Learn welding yourself. Learning to hold an electrode

It's no secret that many people learned to weld on their own. Such people really large number, and many of them can use the practical skills acquired at home with high efficiency. However, sometimes it is better to gain some theoretical knowledge first before getting down to business. Let's talk about what welding is for beginners, how it is characterized, and why it is best for beginners to use an inverter.

Briefly about welding inverters

The inverter is electronic. Quite accurate, economical and easy to use. The main load during operation falls on the welding network. The advantages of an inverter, especially for beginners, are that they have storage capacitors. They are necessary to collect a certain amount of electrical charge, which ensures uninterrupted operation. Many people have probably noticed that when working with old welding machines, the voltage in the network begins to jump sharply. Under such conditions, any household appliance may burn out. So, there is no such shortage. In addition, a smooth arc start is ensured, which is necessary to ensure the quality of the seam.

A little theory

When connecting metal parts, a huge number of processes take place. Most of them are hidden from human eyes, while others are obvious. Thus, the welding process itself can be divided into several simple stages. At the first, an arc is formed, which indicates a short circuit between the electrode and the metal. At the second stage, a high temperature is created (up to 7 thousand degrees), which allows you to melt any metal. As a result of melting of the electrode and the edges of the metal products, a connection occurs - obtaining. This ends the process. The electrode plays a big role. It consists of an alloy, on the surface of which a powder composition is applied. The powder is used to maintain uniform arc burning, and the electrode itself is necessary to form a weld pool without oxygen.

for beginners: step-by-step instructions

Before you begin the work, you will need minimal ammunition. Thus, it is not recommended to carry out work without a special protective helmet and rough gloves. Well, in addition to this, it is advisable to have an old jacket made of coarse cotton (for example, denim) fabric that will not burn from a spark.

Next, you need to adjust the welding current and select the correct electrode. Products with a diameter of 2-5 mm are suitable for inverter welding. The welding current is set based on the thickness of the workpiece and the material. To avoid sticking, the electrode is brought smoothly to the surface being treated. After this, you can connect the ground terminal to the part.

The welding process begins with ignition of the arc. The electrode is brought to the surface at a slight angle. To activate it, you need to touch the surface to be welded several times. During operation, the electrode must be kept at a distance of its diameter from the surface. In principle, welding with an inverter is quite simple for beginners. Now let's move on.

Gap control

The arc gap is of great importance during welding work. This gap is the distance between the electrode and the metal, which is formed during welding work. If the distance is insufficient, the seam will turn out to be convex, since the metal at the joint will not have time to warm up. If the gap is too large, this will lead to an unstable arc, which, in turn, can lead to poor weld quality. In particular, the connection turns out to be crooked.

For good penetration and a high-quality seam, it is necessary to choose the optimal gap. We can safely say that learning to maintain a constant correct distance is the most difficult skill. But if you learn how to do it, arc welding for beginners will soon turn into welding for professionals. Do not forget that during the process the electrode gradually melts, therefore, if you do not move it, the gap will increase. Watch this more carefully and everything will be fine.

Forming the correct seam

I would like to note that for beginners this means not only maintaining the required gap. There are several more important requirements that it is advisable to comply with:

speed and electrode;
current strength;
angle of inclination of the electrode.

Changes when working with different materials. That is why in some cases the electrode is led quickly, in others, on the contrary, slowly. In this case, the thickness of the metal being connected affects the current strength. The thicker the product, the more current must be supplied to the electrode. And the thickness of the seam and weldability depend on the angle of inclination of the electrode. All this must be taken into account when performing work. In principle, manual welding for beginners of simple parts is within the power of everyone. Experience will come only if you constantly practice and train, creating increasingly complex seams.

About polarity when welding

It is necessary to understand that there is direct and reverse polarity. If we are dealing with the first, then the heat input into the metal product increases. Consequently, a narrow but rather deep melting zone is formed. This technology is used for precise processing of fairly thick sheets.

