Chapter 692

July 30, 2025

Arc Welder

melting metal

Couldn't resist this $40 arc welder from Amazon. Why, just for fun and I might need to do some welding on my over stressed wood splitter.

Practicing the technique drawing the E6013 3/32" rod (60,000 psi) along an old railroad spike I found. Put on a bench grinder to get to bare metal. Ground electrode attached to piece. Positive through the handle. Setting to 120 amps (peak, 60 RMS). I have a lot of various pieces of metal hanging around like this sheet of steel used in my oxygen acetylene welding brazing days on automobiles.

Had the piece in a vice for a while but I think it was absorbing too much heat. Picked up this classic pipeliner helmet for free one day at a roadside giveaway. Very dark #10 glass to protect eyes so I put a flash light on the subject. Did not know there are modern automatic darkening helmets now. Maybe...

I think this attempt led to a better weld.

Had to try many different voltage setting to get a flow. It's a definite art requiring hours - years and years of practice. Very pleased with what I achieved in first 2 days attempts. Too many other life distractions have been in the way since to go back practicing.

Liked this weld pattern. Cheap welder not even supposed to lay down a weld on this half inch steel stock.

Dad had the red electric welder behind the box with welding rods. Here he's using the oxy-acetylene cutting head. Believe he closes one eye and puts the other behind the cut off tip to shield his eye. But I recall he said he used to look at the sun as a kid.