tanglediver

Sounds like fun is on your horizon! But, you have to iron out lots of basic requirements before your welds can take shape. 7018 makes so much slag, that it always balls up around the rod tip. Slag doesn't conduct an arc!! I usually just twist those rods into a hard surface on the ground, like putting out a cigarette, just to break that ball off the tip. Some like to shake the tip, with a hard snap, while it is red hot. Lighting the rod up on anything but a fresh rod is an art. But it is easier, I find, with 60 series rods. But just know that all rods fall into two categories, filler and penetration. Some filler rods are E7018, E7014, E6013. A couple of penetrating rods are E6010 and E6011. (The most common.) On AC, you can not run 6010, but 6011 works fine. Just because 6011 is a penetrating rod, that does not mean you can't run it on thin metal. It is also a "fast freeze" rod, and it actually does very well on thin stuff. Like you, I am "blessed" with running an AC tombstone. That's what the boss has in the shop for a stick welder. He has a mig welder too, but I don't like running it with shielding gas in the breeze. Fluxcore wire does have a place where high production is needed, but most of my work is small repairs. It really does get better, but you've got to put in lots of hood time to get there. Enjoy the ride!

Yes, an existing block trumps hours of blood, sweat and tears. But the OP asked, so I gave it the old college try.

The included angle we ran on full pen., 1" plate, butt joints was 60*, so 30* each edge which we precut with a track burner. That was just for test plates. The configuration of the pieces and the type of joint will dictate the angle that works well. A very wide angle will take a lot more weld metal than a very narrow one, and there are lots of different joint configurations, different groove shapes etc. I ran 1/8" E7018 at 118 ~ 125 amps with preheat of 150* on mild steel when I tested. We shot for an interpass temperature of 250*, so that meant allowing enough time to cool to 250* before starting each pass. Making a big chunk of homogeneous steel is not that hard. Making one that serves as a good anvil may be a bit harder! Have fun. I was just remembering a hand made anvil that sat in the lab at school. It looked to be between 100 and 200 pounds. I never did learn the story behind that piece, who made it, how well it worked.

Italy, you say? That can be an interesting proposition, what with shipping, customs, etc. That's where my PFP came from. I won't be doing that again any time soon! Your stand looks ... sturdy!

Sustained. Counsel will refrain from further leading of the witness. You may continue with questioning...

Thank you CGL! That is very thoughtful.

Thank you pnut and Anachronist58.

We have said goodbye to ma for now. Her earthly trials have been laid aside, for which her family is very grateful. Thank you for all your remembrances, IFI is the best!!

I started with a Century AC arc welder at home in 1994. I got tips from every welder I could along the way. Here at my current job, they only had an old Miller 200 mig machine. However, as time went on, the owner picked up a used Lincoln 225 AC machine, so at least I had the option of using stick at work. The first home projects almost always end up being geared to set yourself up to do more welding as you learn. If your machine does not already have wheels under it, I suggest that as a good starter project. It has been a fun ride harnessing "magic pixies" (as Ave says). AC works great, and has an advantage when encountering a phenomena called 'arc blow'. E6013 & E6011 in 3/32 or 1/8 inch diameter are good AC rods to try out. There are lots more. Good luck with your wiring!

When I first saw weldors fitting up projects by the tack weld and hammer technique, I thought it was a revelation. So, first you tack weld your pieces together, then with the tack still glowing red, you hammer the bits together to tighten everything up. Simply genius! Of course, you have mere moments before it cools too much to work. Then there is oxyacetylene welding, poetry in motion!

That's great, the 225's are certainly heavy, at least over 100 pounds. The 250's push 400! I don't know about 12 gauge wire for a power circuit, I agree with IdF&C, I would want 8 if I could get it, 6 if the run gets long.

Not needed for trailer work in what I have seen. Competency certainly is needed, but not always evident in production trailers. You can imagine all the production guys out there just punching a clock trying to make quotas rather than obsessing over quality.

That's one big hunk of dross, "adult sparklers", HA!!

Thank you Robert and Sheila! Yes Thomas, that is an outstanding idea, thanks!! I had a long phone chat with her youngest brother, my uncle, tonight. He is himself going in for the first of two knee replacements next week. Thank you all very much, it means a great deal!

Thank you all very much, I certainly welcome it! My niece and her girls are visiting with her as I type. We are getting a visiting nurse arranged. Ma is still alert and talking fine today. Rest assured, I spend all the time I can with her.

I would appreciate your prayer for my ma. She is 85 and she has all but given up on this life. Pa went on ahead 5 years ago at 86, and I think she just wanted to catch up with his final age, her birthday will be next month. Thanks!

Will do.

Not to mention the price of oxygen and acetylene refill gas. But, it is torch work that lit the light bulb in my mind to old school blacksmithing potential.

Anvils have potential as tools, only people can have talent. But desire to learn can also count for much. You'll do fine!

That's a very nice original! Still trying to pay mine off... ... almost done.

How cool is that?! My MH is very similar in age, and also has phenomenal rebound, and just a bit of a swayback to keep life interesting.

Yea, I pounded on more than my share of bench vice backs over the years. I still do, and I won't supply my employer with a good anvil of my own. So on the job, I resort to a small chunk of rail that stays with my tool box, and which fits in the jaws of a vise when I need to cold shape metal, or I just use the back of one of the bench vises. If you get 70-80 percent, that is a bonus, and you are moving in the right direction. You don't have to stop anvil searching!

That is a big improvement! "Watcha gonna do with that 400 year old sword?" "Mmmmm, cut the hedge back some, maybe clear some weeds."

CGL, that's a nice little turn of events! Daswulf, the onset of symptoms sounds like it's electrical in nature to me, however, I ain't an auto mechanic, just trailers. Getting into crazy locations helps with any vehicular work, especially boats.

Nothin', just a half day at work, then goofed off shopping around town. But, I watched these guys tonight, who, actually know what they're doing. All I understood was the year of release at the end...1963. https://youtu.be/VK5QwqXW_BY