i have a miller stick welder that has low and high modes and a a big gauge that shows ur amperage. im using 7010 rods and they seem like they dont wanna work. like they always either tick to the metal and wont break free or itll work great and ill start laying a decent weld and it will just stop or stick to the metal. are the sticks just damp? or could be that the metal could be contaminated?

 

I think that you dont havethe right angle on your stick. The angle schould be around 45 degrees, the more you tend to a 90 angle, the meltpool wil touch you stick and your stick gets stuck.
Also, to get an arc going, you need to strike the stick gently over the working surface, like a match.

 

thats makes sense cause when im sitting down i can lay a nice bead, but if i stand up, it will usually get stuck, probably cause it isnt angled right, thanx for the help

 

anytime

 

It's all about practice. Turning the heat up will help keep it from sticking, but there comes a point that it's too hot and difficult to control the puddle.

In early stages of learning, turn it up hot and as you develop the skill to control the rod, you can turn the heat down to a level that will be better for welding.

oh...and excesive spatter is one of the biggest symptoms of burning hot.

 

thank you, ihavent had much spatter but i frequently have welds that look like a black line. is that from welding uncleaned metal?

 

pick up some 6011/6013 rods, and a chipping hammer. ANY STICK WELDS CANNOT BE WELDED OVER until slag is chipped (read on). the new bead will just ---- over the slag and not stick for ---- it sounds like you might also be welding glavanized... fence post charge pipes again? wire brush (preferably steel brush wires..) the surface before welding, and after chipping slag, also possibly youll need to grind the surface before arcing if in fact you ARE using fence post..

ALSO. look into a heavier amperage electrode holder. preferably a nice 200amp copper one, the heavier weight will give you less hand twitch on the end of a full length electrode. it kinda sounds like your amperage is too low to begin with... crank it up a few or look for a smaller rod (5/64" instead of 3/32")