Ironworker welder here. Been doing it for some time now, but I'm always looking into how to be better. Professionals never stop learning and perfecting. I appreciate your guidance brother.
I love your videos, I'm 15 and I am about to do a fabrication and welding apprenticeship an your videos are helping me so much, thanks heaps I'm your number 1 fan haha👌🏾
Wilson, good for you. I bought an oxyacetylene outfit in 1954 when I was 15. Now I'm 81and still welding. I have watched every one of Jody's videos for more than 10 years. You and I share the passion for welding, I wish you well. Jack, Newbury Park, CA
Awesome man! Hope you’re STICKING with it! JK, seriously though, learning a trade at your age is a brilliant thing to do. You’re be leaps and bounds ahead of your peers in no time.
With schools closed due to the virus and online school being used instead, my manufacturing teacher is having us watch these and take notes as we are unable to actually practice at home
Get a welding machine and practice in home man, i just acquire one a week ago and I practicing a lot in the house in my free time because I still have a full time job that doesn't involved welding
I’ve gotten qualified to many weld procedures in my lifetime and traveled everywhere with my welding ability yet still enjoy watching another professional explain the business. I’ll never be without my welding equipment and I’m certain that you sir feel the same way. Keep up with your always informative videos and passing the torch to the next generation of weldors. No pun intended.😂
You use stick welder and become good at it. You can weld anything from aluminum, steel stainless and only thin stuff you might want to learn learn how to weld with acetylene and brazing. I only us tig if you want it real pretty. You can weld really fast with acetylene but you should look into the video HHO gas and look at that guy demonstrate how that shit works. Hydrogen gas for cutting torch. You use water and separate the hydrogen and it gets as hot as the material calls for.
Don’t listen to some of the things he said. I’ve been going to welding school for 3 years now and I run many different rods every day. The 7018 and the 6013 is the best and easiest rods to run. You can do restrikes very easy with both. You don’t need a file for anything. This man doesn’t know a lot of what he’s talking about. He is just trying to get u to spend more money that what you need.
Hey Jody, You have nothing to be ashamed of regarding your videos and the content you show! I have been lurking for quite some time, and don't recall ever making a comment, but as a welder fabricator for the better part of 40 years, I would attend your class if you were to do so! I have been certified in every facid of welding there is. Light gage, structural, rebar, pipe, ferrous, and non ferrous, wet welding, (underwater for those that don't know) even underwater tig! Had my own business as a welding contractor, yes I was even licensed!!! Joined the Ironworkers local 433 in Los Angeles, then transferred to 377 in San Francisco where I got injured, (twice) and have been on full disability for some years now! It's been suggested several times that I should become an instructor, but don't know if I could take on such an endeavor at this stage of my life! That being said, I appreciate you being out there, and even though I don't agree with everything you've posted, I have still learned a great deal from you! Pat yourself on the back, as your doing the trade a great and valuable service! Enjoy your holiday's and wishing you a prosperous new year! Respectfully, Ray, aka: Razor!
i have a Lincoln AC 225 that my dad bought back in the 80's then traded off for a boat and the friend he traded with gave it back to me for nothing a week before he passed still works great just put a new stinger on it and cleaned the dust and rat nests out of it plus i still have the boat dad got for it i know my dad and his friend are up there looking down and smiling that i get to enjoy both of them of course the welding part is thanks to you and a few others putting up video's so i could teach my self
I jut want to say thank you for taking the time to make these excellent videos. I think they are really helpful for guys like me who want to learn but don't have the opportunity or money to take a class. Your videos are a good mix of instructional and entertaining - and the rambling and rabbit holes are actually appreciated. Thanks again.
I learned with a northern buz box in my apartment walk in closet turned into a welding school... once I joined the ironworkers local I already had that skill down. Ya don't need a school or a union to learn welding. Just a bunch BUNCH of rods and time... In school we welded 4 hours twice a week for a year... Just a distance for ya to consider.
