How to Arc Weld | Welding

Summary

This welding tutorial explains the basic process of arc welding, from safely handling the electrode in an insulated holder to striking the arc. It covers the importance of maintaining a consistent molten puddle and the correct technique for joining metal. Key tips include controlling the distance between the welding rod and the workpiece, as well as the need to regularly move the rod and ensure even heat distribution. After welding, cleaning the weld from flux residue with a chipping hammer and wire brush is essential for a quality finish.

Takeaways

• 😀 The welding rod fits into an insulated electrode holder, ensuring the operator is safe from electric shock.
• 😀 The welding rod can be positioned in various ways depending on the operator's preference or the workpiece position.
• 😀 When the welding machine is powered on and the ground clip is attached to the work, everything metal on the table is charged.
• 😀 The circuit is completed when the electrode makes contact with the work, allowing electricity to flow through the holder, workpiece, and back to the welder.
• 😀 Striking an arc creates a molten pool of metal, which is key for joining two metal pieces together.
• 😀 The welding rod gradually gets consumed during the welding process, so the operator must adjust the rod position and feed rate.
• 😀 Learning how to strike the arc is crucial, and it requires a gentle, flicking motion rather than a stabbing or dragging action.
• 😀 Once the arc is struck, it’s important to maintain a consistent molten puddle and keep the rod at the right distance from the work surface.
• 😀 When welding, slightly wavering the tip of the electrode helps heat both metal pieces evenly while depositing filler material.
• 😀 After completing the weld, a blue-black residue from the flux remains on top of the weld, which must be cleaned off using a chipping hammer and wire brush.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the electrode holder in arc welding?

The electrode holder is insulated and allows the operator to safely hold the electrode, preventing the risk of electric shock.

How does the welding circuit work once the machine is on?

When the welding machine is on and the ground clip is connected to the work or metal table, the metal becomes charged. The electricity flows from the electrode holder through the workpiece, completing the circuit through the ground clamp back to the welder.

What happens when the electrode makes contact with the workpiece?

When the electrode makes contact with the workpiece, it completes the electrical circuit, and an arc is struck, creating a molten pool of metal that fuses the pieces being welded.

What is the role of the welding rod during the process?

The welding rod's alloy center melts into the molten pool, fusing the two pieces of metal together, completing the weld.

Why is it important for the operator to constantly adjust the welding rod?

As the welding rod is consumed during the process, it shortens. The operator must continuously move the rod laterally and push it into the seam being welded to maintain the quality of the weld.

What is the first step in learning arc welding?

The first step is learning how to strike the arc, which involves a delicate flicking motion, similar to striking a match, rather than a stabbing or quick dragging motion.

How should an operator maintain the arc once it has been struck?

Once the arc is struck, the operator should maintain a consistent distance between the welding rod tip and the work surface, keeping a smooth molten puddle of metal and slightly wavering the electrode tip back and forth.

Why is it crucial to avoid looking at the arc with the naked eye?

Looking at the arc with the naked eye can cause serious eye damage due to the intense brightness and ultraviolet radiation emitted by the arc.

What is the purpose of waving the electrode tip back and forth while welding?

Waving the electrode tip back and forth helps evenly heat both pieces of metal and ensures that the filler rod is properly deposited into the molten pool.

What should be done after completing an arc-welded seam?

After completing the weld, a blue-black residue, a byproduct of the burning flux, will be present on top of the weld. This residue should be cleaned off using a chipping hammer and wire brush.