrode tip ready for the next weld You can try it and thank me later

[@Armednready87]

Your videos has helped me alot! You explain techniques and concepts very well

[@stevesilverwood9363]

Thanks for the tip...I too have been struggling tacking with 6013's...the thick slag fools you into thinking all's well...the hey presto...the joint falls apart..ordering 6011's for the next job.

[@Amp661]

Love you, Tim! thanks for your wealth of information! Keep them coming please!

[@cncmoh]

You made my day Tim. Thanks for the education man.

[@zod-engineering-welding]

Completely agree with using 6011 or 6010 to make tacks, right down to using more amps to get a good, clean, hot tack. The only thing missing is an HTP Inverarc 200TLP for your stick welding. That little lunchbox is a beast. I posted a video where I use TWO electrodes simultaneously off that machine. No ground clamp, just two stingers hooked up to the dinse ports. It eats other stick welders for breakfast.

[@maustinau]

Outstanding! Another great and info-laden video from one of my favourite KZbinrs, thanks Tim 💯💥

[@rickstrodder129]

Total beginner here... this was fabulous... thanks so much.

[@georgegoodfriend821]

You can also tap the electrode on the floor of your shop to remove the slag and flux from the electrode

[@deanmacka4975]

I know a bloke that puts a wooden close peg on the end of the stick to stop it shaking he only does that when he is hungover. Great stuff mate

[@yvesf5355]

Hey Tim Love your videos ,I'm learning lots of stuff from them Thanks

[@onetest3293]

Yep the tack welding is important and easy to learn

[@MikeCraigSLP]

Thank you. Your videos have been helpful

[@melgross]

Some machines have a hot start for stick, so that for tacks or the beginning of the weld you do get a hotter arc, which then, after a couple of seconds or so, drops to the normal weld setting you’ve set. My ESABs have that, and so do some Miller’s, Lincoln’s and others. Waiting for you to hit 100,000 before too long. It’s not taking a long time. Great work, Tim.

[@Beavesweaves]

Love your videos tim!!! So informative.

[@brag0001]

Interesting to see. Thanks a lot for all your great and instructive content. I've just started this year and, honestly, I didn't find tack welding to be all that difficult. I only ever use 6013 electrodes, because I can't get anything else easily. The misleading slack pool build is something I've experienced as well. When this happens to me that usually means that the stick was too far away from the metal and thus the arc was too long. The reason I didn't find them too challenging is that 6013 starts and restarts really well and that stick welding is a dirty process anyways, so trying the same tack weld twice didn't mess up the material too much. Since I'm clamping down all my stuff a lot I don't mind if a tack weld fails and just give it another try. The 6013 slack is thick, but it will usually go off easily from those tack spots. Since you had told us to do tack welds before the actual welding, I had tried those a lot when just starting out. Those being relatively easy gave me the confidence to tackle bigger projects, since I told myself that worst case, if I fail to do a continuous weld somewhere for some reason, I can just do tack welds all around till I'm done. That idea came in handy later when I burned through some material and had to close the hole again.

[@eatmyapl]

A belt sander is a great way to clean the slag on a used 7018 rod, and it gets the tip warm too

[@Japie196401]

Hi Tim, very instructuve video. I should know this stuff by now, but I still learn a thing or two or three by watching your tips. Great work, keep them coming...

[@natepuglise4386]

I start a welding job monday lol never welded before. They know they gave me a tack welding test and i passed so ill be watching more lol the tack welder i used was different tho idk what kind

[@ronaldwprovo5530]

Thank you Tim from Cheboygan.Mi.

[@tedbastwock3810]

Great vid, Tim, useful as always. Why isn't there a tool, like a cigar cutter, to clip the end of a used rod? Seems so obvious, so I guess there's a good reason people don't do it.

[@Hexfire17]

Thank you!! I'm working on the biggest project I have so far and have been practicing tacking, I save the end of my sticks too! Question: I'm welding 3/8 inch at most and using 3/32 rods, should I go a size smaller for the tacks?