Thanks for the awesome videos Jody.... I welded a bunch in the 70's and early 80's then changed professions and went back to it in the oilfield in the spring of 2008... wow, all the 20 year old contract welders really gave me a hard time and I ended up getting stuck on a burn table operating a automatic gas pattern torch making piece parts for the truck welders in the shop. Got laid off in 2009 when the "boom" slowed down and haven't worked since due to health issues... The welding profession really changed a lot in the off years of my experience. The new age welders seem threatened by my presence and it shocked me to be honest... Strange times!
youre right, they gatekeep their proffession and for no good reason.. plenty of jobs to go around, had to change from my dream of welding to just start helping my dads business... sad and strange times, people dont want to hire newbies and pass on the torch anymore, might see the weld community shrink alot over the next 20 years as these young guys continue to keep people from learning and getting hired.
After I retired from the Army, I took 2 semesters on welding. Best thing I ever did. We watched your videos in class many times and I spent a lot of time watching your videos over the last 3 years. They have really helped me develop. I am still very much a noob, but I can actually weld projects now. I own a TIG/Stick welder, plasma cutter, and have an oxy/fuel torch setup in my shop. I purchased your 'TIG finger' set and am glad I did. Whenever I need some instruction, tips, or tricks, I refer to your videos. Thank you again for what you do for the welding community. I finally subscribed.
Your experience is invaluable, and generally emerges through your ramblings, no apologies needed. You make a real difference in people's lives sharing the way you do, whether it's prepping for a test, or just help someone weld something properly. Merry Christmas from Australia!
G'day mate... I've watched many of your videos... you're an exceptional teacher and passionate about what you do...hat's off to you... thanks for sharing. Peter Sutherland Australia
2019 still watching jody!! I have learned so much from you man and you have helped me numerous times to past my weld tests. I wish I could do a 1 on 1 sesh with you. Thanks again jody:)
Jody, Thanks for all your welding videos. They were very helpful when I was going through my welding program. I was able to become a welding instructor for just a little while and passed some of your feedback to my students. Thanks for all you do with giving back to the skill to others.
Was that a left field reference to a cheapo fishing reel I heard or is there a Zebco welder? Here I am absorbing some welding wisdom and then a sudden 30 year flashback involving tangled piles of mono-filament line and many colorful metaphors. You really gotta warn a guy before doing that.
Merry Christmas to you too. By the way, your videos are always very instructional, to the point, and I like, as you call it, the rambling; although to me it is the passing on of your experience,
Every time you talk you are saying something informative; that's not rambling! Thanks for the tips; really appreciate you and the time you spend educating the rest of us.
Avoid the el-cheapo buzz-box stick welders made in China. Spend the money on a Lincoln AC225 and upgrade your electrical system to support a dedicated 50amp welder circuit. Then if welding is something you really want to get into, then upgrade welders. Better to make a $150 mistake on a used buzz-box Lincoln than a $500 mistake (is my best welding tip as a beginner welder).
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You and Your Family!!! I'm a ClockSmith and studying Watch repair so welding doesn't come up very often except for hobby applications. I enjoy your video's because it's relaxing to learn about another technical field without obligation to make a living at it. Question: I have a Hobart Mig 175 which I love, can I use it for Stick and what Sticks work best for mild steel welding. Sometimes the Mig has trouble welding on Windy Days. Al Takatsch
Al Takatsch thanks Al, you wont be able to stick weld with your mig welder. but you can get some self shielding flux core wire for it that will weld on windy days.
+weldingtipsandtricks I've got a powertig welder and really like it but thinking bout getting one of the everlast powerimig pulse welders. Can you show some videos using the pulse function?
+Milton Gwelch I second that request. Apparently everlast has an MTS welder that can pulse both tig and mig. I sometimes need to weld with flux core on thin material and would like to see how the pulse might be able to help with that.
