Why does my welding rod keep sticking

Try to keep the distance short but make sure not to touch the metal. Also, do not increase the arc length too much as it will cause the metal to splatter all over the place. A general rule of thumb is never to exceed the arc length higher than the diameter of the metal core of the electrode. For example: If you keep the stinger Welding rod holder in your right arm, plant your left elbow on the workbench and take advantage of that to stabilize your electrode. This way, you can keep the travel speed and the angle at the same level without hassle.

If you increase the travel speed that will reduce the penetration and if you slow the speed that will provide shallow deep penetrations. Therefore try to keep a balance between them for a quality weld finish. Thick electrodes are difficult to get a hold on and are more likely to stick.

If you are a beginner, my suggestion would be to start with a thin welding rod as they are quite easy to handle. As you earn more experience, you can advance towards E and E Any electrode with a name having 10,11,12 or 13 as the last two digits such as E, E, etc. But in the case of E or E rods, you should show some extra care to maintain their quality. Store them in dry ovens where you can maintain a temperature of degrees Fahrenheit.

As I mentioned above, the most common cause of welding rod sticking problems is the low amperage value. Following the aforementioned simple techniques will help you a lot with your welding experience. But keep in mind that practice is what makes a stick weld perfect.

I have been fighting this rod sticking for about 2 hours now. I just bought a Daiden amp inverter welder and I have 2. That rod sticks every time. I try scratching but no luck. Just for fun at 66 yrs old. This is the first problem of every welder that only starting on a stick welding. Good to know this is normal for beginners. I appreciate all the welders who are making videos to show newbies like me, to learn new habits.

Not have to break bad habits we learn as we struggle to learn to weld. Great article. For those who welder i just recently started stick welding i went and bout and 80 amp Chicago mini arc stick welder and had poor starts luck bit have got better but kno i dont kno how to clean my leads wt do i use a file or spray or just replace it thanks. This coating act as a filler agent between two metals. The melting point of the flux or coated material should be less than the melting point of base metals.

If flux quality is poor, it will fall off in the shape of the melted chunk, and the rod will stick with the base metal. The best quality flux liquefies when the base metal starts melting. Using the excellent quality of flux can minimize the risk of the stickiness of the electrode. If you are worried about the sticking problem and question, arise in your mind like other welders that, why does my welding rod keep sticking?

This article may help you understand the nature of the problem. And the preventions are also discussed above. A good welder must diagnose and fix the bugs in its work.

Rod sticking problems can sort out by providing proper current and voltage. Also, by using good quality of flux. If you are a beginner and continuously face the sticking issue, this article is beneficial for you. Have the best start-up! I'm Adam Byron, welding to repair equipment used in my own business. Now as a hobby, I enjoy researching, testing and writing on welding topics. Further interests include photography, RV'ing and just about anything to do with welding.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Many times when it sticks, the jerking away, or breaking loose of the rod will cause flux to come off of the end. That makes it really hard to strike and arc again without it sticking. One quick fix is to long-arc hold the rod up off of the plate about a quarter inch the welding rod and burn the bare metal off until it reaches the flux. It helps to turn the machine up to warp 10 in other words crank that baby up when burning it off.

If you don't do that, it will almost always stick again to the bare rod that you're trying to fix. That's one reason you really need to keep your welding rods, especially low-hydrogen rods, in rod ovens. If you don't, besides getting moisture in the flux, which causes porosity, or worm holes; the flux can become brittle and flake off. This weld is a result of too little current.

The weld is the result of too much current. When the amperage is set too high, the puddle will be excessively fluid and hard to control. This can lead to excess spatter and higher potential for undercut. In addition, the electrode will become hot — perhaps hot enough to glow toward the end of the weld—which can adversely affect the shielding properties of the flux.

A sign of too much current is when the electrode becomes hot enough to glow. Length of arc : The correct arc length varies with each electrode and application. As a good starting point, arc length should not exceed the diameter of the metal portion core of the electrode. Length of arc: The optimal arc length, or distance between electrode and puddle, is the same as the diameter of the electrode the actual metal part within the flux covering.

Holding the electrode too closely to the joint decreases welding voltage, which creates an erratic arc that may extinguish itself or cause the electrode to freeze faster and produces a weld bead with a high crown. An arc length that is too short will create greater potential for the electrode sticking to the base material.

Excessively long arcs too much voltage produce spatter, low deposition rates, undercuts and often leaves porosity. Too long of an arc length will create excess spatter in the weld joint. There is also a high potential for undercut. When first attempting to stick weld, it seems natural to use too long of an arc, possibly to help get a better view of the arc and puddle.

If you have trouble seeing, move your head, rather than lengthening the arc. Start by finding a good body position that gives you an adequate view of the puddle, while also allowing you to stabilize and manipulate the electrode. A little practice will show you that a tight, controlled arc length improves bead appearance, creates a narrower bead and minimizes spatter. Angle of travel : Stick welding in the flat, horizontal and overhead positions uses a drag or backhand welding technique.

Hold the electrode perpendicular to the joint, and then tilt the top in the direction of travel approximately 5 to 15 degrees.