How to Stick Weld Chrome-Moly Pipe

Chrome-moly steel tubes are commonly used on race cars.

Once you have learned how to use a MIG welder, beginning the slightly more difficult task of stick welding is a natural progression. Used to weld material that is too thick for a traditional MIG welder, stick welding is commonly used to weld bridge components, repair the hulls of boats underwater and complete a number of other projects requiring thicker, heavier welds. It should be noted that stick welding pipes that are less than 1/10 inch thick could result in significant material damage if you aren't careful. Stick welding is primarily used for heavy-gauge metal, whether it be chrome-moly or mild steel.

Things You'll Need

• Welding clamps
• Stick welding unit
• Welding helmet
• Welding rod, 7018
• Welding rod

Instructions

1. Turn on the welder and set the dial to 80 amps for thinner material, adding five amps of power for each additional 1/10 inch thickness of the material.

2. Clamp the pipes together that are to be welded so that you'll have both hands free during the welding process.

3. Clamp the ground clamp from the welder onto the chrome-moly pipe. Insert the 7018 welding rod into the other clamp so that just the end of the welding rod is in the jaws of the clamp.

4. Lower your welding helmet. Slowly draw the tip of the welding stick to the chrome-moly pipe. When you are within 1/4 inch, quickly strike the stick on the workpiece to begin the spark that will produce the weld. The electrical arc will appear bright blue/green and you will see the weld pool form just below the tip of the welding stick.

5. Move the welding stick's clamp progressively closer to the workpiece as the welding rod is consumed. While doing this, move the weld pool across the junction between the two chrome-moly pipes.

6. Pull the welding rod away from the workpiece to break the electrical arc and turn off the stick welder. Allow the steel to cool naturally. Do not spray it with water or attempt to quench it in any way as doing so will change the strength properties of the metal.

7. Clean the weld with a wire brush after it has stopped glowing red.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are unfamiliar with welding, wear a pair of welding gloves and a long-sleeved shirt during the welding process. The hot slag is small and not particularly dangerous, but can be very uncomfortable. The feeling is like having your arm covered with biting flies.

• If you allow the welding stick to consume itself so that there is more than 1/4 inch between it and the workpiece, the electrical arc will disappear and you will have to strike the tip of the rod against the workpiece again to restart it.

• Always wear a welding helmet when you weld any type of metal as the intensely bright electrical arc can cause severe damage to your eyesight.

• Never cut corners when welding chrome-moly steel tubing for machines such as a race car chassis. If you do, you could significantly alter the strength of the steel, causing a potentially weak weld.

References

• "Welding Complete: Techniques, Project Plans & Instructions"; Editors of CPi; 2009
• "Welder's Handbook, Revised: A Guide to Plasma Cutting, Oxyacetylene, ARC, MIG and TIG Welding"; Richard Finch; 2007
• Net Welding: Welding 4130