Have been watching your vids and would like to thank you for very informative and well presented instructional videos. I have always enjoyed fabricating what ever l needed in the work shop,but now the quality of my welds has really gone to the next level,good feeling seeing the slag curl up and basically drop off,,,,,so thanks Jody,,,,,,regards Warren from AUS
I appreciate the way you start your arc. I do this because u showed me. I work for trucking terminals doing maintenance so I had to learn to weld with a stick. I weld mainly dock plates and dock bumpers on a regular. I like my job because it's something the Lord has blessed me with. I appreciate these videos and there are not many that can articulate like yourself. Good job.
Hi Jodi, I'm a vintage style guy and I have an opportunity to buy a older Dialarc HF with leads ,Tig Tank and cart. I'm wondering what do you think of this machine. Thanks for all of your great video's. Your my go to guy whem I'm stumped with welding. Happy New Year!! Thank you!. Tommy
I welded for the first time in my life 3days ago & the welder at work was surprised what he seen Wish I could post a picture. But I know a lick about welding. I couldn’t tell you what is used for what to use to weld this or that, but that what has me here today.
Would love to hear the logic and rationale of when to use which type of sticks. Pros/cons. etc,. Also, video like this is so helpful just so I can see how fast you move everything.
Great videos on this site. I was school trained 25 years ago but spent all that time MIG welding. These videos really helped me get back into stick. Thanks guys for making such good videos. Very informative even if you have been trained, so many things you forget over the years.
Love your videos, been fabricating for 35 years. Mostly stick and tig. Pipe, structural and ornamental. Obviously you are a great welder. Your teaching demeanor is great. Will look forward to seeing future videos. Thank you for your efforts
Absolutely excellent video! I am looking to get into stick welding. Been using gas and mig for quite a few years, so I'm hoping it's not too hard a learning curve. I look forward to watching more of your videos
This was really helpful, I've been enrolled in the Fortis College welding program here in Georgia for a month now. I had some issues using 7018 today but after hearing the amperage you were set at, it raises the question. What reason would instructors have a student run a 90-95 Amps?
They had you run a 7018 at 90-95 Amps? Not a 6010? How thick was the plate you were practicing on? If it was thinner than 3/8 that would make sense, if not then it really doesnt. I usually run a 7018 around 115-125 or so. Sometimes up around 130-133 depending on what it is and how thick it is.
Those machines are always gonna be needed. Transformer I always felt like I had better control over the penetration for 6010 roots, the inverters always seemed a little to harsh inits' penetration, was a lot harder with the new inverters in school in the new shop, rather than the old shop with the transformers, seemed to be more feel to the transformers, less feel available with the inverters, but the inverters are sooooooo portable.
When you stick weld 6011 or 7018 I noticed it looks like you are almost just dragging the rod. I was tough in school which I graduate in Dec 2016 to use a c motion horizon but, on my root on a tee joint I have trouble getting the weld on the top plate. Also, I think I am using to much of a c motion cause, it won't stay uniform and, 6011 is messy. What is your advise.
462Rayboy push toward the edge you aren't hitting..just vary your angle enough to keep a good puddle but also one that makes full penetration and joint coverage..feather
8 years on, thanks for the tips, I'm using stick so much more now and really appreciate your videos for the detailed differences between the different rods. Thanks a lot for your help over the years and enjoy those glasses of wine with your family, Merry Christmas. Michelle : )
what confuses the hell out of me is the throwing around of all these different numbers for rods. would someone please do a video on just the rods and make it simple, like rod , amps , application etc. thanks
when welding I noticed u wernt doing any circular or moon like motions... can u just do straight welds and it come out looking like the circle type bead?
I am glad you stressed the different tequcniques and skill between structural and pipe. We have found that when you get used to pipe, and that softer crisper 6010 or whatever temp whatever metal to make your root, you are too cold for great penetration on structural designs, and structural guys, like to burn way to hot and get frustrated with opeining up that keyhole too quickly..... we gotta do it hot and fast, and dig, and pressuder has to focus on that penetration over gap and controlling with arc length rather than high amperage to dig deep. thank you for stating this sir. Every process and application is different, and equally challenging.