[@rpavlik1]

That intro looked like me until you got a nice puddle (well, and I don't have a nice welding table like that.) 😁 Thanks for this, seems like this will be handy, since stick tacking seems a lot harder than flux core tacking.

[@TimWelds]

😂 Thanks a ton!

[@leroygrrillajames9335]

What kind of Rods do you recommend when welding half inch studs , copper pins and galvanized pins?

[@RaphaelLaloo]

you're amazing man thanks

[@tinkering123]

Good job. Dig your short videos. This old duff has a short attention span. Reverting to childhood.

[@JonathanEleini]

What electrode would you use to weld A500 Hot Rolled Carbon Steel square tubing 1/16" thick?

[@ryanoconnell5796]

In your videos you always weld on a table. Could you make a video where you are welding in a condition where’s its on a wall or on top of you say you were under a car. Will the puddles run ? Will things looks different ? Do you take different angles?

[@ThompsonJosh98]

Maybe you'd be interested in a video on preventing your material from warping when stick welding

[@ashokmoghe8035]

Great video as usual. So as a beginner do I have to buy all these electrodes 6011 + 6013/7018? After watching your other videos I was thinking of starting with 7018. Thanks and please keep making these good videos.

[@leandersmith6184]

I live in a very humid environment, and keep a lot of things in the fridge or to save it from the humidity or to dry out/up. Can I do this with my rods as well? Thanks for doing all these videos.

[@alsccln5379]

What is the best position to run 7018 1/8 rod to tack weld in 3/4 plate?

[@Sludgebucket69]

Stick welding has been interesting me lately any machines you’d recommend for a beginner?

[@Bob_on_Bikes]

He has a great half hour video that covers everything of how to start, with a bunch of Amazon links. I got the deko that he recommended. On 110, it's pretty awful for me, but I'm a newb. 🤷‍♂️ getting the hang of it a lot better with 240.

[@TimWelds]

There are so many good options out there, but here are two pretty decent starter units that won't break the bank: 1) I have used this cheap one off of amazon quite a bit and it works very well for the price, though it's definitely not a professional unit: amzn.to/3i2JbTk. 2) Classified ads aren't a bad place to look, either. I have bought a couple used Lincoln AC-225 welders off of the classifieds for a really good price. These are power-hungry tanks, but they work really well and last forever. You may find other models on the classifieds as well. Keep in mind that most TIG welders and multiprocess MIG welders will also run stick if you want to be able to grow into other processes in the future. My main portable stick-only unit these days is an ESAB Rogue 180i, which works great, but costs quite a bit more than the entry level options. If I'm in my shop running stick, though, I'll usually just use one of my TIG welders (HTP Invertig or Miller Dynasty).

[@Sludgebucket69]

@@TimWelds thanks for your input

[@Sludgebucket69]

@@usrleon I’ve got a flux core welder from harbor I don’t mind cheap just something to tinker around with

[@TimWelds]

@Orbby On a Bike After a bit of time with the Deko, I found that the amperage output is quite a bit lower than the reading when it is running on 110, so it might be helpful to set it 20 amps higher than you want when running 110.

[@waldok814]

Thank you

[@TUNEin2Bliss]

Love your videos, so well explained. I want to build a cargo bike, any tips how to weld thin bike tubing and which electrodes to use?

[@mpersonman33]

I’ve had a lot of trouble tac welding t-joints. Any tips on that?

[@darcymcnabb9259]

It depends 7018 can be the best when you need to move the piece after tracking

[@seyedfarhadheidarian9921]

Thanks 👍👍👍

[@TimWelds]

You're welcome! Appreciate the comment! 👍

[@mauroernestodiaz7071]

Gracias maestro! 🇸🇻

[@blingmotions6996]

Will you get shocked if we touch the rod while welding

[@BlueRidgeJ79]

Thanks!

