I found it's extremely difficult to weld overhead. Is it always this hard? I
used rod 7014. Is there a better rod for it? Should I just bite the bullet &
buy a wire-feed welder? Thanks!

-Mike

--
A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT
Cold air intake
FRPP 3.73 gears
Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter
Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo)
Hi-speed fan switch
255/60R-15 rear tires
Subframe connectors

Overhead stick welding would prefer 6011 or 6010 electrodes as the
puddle freezes faster. 6010 is typically DC-only. Possibly 6013 as
well for thin metal since 6011 and 6010 have a strong digging effect.
Short arc with amperage in the lower part of the range for the
electrode selected. It's not easy to keep that puddle small enough
that it solidifies against the pull of gravity.


On Sat, 04 Dec 2004 02:15:00 GMT, wrote:

I found it's extremely difficult to weld overhead. Is it always this hard? I
used rod 7014. Is there a better rod for it? Should I just bite the bullet &
buy a wire-feed welder? Thanks!

-Mike

Would a wire-feed welder be easier? What about for overhead projects?

-Mike

--
A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT
Cold air intake
FRPP 3.73 gears
Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter
Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo)
Hi-speed fan switch
255/60R-15 rear tires
Subframe connectors


"Thomas Kendrick" wrote in message
news:1102133056.o1egsOPaBF2rnwMWZ0wZgQ@teranews...
Overhead stick welding would prefer 6011 or 6010 electrodes as the
puddle freezes faster. 6010 is typically DC-only. Possibly 6013 as
well for thin metal since 6011 and 6010 have a strong digging effect.
Short arc with amperage in the lower part of the range for the
electrode selected. It's not easy to keep that puddle small enough
that it solidifies against the pull of gravity.


On Sat, 04 Dec 2004 02:15:00 GMT, wrote:

I found it's extremely difficult to weld overhead. Is it always this
hard? I
used rod 7014. Is there a better rod for it? Should I just bite the
bullet &
buy a wire-feed welder? Thanks!

-Mike

On Sat, 04 Dec 2004 02:15:00 GMT, wrote:

I found it's extremely difficult to weld overhead. Is it always this hard? I
used rod 7014. Is there a better rod for it? Should I just bite the bullet &
buy a wire-feed welder? Thanks!

-Mike

It aint all that easy with a wire feed either.

Gunner, nursing a hicky behind his ear from a falling hot blob
"I mean, when's the last time you heard of a college where the Young
Republicans staged a "Sit In" to close down the Humanities building?
On the flip side, how many sit in's were staged to close the ROTC building back in the '60's?
Liberals stage protests, do civil disobedience, etc.
Conservatives talk politely and try to work out a solution to problems
through discourse until they believe that talking won't work... they they go home and open the gun cabinets.
Pray things never get to the point where the conservatives decide that
"civil disobedience" is the next step, because that's a very short route to "voting from the rooftops"
Jeffrey Swartz, Misc.Survivalism

Given your automotive interests, you should absolutely think about a
MIG. MIG is *the* way to go for sheet metal work like autobody. It
is easy to learn to do well. It is also easy to do badly, but if you
read Miller's book on MIG you'll be able to tell when you're getting
it right. The book is $28 and well worth it.

Out of position welding, including overhead, is much easier to do
with MIG than with stick. I had no problem doing some overhead
welding on a trailer with MIG, and I'm no pro welder by any means.
Overhead welding with stick while laying on the ground in a rain of
glowing slag is not my idea of a good time.

I had a guy over a couple of weeks ago to try out my MIG. He is a
barely-adequate stick welder. He made very good butt and fillet
welds first try. I suggested he try vertical. He said he couldn't do
vertical yet. I said he can now -- just try it. He did. He made a
very nice weld on his second try. Next stop: welding store!

The little 110 volt boxes work great for autobody. However, if you
intend to weld anything thicker than 1/8" then go with a 220-volt
machine rated for 170 amps or so since you obviously already have 220
available. They will also do the thin stuff well and the price is
only a little more than for a good 110 volt box. . Lincoln, Miller
and Hobart (Miller with a different label) all make good machines.
The Hobart Handler is very popular among automotive and motorcycle
builders. I think there's even a users group.

Another nice thing about MIG in cold climates is that it can be used
indoors. No smoke. I don't like using stick indoors, but MIG is
no problem.

I would shy away from imports. I had an HF import 110volt box.
Pieceacrap. No comparison to a Lincoln of similar ratings. If you
buy a crummy machine you will eventually replace it with a good one --
and discover that some of your problems were the machine rather than
anything you were doing wrong. That was my experience anyway.

If you can scratch up the bread, now is a very good time to be
shopping for a welder, at least in Minneapolis. The welding stores
usually have good sales that run from late November thru 31 Dec, and
this year is no exception.

On Sat, 04 Dec 2004 02:15:00 GMT, wrote:

I found it's extremely difficult to weld overhead. Is it always this hard? I
used rod 7014. Is there a better rod for it? Should I just bite the bullet &
buy a wire-feed welder? Thanks!

-Mike

The first 1 in 7014 indicates that the rod is an all position rod, suitable
for using in out of position welding, including overhead. It is just a
matter of mastering the correct technique.

I used a wire-feed welder which proved to be a lot easier. Got the exhaust
hangers welded & real sturdy. Thanks though . I will remember that for
future reference!

-Mike

--
A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT
Cold air intake
FRPP 3.73 gears
Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter
Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo)
Hi-speed fan switch
255/60R-15 rear tires
Subframe connectors


"Footy" wrote in message
...
The first 1 in 7014 indicates that the rod is an all position rod,
suitable
for using in out of position welding, including overhead. It is just a
matter of mastering the correct technique.

wrote:

I found it's extremely difficult to weld overhead. Is it always this hard? I
used rod 7014. Is there a better rod for it? Should I just bite the bullet &
buy a wire-feed welder? Thanks!

-Mike

--
A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT
Cold air intake
FRPP 3.73 gears
Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter
Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo)
Hi-speed fan switch
255/60R-15 rear tires
Subframe connectors


Use a small diameter rod and keep the heat/current down and work the rod
on and off the puddle. Also, have a good set of leathers.

John