If you need to create a high-quality seam on a thin sheet, then reverse polarity is used. It is characterized by the fact that there is a reduced input of heat into the product, therefore, the seam is wide, but not too deep. Currently, both technologies are actively used. It is quite possible that at the beginning of the journey it does not make sense for a novice welder to understand polarity, but after making some connections this knowledge will come in very handy.

for beginners: working with thin sheets

As noted a little above, thin metal products must be worked with reverse polarity. This is due to the fact that they are quite easy to burn through, which will ruin the workpiece. Reverse polarity is installed directly on the inverter. At the same time, the current strength also decreases to normal. In this case, the electrodes are connected “plus” to the inverter, and “minus”, respectively, to the metal sheet. This will allow you to get high quality seams and not burn through the sheet. However, if you are a beginner, then you need to choose workplace so that the seam is visible to you. In this case, you will be able to control the process. Over time, you will perform the work automatically, but this will only come with more experience.

Conclusion

So we talked to you about what it is and how welding with an inverter is performed for beginners. "Resanta", for example, is welding equipment good quality. Moreover, it is ideal for beginners. This is due to its exceptional ease of use. The line includes models that are more suitable for amateur welding, and there are expensive professional inverters. The last option is unlikely to suit a beginner. Such equipment is more often used in industry.

Of course, if you are going to work as a welder, then you will need an inverter for professionals. It costs a lot, of course, but allows you to perform welding work with a wide variety of materials. Don't forget about personal protective equipment. You cannot look at the arc without special glasses or a mask. Firstly, this makes your eyes very tired, and secondly, it negatively affects your vision. This is why a mask must be used. In principle, this is all that can be said about inverter welding for beginners. There is nothing complicated here, but it is necessary to strictly follow the technology, and then the seam will be durable and of high quality.

At the dacha, in the garage or in your own home, there is always a need to carry out some kind of repair. Of no small importance for this is the availability of appropriate technology. One of such devices is a welding inverter. With its help, any work on welding metals, as well as cutting them, is performed. This allows you to do without the involvement of expensive professionals when it is necessary to perform small amounts of work, and we will consider how to properly weld with inverter welding below.

Welding with an inverter for beginners becomes a difficult task if you do not receive theoretical training and initial practice. Inverter-type welding equipment is quite affordable, has various classes both for beginners and amateurs, and for performing labor-intensive processes by professional welders. The procedure for welding with an inverter is somewhat more complicated than working with a conventional electric welding machine, but it is quite accessible even to novice electric welders.

Operating principle of a welding inverter

The inverter device got its name because of the principle of operation. On the device body there is a power supply switch, indicators for the presence of supply voltage and overheating, special connectors for connecting cables, and an adjusting device for smooth or stepwise current switching. All models are equipped with handles for easy carrying. In addition, some specimens are equipped with additional indicators of the magnitude of the welding electric current. To familiarize yourself with the device, as well as how to perform the work, watch the corresponding video tutorials on how to perform welding with an inverter for beginners.

In an inverter device, an alternating voltage of 220 V is converted into a constant current, after which it is smoothed out by a special electrostatic precipitator. After this, in a block located inside the device, DC is converted into high-frequency alternating current. It is reduced to the required voltage value to be able to obtain an electric welding current of 120-200 A.

For such double conversion, small-sized transformers are required, which can significantly reduce the weight of the device. This technique has a high efficiency (about 90%) and also significantly saves energy. For power supply, a home power supply with a voltage of 220 V is used, or an industrial power supply of 380 V is used for industrial use. Professional units operate in several modes and are designed for long-term use without interruption.

Operating principles of an inverter

Work on an electric welding device of this type is carried out by analogy with a conventional apparatus. Before cooking with an inverter, it is necessary to study the operating technology in detail. Metal melting occurs under the influence of a hot electric arc. It is formed between the metal product being welded and the electrode. To do this, they are connected via cables to the “+” and “-” terminals on the inverter device. Learning how to independently use inverter-type electric welding equipment at home is not at all difficult, although how to properly weld metal with an inverter often becomes a problem for beginners.

A special regulator on the device body sets the required welding current. Its value depends on the thickness of the product being welded and its material. The current value is controlled using a dial or electronic indication on the body of the electric welding device. The arc is ignited by bringing the electrode to the part to be welded at a slight angle. Activation occurs when it touches a metal area.

After the appearance welding arc the rod is located at a short distance from the part, approximately equal to its diameter, and the metal is welded. At the end of the process, scale and slag are removed from the surface of the seam by tapping with a hammer or other metal object. A video where inverter welding is described in great detail will help you better understand the process.

