Hi everyone, I am a welding trainee. Last Thursday, I tried E7018 rods for the first time and they kept sticking. Friday, we worked with thinner materials and I could not do good at them.
The last 3 weeks of the course will be MIG/MAG, which I haven't seen yet. The last week destroyed me, I am in a terrible mood now.
I want to be a certified welder, there is going to be an exam on MIG/MAG for the certificate. Please write something.
Philomel
Favorite Answer
Arc welding takes a lot of learning, It is an art.
It takes lots of practice and proper setting of the voltage for the materials to be welded and rod being used. MIG is nice because there is no slag. You are learning the very basics now and will require practice. Give it time. It will take you a year to be even remotely dangerous as a welder.
Which is easier? Some like MIG/TIG/MAG, some like stick.
With stick there are lots of stubs left laying around which may need to be picked up, use a big magnet on a wooden pole or aluminum pipe.
Anonymous
I know how you feel about stick welding. It takes really good eye hand coordination and lots and lots of practice. It is also hard to do on thin material like 1/8".
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You see most welders now using MIG or TIG. I think it is easier to learn but still you need lots and lots of practice. I would think MAG is about the same as MIG but maybe a little better.
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I have worked with lots of welders over the years. One of the things I have noticed is that their handwriting is very good. Not fancy but very readable and consistent. If yours is not like that you may find that you are just not cut out to be a welder.
John
MIG welding is called using the wire machine that learned at the chicken feed plant. I also learned stick welding at the chicken feed plant. I still don't know what TIG is but stood Fire Watch.