Electrode welding technique with Dinamitek

Dinamitek presents a guide to best perform electrode welding.

Performing electrode welding at its best requires a series of small adjustments. Dinamitek wants to share the tricks of the trade, because satisfaction doesn't come from selling machines, but from knowing you're contributing to improved work performance. Today, it's dedicated to welders.

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Before starting to weld, you need to prepare the bevels . An improperly prepared bevel prevents penetration of the tip during welding, which can lead to breakage. This means the bevel must be made in such a way as to allow the electrode to fill it. It is well known that a partially welded piece will not hold water; prepare your work so as not to be affected by stress.

Now you're ready to start welding, let's see how to light an electrode : it's as easy as lighting a match.

Make contact with the tip of the electrode on the workpiece to ignite the arc, approximately 5 cm from where you want to begin welding. Quickly bring the electrode back to the workpiece without touching it so that the arc remains lit, and move to where you want to begin the bead. Proceed to weld slowly. Remember that the distance between the tip of the electrode and the workpiece must be equal to the diameter of the electrode you are using. You must maintain this distance throughout the entire weld.

When changing the electrode, start again two or three centimeters ahead of the point where you interrupted the cord, go back over it by one centimeter and continue as indicated above.

The first concept concerns the position you assume : the electrode holder cable is held around your forearm on the side where you hold the clamp, to better maneuver the electrode. This position will make you less tired while welding.

Obviously the technique you will have to adopt changes depending on whether you are welding flat or not , based on the position you will have to decide how to proceed.

To weld the surface, place the first pass without oscillating the electrode. In subsequent passes, oscillate the electrode no more than three times its diameter. The previously created chamfer must be filled. Let's see how: pay close attention to the sequence of overlapping passes. Use a hammer and brush to clean the bead with each pass. When overlapping the beads in subsequent passes, be careful not to place them in the same line but overlapping, so as not to create breakages.

In a non-flat position the way you weld will change if you have to do an ascending or descending vertical .

• In the vertical ascending direction, use less current and hold the electrode slightly inclined (about 70°-80°) and perform the oscillation as if in a flat position. This will achieve good penetration.
• For vertical-down welding, choose a suitable electrode, keep the arc short, angle the electrode at 120°, and oscillate even during the first pass. Remember that the penetration achieved is limited, so use this technique only for welding thin sheets and pipes.

To weld from the front using a "string weld," hold the electrode perpendicular to the sheet metal and tilted 60° to the feed axis. Make a first narrow bead that serves as a base for the subsequent passes. Make each pass at the same angle.

To work overhead, keep the arc very short, the electrode perpendicular to the sheet metal and tilted 80° to the feed axis. Oscillate, making very close turns, alternating with even smaller turns if the metal tends to sag; this will suffice for brief moments. To join the two beads, make a very long spiral, then go back and repeat the regular spiral pattern as you did throughout the welding process. By going back over the arc, you will eliminate the slag between the two beads.

To weld a fillet , make a first pass without oscillating with the electrode tilted 45° in the direction of travel at the center of the joint. In subsequent passes, maintain the same angle and oscillate the electrode.

To extinguish the arc, pause at the end of the crust, step back about two centimeters, and move the electrode away to extinguish the arc. This avoids the characteristic crater that can trigger breakage.

For the first pass, before detaching, move away from the welding area. For subsequent passes, simply overlap the bead by lengthening the arc.

To avoid inclusions, place pointed terminals at the beginning and end of the joints, which should be removed once the work is complete.

Go to the welding range 

Now you have all the information you need to proceed with your electrode welding work.
Remember that for any questions or specifications you can contact our technicians at info@dinamitek.com.

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