The first steps in welding machine setup are selecting your rod, then set the polarity according to the manufacturer’s recommendation, and finally set the welding machine to the amperage range that the manufacturers recommend. For this project, the 6011 rod is an excellent candidate for polarity selection. Most 6011 welding rods work with A/C (alternating current) and D/C (direct current). So no matter what type of stick welding machine you have this rod should do fine. Again, always read and follow...

Glob or spray modes for thick steel Most farmers may not realize that adjusting the volts, amps, and wire speed on wire welders can produce transfer modes fine-tuned to thick metal. The limiting factor with globular or spray modes is they can only be used on “metal ⅛-inch thick and thicker and only when making flat and horizontal fillet welds,” says Lincoln Electric's Karl Hoes. Globular transfer (short arc): Voltage, amperage, and feed speed are higher than the standard short circuit...

Paying attention to the five basic elements of Stick welding technique—Current setting, Length of arc, Angle of the electrode, Manipulation of electrode and Speed of travel (CLAMS)—can significantly improve your Stick welding results. This illustrated technical article provides five steps to improve your stick welding technique, including helpful photographs demonstrating correct and incorrect Stick technique. For many people, especially to those who are new to it or perhaps who don’t weld every day, Stick (SMAW—shielded metal arc welding) is one...