Thanks for your expert tips! I'll get myself a stick welder, the inverter type and get cracking at it. I'm a woodworking guy, but woodwork in Thailand is not the best solution due to termites. So now I want to make stuff around the house in tube metal. Again thanks here from SE Asia!
Reallydont get much better advice than that. Every machine is different so you have to mess with your amps and volts to achieve your desired arc strength. Trial and error
I always tell people "I do plumbing and HVAC-R work, I'm no welder but I do know how to do a little but of welding." I'm going to take my cert test for my current company soon thanks to your videos (along with some on the job experience.) Thanks a lot for these vids! You're doing God's work buddy. Us mechanics are a dieing breed but have faith in the next generation. - from a 24 year old who loves not having 100k in student loans and actually enjoys his job.
Thank you for the video, I appreciate all the detail you went into. I'm learning on 6010 DCEP right now and thinking of getting a much smaller type of AC120V-powered stick welder to practice. I can't afford these machines quite yet, but I learned a lot about the process as you went into the nuances of the different arcs. 💥
I really appreciate your videos I've been what I would call a blind , lucky welder not much knowledge but luckily did ok really can't afford to get in a class and to late in the game for me but just wanted to let you know your videos are my classroom and your a dam fine teacher easy to understand and follow, keep it up great job looking forward to seeing more.
Hey, well done! I really like the little asides like about filing the stick a bit between passes or striking to start in a spot you will then weld over. Excellent work!
Bending the rod - I always bend the rod upward a good distance and use it like a pointer or wand - simpler to control the end of the rod - with it at 90 degree angle to the grip the angle of it in your hand becomes critical and any twisting of the grip in your hand causes a lot of movement of the tip end where using it like a pointer instead it easier to keep the tip steady - old welder showed me that one and welds improved instantly and I've used that method ever since.
I gotta say Jody, you are awesome. A great teacher and welder. I have been teaching myself to TIG with my big old Airco 3A Heliwelder, and these vids have been very helpful. These are also good vids for brushing up on stuff if you've not done it for a while, for instance overhead stick welding. Thank you!
Thank you for the comparisons between welding machines, I'm thinking of buying myself an inverter welding machine for home projects and potentially little odd jobs since everyone and their mother is a car fanatic where I live so these videos are very useful to me. Thanks again :)
I have many practical skills but welding is entirely new to me and I'm using it as part of my hobby (restoring classic cars). I just want to thank you for this video as I made quite a mess with my first attempts on my practice scrap pieces and then I saw your channel and I have improved greatly in a short time. I've recently been informed that I should learn MIG welding if I want to cut down on outside labour so I am hoping you have some videos on that. I look forward to learning more from you. Thanks :)
I busted my hump for 2yrs as a Welder's Helper aka Gopher. Go-for this, go-for that...up & down 8 flights of metal stairs WE were installing in an 8 story parking garage; partnered with mf'in Dory. This young man had the memory of a goldfish so that meant I'd go down/up those stairs 8 times before lunch the 1st couple days until I wised up & put everything in a 5gal bucket then carried that up ONCE! "Smarter, not harder." The boss, my mentor liked my mindset & because I proved my value I was so fortunate to be taught on the job, in real time, by a mentor how to weld. 💕I love it! I worked for him a total of 6.5yrs until my substance abuse got the better of me & he let me go. That was my wake up call. I'm proud to say I'm 13+ months sober & putting my life back together, this time on a solid foundation. Today I realized 🤔 💭 I miss welding. This was the 1st channel I found in my search & I subscribed after watching your 1st video. Safe to say🪝I'm hooked. 😁 Thank you for lighting that spark in me again! 👩🏼🏭💥 "Baby 💪🏼Hercules" 💋🩶
Great video. I am planning on getting back into welding soon. Got my 2 year AS in welding back in December 2013, but haven't touched welding since. Thanks for the review tips and I'll be watching more of your videos in the future.
hey Jody, can you make a video on how to weld with smaw on really RUSTY, PAINTY, SHITTY ASWELL AS thin sheet metal. example ::: repairing sea cans......working in shit cause welding on a table at man height in perfect position is quite easily done..... thanks.....
