improving your smaw welding technique

Prepared by: Lawrence Lerias

• SMAW—shielded metal arc welding is one

of the more difficult processes to learn.

• Metal preparation is a must

•

• Use a wire brush or grinder to remove dirt,

grime or rust from the area to be welded.

• Unclean conditions can lead to cracking,

porosity, lack of fusion or inclusions.

• Make sure you have a clean spot for the

ground clamp. A good, solid electrical

connection is important to maintain arc

quality.

• Position yourself so you have good view of the

weld puddle. Keep your head off to the side and

out of the smoke so you can be sure you’re

welding in the joint.

• Make sure your stance will allow you to

comfortably support and manipulate the

electrode.

•Current setting

•Length of arc

•Angle of electrode

•Manipulation of the electrode

•Speed of travel

• Correct current/amperage setting depends on the

diameter and type of electrode to be used. Electrodes

operating ranges are usually indicated on the box.

• General rule of thumb is 1 amp for each .001 inch of

electrode diameter.

Here a 1/8” (.125 inch)

electrode is used,

so the operator starts

at 125 amps

Current setting is too low. The arc will stutter and the

electrode will be sticky. Low penetration on base metal.

Current setting is too high. The puddle will be

excessively fluid and hard to control. This can lead to

excess spatter and higher potential for undercut.

The electrode glows because of too high amperage

setting.

Arc length should not exceed the diameter of themetal portion (core) of the electrode, e.g. an 1/8-in.6010 electrode is held about 1/8 in. off the basematerial.

Correct arc

length varies

with each

electrode and

application.

• 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.

• Too long of an arc length will create excess

spatter in the weld joint. There is also a high

potential for undercut.

Stick welding in the

flat, horizontal and

overhead position

uses a “drag” or

“backhand” welding

technique.

Hold the electrode perpendicular to the joint, and then tilt the

direction of travel approximately 5 to 15 degrees. For

welding vertical up, use a “push” or “forehand” technique

and tilt the top of the electrode 0 to 15 degrees away from

the direction of travel

• Each welder manipulates the electrode a little differentlythan the next.

• Develop your own style by observing others, practicingand noting which techniques produce the best results.

• To create a wider bead on thicker material, manipulatethe electrode from side to side motion to cover a widerarea.

• Note that on material 1/4 in. and thinner, weaving theelectrode is typically not necessary because the bead willbe wider than necessary. In many instances a straightbead is all that’s needed.

Here the welder uses a semi-circular

motion to create a wider bead with a

“stacked dimes” appearance.

• Your travel speed

should allow you to

keep the arc in the

leading one-third of

the weld pool.

First, establish a weld puddle of the desired

diameter, and then move at a speed that keeps you

in the leading one-third of the puddle.

• Traveling too

slowly

produces a

wide, convex

bead

• Slow travel speed will create too much weld

deposit.

• This can result in insufficient penetration.

• It can also focus the heat into the puddle and not

into the base material.

• Excessively fast

travel speeds

creates a

concave or

recessed weld.

Traveling too fast will create a thinner/undersized

bead that will have more of a “V”- shaped ripple

effect in the puddle rather than a nice “U” shaped, or

“stacked dimes” effect.

• 1. Practice your welding technique.

• 2. Practice CLAMS.

• 3. Practice even more.

The key to acquiring proficiency in any task is

repetition – Leonard Hofstadter (TBBTS8E8)

• End of slide

• Thanks you

• Prepared by Lawrence Lerias

• Photos and contents courtesy of www.milerwelds.com