Preparation for work (workplace, electrodes, equipment)

Before starting the electric welding process, it is necessary to properly prepare the work site and the necessary equipment. You can weld on a special metal welding table or on a small free area. Clamps and devices are prepared in advance for reliable fixation of the parts to be connected.

The work site is equipped with good lighting and ventilation. It is freed from foreign objects, as well as liquids that could ignite due to accidental sparks. The welder must work on a special wooden flooring, which is a protective measure against possible electric shock.

The electrode should be selected according to the type of metal being welded, as well as its thickness. The quality of electric welding depends on this correct selection and device settings. Professional welders also take into account the position of the seam itself (horizontal or vertical), its depth and other parameters. Each grade of metal produces its own type of electrode. They differ in their composition and purpose. To weld stainless steel, cast iron or a regular steel product, you need to choose the right type of electrodes. Existing types and types are possible.

For inverter electric welding, UONI, ANO, MR, OZS with a diameter of 2 to 5 mm are used. The quality of the electrodes used is influenced by the conditions of their storage and transportation. The preparatory process, as well as the welding itself for beginners, is shown in the video with an inverter as electric welding equipment.

Working as an inverter

To make the basics of using inverter electric welding more clear, you need to understand physical essence formation of a connecting seam. Metal products are welded using electrodes. They consist of a metal core and a special coating - coating. This composition is used to seal the welding area from oxygen.

When the electrode core comes into contact with a metal surface, an electric arc occurs. Under the influence of heat, the coating begins to melt and cover the area to be welded. At the same time, part of it evaporates, turning into gases. The coating melted during operation is covered on top liquid metal, which creates another protective layer from oxygen exposure. After cooling is complete, the resulting slag at the welding site must be removed.

Ignition of the arc

The ignition of the electric arc begins only after putting on a special protective mask. This is required to protect the retina from possible burns. Painful symptoms appear after some time and are accompanied by a burning sensation, as well as other unpleasant sensations. If you plan to work with a welding machine, then you need to know.

Ignition is performed using one of two methods: striking and touching. By performing scratching movements on the surface, the arc is triggered.

The striking is carried out directly at the junction of metals or in the vicinity of it. After this movement, the electrode rod is raised above the surface to the required distance to hold the arc. When touching, the metal area is tapped at the beginning of the future seam until an electric arc appears.

Electrode movement

After ignition of the welding arc, movement training is carried out. A line is drawn on a metal plate with chalk, simulating a joint. After the arc is ignited, the metal begins to melt and a film of molten slag appears. This area is called the weld pool. This is what a novice electric welder begins to learn to move. To move, the electrode rod is tilted at an angle of about 45-50°. This value is conditional and affects the width of the weld pool.

Electric welding is carried out in three ways:

at right angles;
angle back;
angle forward.

Right angle movement is used for electric welding in hard-to-reach places. This results in a symmetrical bathtub, which is not very comfortable. Backward brewing allows for better process monitoring and quality control. This method is used for bottom seams, as well as when making tacks. The use of forward angle welding allows for good pool depth at the very beginning weld. In this case, you can see how the arc squeezes out the metal and does not allow it to leave the bath.

Applying a wide type of suture requires cyclic movements. The electrode rod is moved in one of several ways shown in the figure.

Please note that wide seams must be welded at a constant angle. In this case, it is not the tip of the rod itself that moves with the handle of the electrode holder, but the entire electrode.

Arc gap control

One of the most important factors, affecting the quality of electric welding work, is the arc gap. When its value is small (up to 2 mm), a shortened arc is obtained. It does not heat the joint, which results in shallow penetration. At a distance of more than 3 mm, the length of the electric arc increases. It becomes unstable and does not maintain the required direction of melting. In addition, the protective layer does not completely cover the melting bath and the spattering of molten metal increases.

For a novice electric welder, there is an immutable rule - the arc gap is 2-3 mm. When using inverter models with appropriate functions to facilitate the electric welding process, there is no need to maintain this distance. In this case, you just need to guide the electrode along the metal surface.

Rules for creating smooth seams

The quality of the welded joint is affected by the correctness of the seam. It depends on the correctness of the selected electrode, its angle of inclination, as well as the length of the arc. Optimal value the distance from the metal surface to the tip of the rod is 2-3 mm. With a shorter length, the seam turns out to be too convex due to the small heating area. This significantly reduces the strength of the welded joint. A large arc gap causes it to jump and not sufficiently warm up the welding site. The resulting connection section will be unreliable, and the weld will be smeared.