New subscriber here, and I must say that all your videos I've looked at so far I've found to be very practical, illustrative, and well paced. I'll be checking them out as time goes by, especially since I'm in the process of learning MIG welding now that I have a Miller-Matic 35 that my dad used for decades before he gave it to me. I'm just an amateur with a lot of "seat time", and stick welding is where my experience has mostly been because more than 20 years ago I bought a Miller AC/DC 225 which I've used a bunch (it's not the same one as in your video, but the older boxy, upright model with the crank on top and the amperage indicator on the front). It has industrial-style cable plugs, which brings me to my point. I know that in the case of this video, I'm late to the party, but since it's about choosing a first welder I thought of another consideration that could matter to some people. None of these machines (I'm sure this is true of all hobby-style machines these days) give you enough cable to reach a reasonable distance (like with repairs on large machines or in different areas of the shop). In my situation, I bought that Miller AC/DC 225 for my own hobby work at home but ended up using it a lot more for projects at my place of work, and I was so glad for those industrial-style cable plugs! I ditched the 10-foot ground cable and 12-foot stinger cable that it came with and fitted it with industrial-grade cables that are 40 and 45 feet long, with a better-quality stinger too (the more rugged stinger doesn't get hot and uncomfortable to hold after extended non-stop use like most hobby-grade stingers do). The ability to make use of long cables when necessary can be a game changer if your jobs are not all right there on the workbench, and for any new welder who might face that situation, I recommend hunting the used market for an older machine that uses plug-in cables. And as is pointed out here about transformer machines, they last forever with minimal care (I've literally got thousands of hours running that little Miller machine), while I am not convinced that anything that has modern electronics inside can be genuinely reliable in the long run (I've seen way too many electronic devices fail, long before they ever get "old").
Great video Jody.Been welding for about 40yrs.and enjoy watching your videos.Recently picked up a miller dynasty 180 tig welder.You're videos help me a lot(your never to old to learn)Your second to none.I look forward to your videos every week.Merry Christmas to you and your wife.
Engineer here learning to weld for hobby jobs. This is good content. I learned to never underestimate welders. Solid point wrt structural vs pipe. Some guys will put down high meterage and pass all tests.
I have one of those little red lincolns... great machines they weld pretty good and for what I've used it I like it... built the roof in back of my house like 4 years ago and til this day, rain thunder or shine it's held up nice... looking to get myself a small mig welder for smaller projects
feliz ano nove com moita saudê para dar mais dicas na soldadora a perfeição tem logar no pódio cual e o melhor eletrodo para a chapa hardox i aço fr3 obrigado pela atenção
Hello I bought this SIMADRE 5200D on Ebay,is a little starter machine I'm trying learning with, I don't have any training at all so I've been achieving decent results but only by going over and over ....and over...the weld, but then I realized by watching your videos that I don't even know what rod should I been using ,currently using E7018 rods...can you offer any help for the ignorant!? THANKS!
I was a welder in the Clyde shipyards and Babcocks, at the beginning I struggled with vertical until I was told to LOOK AFTER THE SIDES AND THE MIDDLE WILL LOOK AFTER ITS SELF ,I was a welding foreman in the end and all welds passed x-ray
I really enjoy your vids - I have an Lincoln Buzz Box an a Miller Thunderbolt myself an really enjoy Arc welding. I use a Millermatic Mig for my Mig. I would really like to try the TIG. What would I need to get for the Thunderbolt to do TIG scratch start welding ? Have a Merry Christmas Jody, both you an your Family, An a happy New Year ! Keep those Videos coming Pal ! Thanks Ken
Hi Jody. What are your thoughts or have you used a THERMAL ARC 186 AC/DC? I'm looking for a descent stick and tig machine on the 2000dls range. I live in California and everyone here likes either MILLER or LINCOLN. but I know there's better options. And the thermal arc 186 seems like a pretty good choice for the price. Thanks in advance and happy hollydays
JODY! Please do a vid on dual shielded fcaw soon for vertical up and anything else you can think that would be helpful I am at a new job where we use 0.52 wire and it has been throwing me off a bit because I have only used 0.45/0.35 and I have to make my welds to size 1/4-3/16-5/16&3/8 and I am having some issues with cold lap and undercut due to having to run at 27-32volts thanks for your time.