[@david-tracy]

Is there any reason that a welding machine that can handle an e6010 electrode won't be able to handle a 6011 or a 7018? The specifications on my machine only mention it can handle an e6010

[@user-rs1990]

Had a go on the Welding Simulators! Though I went a little off line in a few tries as this was a MIG type and the wire gun can be tedious at times! I think that a Stick Welder is much easier than the other types as they use electrodes rather than wire. And you can hold the electrode like a pencil too!

[@africanhistory]

Welding thin material that is what we need to know. Esp square tube 1.5mm thick wall

[@Dr.CandanEsin]

I wonder the touch sequence of electrode in tack welding a thick and thin pieces; i.e. attaching a thin square tube to a thick bolt. Is it from thick to thin or from the one at the bottom to the top, especially with 6013? Great teaching again, thank you.

[@TimWelds]

Great question. Start on the thick one and move toward the thin until it bridges. I have a video about this on my channel if you want to see more.

[@gilvannanrocha6887]

Muito bom,não entendi nada que ele falou ,mais soldando entendi tudo,parabéns

[@brianpite0893]

Here's a really amateur question: If you tack weld to initially to keep your project together, can you finish it with Tig? Or is that not practical.

[@TimWelds]

If I'm going to TIG weld it, I'll just tack it with TIG. This can be done with or without filler, depending on the application. Tacking with TIG is easier than stick in my opinion and can leave a smaller, cleaner tack to go over.

[@markstevens5645]

When you get better with practice, you can wash in welds & tacks using the tig for a seamless finish.

[@vankai6817]

Just got a well paying job where I have to do this sometimes and I’ve only welded like 4 times in my life lmao

[@christopheredwards7348]

What amp setting does 6013 work best

[@OtisFlint]

3/32 7014 is excellent for tack welding

[@TimWelds]

I’ll have to give it a try. Thanks!

[@CainanParker]

If you want a good chuckle, turn closed captions on…

[@TheKhang70]

In Vietnamese we use just 1.4mm so very hard to welding.

[@5barkerstreet]

7018 all the way

[@Ty-ye8rd]

Can anyone answer if i should be running dcep, or dcen. My understanding is most stick welding should be electrode positive, unless it’s thinner material. I’m getting many different answers to this when i search online

[@TimWelds]

As you said, DCEP is generally best, but DCEN will reduce penetration on thin material. If you’re welding on thinner material, try both and use what works best for you. There’s no hard and fast rule.

[@leslamb9190]

3/5ths of the heat is on the positive side…so DCEP is usually used for stick welding.

[@woozhi9218]

5:13 is it ok to tack welds and Straight Weld it again

[@TimWelds]

That row of tacks is just a practice exercise. You’ll only have a couple on a project, with full or intermittent welds in between or over top of the tacks.

[@woozhi9218]

@@TimWelds btw would like to hear your opinion on doing a series of tack weld on a project . would it be strong enough for like diy automotive project ?

[@ctrader6]

In this video, you put down a row of tack welds. Which of your videos demonstrates welding over these, as you mentioned. Thanks

[@TimWelds]

The row of tacks is just an exercise, not something that you would have on a project. There would typically just be a few on each joint to hold things in place. You can weld up to them or just run right over them. You can also grind them down a little if needed. Hope this helps.

[@AutodidactEngineer]

6013 shouldn't exist IMO

[@anarcho-savagery2097]

I usually feel dizzy after hitting TURBO MODE

[@angelofichera89]

Problema with subtitles for this video :\

[@angelofichera89]

Vietnamita only

[@payco1000]

🥇🥂👍💯⚡

[@paddlepower888]

With decent tack welds I space then 3-6” apart, NOT 1/2” as shown here.

[@TimWelds]

That’s just an exercise for practice. I’d never recommend tacking that often on a project, it would just introduce defects.

[@hono6570]

talking alot!

[@damnfez]

So tack welding isn't permanent?

[@diywithreza]

Clear and concise as usual. Thank you for making me a better hobbyist welder!