Polarity and setting of welding current

Connecting the electrode to the positive terminal is called direct, and to the negative terminal is called reverse. Both welding methods are used to join metal products, but with different thicknesses. It is better to weld metals up to 3 mm reverse method, and thick ones - straight. However, this approach is not an immutable rule, as a result of which you can use the welder for any connection. In general, it is not difficult to understand exactly how to operate an inverter once you become familiar with the basic rules and essence of the welding procedure.

Physics is about moving electrodes from a negative element to a positive one. At the same time, they transfer energy to the surface, increasing its temperature. This means that the part connected to the positive terminal of the electric welder gets hotter. This process is relevant when welding products of significant thickness. This allows them to warm up well and get a high-quality seam. When working with thin metal, strong heating of metal products is not required, so they are connected to the negative contact of the inverter, and the electrode to the positive one.

The amount of welding current is selected based on the thickness and type of products being welded. If the initially set value produces disjointed suture strips, it is necessary to increase the electric current value. If it is difficult to move a bath of molten metal, you should reduce the current value on the device. The settings of the electric welding process directly depend on the electrode chosen for electric welding, as well as the type of inverter device. To make it easier to select the current value, use the table.

Safety at work

Before starting the electric welding process, you should take care of safety. For this purpose, protective equipment is selected, consisting of thick, non-flammable gloves, a welding mask, protective clothing that protects against sparks, and appropriate shoes. Special glasses on the mask should protect the eyes from electric arcs of varying current levels. A convenient option is to use “Chameleons”, which automatically adjust to the power of the arc.

Do not forget about the danger of electric shock and fire safety measures. Familiarization with the process of working with inverter welding should begin with studying the safety instructions when performing electric welding work. Cables must have complete insulation, all electrical connections and connections must be closed. Place a dry wooden stand on the floor and use an electrical outlet with protective devices. A fire extinguisher, sand and water will always help to extinguish an accidental fire. Always remember that not only the integrity of the equipment, but also the health and life of the electric welder depends on compliance with safety measures.

Profession: “Electric welder of manual arc welding”

Worker - welder
Electric welder

Welding is used in almost all industries. It is difficult to name any segment of production that does not require the work of a welder. As a profession, electric welding provides beginners with the opportunity to obtain promising work. Welders work on construction sites creating systems various communications and structures, in industry, using their skills and experience, in shipbuilding, mechanical engineering, energy, agriculture, oil refining industry.

First of all, the welder must be fluent in welding equipment. At the same time, he, as a specialist, is required to have a thorough knowledge of the principles of its operation, preparing the equipment for operation and identifying possible malfunctions. The welder must master the technology of welding work from preparing the surfaces to be joined to cleaning the weld.

A specialist performing welding work must know how to properly weld with electric welding, determine optimal mode for welding various materials, set the current value. The complexity of the work of a gas-electric welder also lies in the fact that during the welding process, changing the welding mode can negatively affect their quality, therefore it is extremely important to correctly determine the welding speed from the very beginning. Qualified welders perform manual arc welding, modern plasma welding and can create quite complex metal structures and pipelines. The welder must know how to handle different types of metals: alloys, steels, non-ferrous metals (including those with limited weldability).

Welding professions are taught in colleges, vocational schools, and courses. Training is carried out for three years on the basis of ninth grades and two years on the basis of eleventh grades.

If you are not going to work as a welder, but want to learn how to learn how to work with electric welding so that, if necessary, you can weld something yourself, you can use the advice in this article, or the literature from the “Electric welding tutorial” series. Of course, in this case you will not become a top-class welder, but this is not required. The main thing is to understand how to use electric welding correctly, learn the basics of electric welding, and learn basic work techniques.

Basics of electric welding

First of all, you need to purchase a welding machine and electrodes, which you need to stock up on in decent quantities, since during the learning process, you will have to ruin a lot of them before you achieve the first positive result. Choose electrodes for welding with your own hands with a diameter of 3 mm. They are the most suitable for training at home, since the thinner ones are suitable for very thin metal, which only experienced welders can weld, while the thicker ones place a heavy load on the electrical network.
DIY electric welding

Manual arc welding for beginners is not an easy task, but it is quite doable, although it requires a lot of perseverance. You just need to practice more. And the learning process is best carried out under the supervision of professionals who can help with advice and correct mistakes.