my first inverter that i bought used turns 23 years now .....my " new " one is a multiweld with stick , mig/mag / W(T)IG and a plasma cutter included with synergic curves .....it is mostly used with flux core , stick and plasma ...and it is still light an portable ....nice device
Hey! I thought Zebco was the gold standard for feel and sensitivity!! HA! Though by sheer numbers they have likely caught more fish than any other reel. Just got my first machine. A 90 amp Lincoln flux core. I know, but money's tight and the price was right. Like new under 100 bucks with a full spool. I already have the bug and I'm already looking to upgrade. Just waiting on the right listing to pop up. I really LOVE your arc videos. For the first time, I can see what's actually going on in there and that's worth more than text could ever express. Thanks for the videos and Merry Christmas.
This video is the best stick welding video I have seen so far. After learning by my self for a month. Clearly, explained, instructional and helpful. weldingtipsandtricks Thank you for this video.
In class, I never got a chance to join two pieces of metal at 90°, it was always two flat pieces at 0° to each other. We did stick and oxy-acetylene welding (I was good with arc welding but couldn't gas weld to save my life). Shop class covered a wide range of basics on metal working (our class project was to make a tiny, ENTIRELY ALUMINUM "hammer"). We were taught to do little, advancing circles along the joint but I see you are not doing those circles...is that because of the different angles?
Wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I have learnt a lot about welding by watching your videos and I am thankful for that. I have never done welding in my life; but I will get a 200A DC TIG/Stick welder next year to start practicing. I guess it would be too early to start with Aluminium welding.
Hello. New welder here. I have a 120v multi-process welder. I am concentrating on learning stick welding before I learn mig. I started with a small 140A machine, but the stick weld setting only goes to 70A. The 70A burns the 3/32 6013 rod just fine but I am having trouble seeing the puddle with this rod. Can you recommend a rod that will allow me to see the puddle better, but still give me a nice fluid puddle? Thank you so much for your opinion, and I love the videos.
Nice video with detailed explanation. I have E7014 lincoln rods, can they be used instead of E7018, trying to do a holster/base stand for a 11k lbs winch in a flat bed trailer. Also I have E6013 lincoln rods can they be used for root pass.?
I have the Lincoln AC/DC buzz box and it is a wonderful machine for the price I paid. I have welded with the AC 7018 rod, 6013, 6011 and it produced good welds and for the price of the machine, it would give the Miller Thunderbolt a run for the money. I like to watch your videos and find it very interesting so keep up the good work.
I'm really late. But..... I'm 17 years old going to TCTC for welding. The first year is stick and mig(my senior year will be flux and tig) After 2 weeks of nonstop safety and osha test. We are finally able to stick weld using 7028. (Tomorrow at the time of post) For anyone looking into welding I honesty hope you will take it as the pay is well good enough to make 6 digits. If your a professional welder doing stuff like live gas welding, underwater welding you can make a good $100+/hr. Its dangerous but it's also really safe. It's only dangerous if you dont follow strict safety guidelines. Read the msds and there is really little danger. If you dont know what your doing then the chances of serious injury or Death is high. 1 amp at the right place could kill you. So it's good but theres a lot of safety measures you need to take.
Watching videos while waiting food from owen. At this years experience - the most difference between machines with 7018 stick is the start. I have two "Stahlwerk" brand China Export machines able to stick weld, one german dc stick machine (with click type switch i.e. not stepless) and several old/used Kemppi multisystem inverter machines. It is nice to have possibility to adjust the start current... With my China Export machines the "hot start" feature is kinda joke...
