4043 Rods ?

[walker]

My experience with those rods was that it wasn't that difficult to get the hang of it, but the rods sure are consumed fast!

[nfinch86]

My experience with those rods was that it wasn't that difficult to get the hang of it, but the rods sure are consumed fast!

Walker Hi; Well I tried some rods today. They are not to bad, very different than any rod I'd used before ! What kind of gap to you guys use on these rods ? Tight? Loose ? They seem to work better for me with about 1/8th" gap or even a little more ?
Should I be pre-heating 1/4" plate ?
I also re-tried my spool gun again on the 1/4" plate I have here. I'll be darned if the thing accually worked, Thicker plate I guess . It really looks pretty good !!

Anyway, the real thing tomorrow night , when I weld the Aluminum for a guys small project !

.................. Norm

[Sonora Iron]

Walker Hi; Well I tried some rods today. They are not to bad, very different than any rod I'd used before ! What kind of gap to you guys use on these rods ? Tight? Loose ? They seem to work better for me with about 1/8th" gap or even a little more ?
Should I be pre-heating 1/4" plate ?
I also re-tried my spool gun again on the 1/4" plate I have here. I'll be darned if the thing accually worked, Thicker plate I guess . It really looks pretty good !!

Anyway, the real thing tomorrow night , when I weld the Aluminum for a guys small project !

.................. Norm

Come on!

[nfinch86]

Gettin' the hang of It !!

Come on!

Pictures of what ? A bunch of stringer beads on 1/4" plate !!

.................Norm

[Sonora Iron]

That’s right, a picture is worth a 1,000 words!

[nfinch86]

Pics a Commin' !

That’s right, a picture is worth a 1,000 words!

OK, Tomorrow I'll have to dig out my camera. I'll take some Pics just for you Sonora !!

.......... Norm :

[nfinch86]

Walker Hi; Well I tried some rods today. They are not to bad, very different than any rod I'd used before ! What kind of gap to you guys use on these rods ? Tight? Loose ? They seem to work better for me with about 1/8th" gap or even a little more ?
Should I be pre-heating 1/4" plate ?
I also re-tried my spool gun again on the 1/4" plate I have here. I'll be darned if the thing accually worked, Thicker plate I guess . It really looks pretty good !!

Anyway, the real thing tomorrow night , when I weld the Aluminum for a guys small project !

.................. Norm

Well guys; I posted this one earlier today, any suggestions, answers ?

............ Norm

[Sonora Iron]

OK, Tomorrow I'll have to dig out my camera. I'll take some Pics just for you Sonora

.......... Norm

Good deal!
I only ask because I haven’t run any aluminum SMAW since the early 1980’s! And not much at that.

[nfinch86]

Different Kinda' Rods ?

Good deal!
I only ask because I haven’t run any aluminum SMAW since the early 1980’s! And not much at that.

Sonora, Hi; It's wierd stuff, Very fluid looking bead . Also as Aaron & Debar stated the slag is some kinda' different, It spreads out past the bead ?
Once you clean it up it don't a lot different from any other bead, Shinny though !

I'm Not Sure if I should be pre-heating the 1/4" AL., Plate before welding with 4043 electrodes ? I'm also Not real sure what the Gap is supposed to be ?? Anyway we'll see tomorrow !!

............. Norm

[Railmen]

Hey Buddy want me to run up to your place tomorrow after work and help ya out on the Alum. I have done hours and hours of Alum.

Spool gun, TIG, SMAW tried them all

if I had my choice it would be spool gun for all except outside corners then the TIG wins hands down way easier to make its look nice.

remember i am only just over 2 hrs away.

Railmen.

[nfinch86]

E- 4043 s.m.a.w. ??

Hey Buddy want me to run up to your place tomorrow after work and help ya out on the Alum. I have done hours and hours of Alum.

Spool gun, TIG, SMAW tried them all

if I had my choice it would be spool gun for all except outside corners then the TIG wins hands down way easier to make its look nice.

remember i am only just over 2 hrs away.

Railmen.

Ty, Come On Down, anytime , you are always Welcome !!
I finally figured out my spool gun ( I Think ? )

Now I'm trying to figure out this E-4043 electrode business !!!
That stuff is some kinda' different critter !
So should I be pre-heating 1/4" plate or not using 1/8" Rods ?
Also what size of gap do you have when running these Rods ??

Lots of Questions, eh !

............... Norm

[stick man]

Hey norm what I have found they seem to run better with a big gap some place for it to go. I'd try about 3/16 and run it around 125 maybe even 130 I welded a rip in one of those elevators that takes supplies up the outside of a building last week I actually ground a gap ran it about 125 on my ranger it welded up pretty slick . Hope this helps good luck.

[nfinch86]

Very Different !!

Hey norm what I have found they seem to run better with a big gap some place for it to go. I'd try about 3/16 and run it around 125 maybe even 130 I welded a rip in one of those elevators that takes supplies up the outside of a building last week I actually ground a gap ran it about 125 on my ranger it welded up pretty slick . Hope this helps good luck.

stickman , Thanks; Ya that's what I found as well, a Larger gap than I would normally use on say a 1/8th" E-7018 rod !

It's going to take a bit of getting used to , for sure !!

............ Norm

[FusionKing]

Norm the reason hardly no one is answering your questions is because you are now the most exp. guy here with those rods
I think they should be GOLD for what they get for them.
I say tune on yer spoolgun and get good with that.
I was just looking at your sig....when did you get the Outback??

Back to those rods...we had some I used in the Army that had TAN colored flux. They welded fine. I've never seen them again. Just the white and blue ones.

[Desertrider33]

I would forego the preheating. 1/8" isn't thick enough to need it with tig or mig. I don't see where stick would be any different.