To understand how to weld metal correctly, use some unnecessary piece of metal. Place a bucket of water nearby in advance. Never do work on a wooden workbench. Be careful as even small remains of a used electrode can cause a fire.

Securely attach the "ground" clamp to the part. The cable must be well insulated and tucked into the holder. After this, you can set the current power value on the welding machine. It must match the diameter of the electrode.

Weld seam different spatial positions
Spatial positions of the weld

Now you can try to light the arc. To do this, install the electrode at an angle of about 60 degrees relative to the workpiece. Run the electrode very slowly across the surface. After sparks appear, touch the workpiece with the electrode and lift it so that the gap does not exceed 5 millimeters. If everything is done correctly, the arc will light. This gap must be maintained throughout the entire operation. Please note that the electrode will burn out. It must be moved slowly. If the electrode gets stuck, swing it to the side. If an arc 2 - 3 millimeters long does not ignite, then it is necessary to increase the current strength on the welding machine. Try to get a stable arc 3 - 5 millimeters long between the part and the end of the electrode.

If you succeeded in igniting and maintaining the arc, then you can try fusing the bead. To do this, you need to light the arc and smoothly move the electrode horizontally, while performing oscillatory movements (see below for more details). “Rake” the molten metal towards the center of the arc. The result should be a beautiful seam with small waves of deposited metal.

Manual arc welding technology

To form and maintain an electric arc, welding current (direct or alternating) is supplied to the workpiece and the electrode from the power source.

DIY electric welding
Electrode movement diagram

When connecting the positive pole of the power source (anode) to the product, manual arc welding of straight polarity is performed. If the negative pole is connected to the product, then reverse polarity welding is performed. Under the action of an arc, the metal rod of the electrode (the so-called electrode metal), its coating and the material of the product (base metal) are melted. The electrode metal, now in the form of individual droplets coated with slag, enters the weld pool, in which it is mixed with the base metal, with the molten slag coming to the surface.

The size of the weld pool depends on the spatial position and welding modes, the design of the welded joint, the speed of movement of the arc on the surface of the product, the size and shape of the cutting of the edges being joined, etc. It usually varies within the following limits: width 8 - 15 mm, depth up to 6 mm , length 10 - 30 mm.

The arc length is the distance from one active spot on the surface of the weld pool to another on the molten surface of the electrode. When the electrode coating melts above the weld pool and near the arc, gas atmosphere, displacing air from the welding zone and preventing its interaction with the molten metal. It also contains pairs of alloying elements of the electrode and base metals.

Covering the surface of the weld pool and droplets of molten electrode metal, the slag prevents their interaction with atmospheric air and helps clean the molten metal from impurities.

With the gradual removal of the arc, the metal in the weld pool crystallizes, forming a seam connecting the parts being welded. A layer of frozen slag forms on its surface.

Manual arc welding technique

The key to quality welding is the correct maintenance and movement of the electric arc. If the arc is too long, oxidation and nitriding of the molten metal occurs, splashing its droplets and creating a porous structure of the weld.

An even, beautiful and high-quality seam is obtained only with the correct size of the arc and its uniform movement. It can occur in three main directions.

how to learn to work with electric welding
Lapped pattern

The forward movement of the welding arc occurs along the axis of the electrode. With this movement, you can maintain the required arc length, depending on the melting rate of the electrode. Its length decreases as it melts, simultaneously with an increase in the distance between it and the weld pool. To prevent this from happening, the electrode must be moved along the axis, thereby maintaining a constant arc length. In this case, it is very important to maintain synchronism between the shortening of the electrode and its movement towards the weld pool.

How to learn to cook with electric welding
Ceiling seam

The longitudinal movement of the electrode along the axis of the welded seam contributes to the formation of the so-called thread welding bead, the thickness of which depends on the diameter of the electrode and the speed of its movement. As a rule, the width of the thread welding bead is 2 - 3 mm greater than the diameter of the electrode. Strictly speaking, this is already a welding seam, only a very narrow one. To create a strong welded joint, this seam alone will not be enough. Therefore, when moving the electrode along the direction of the axis of the welding seam, it is necessary to perform another movement, with a direction across the welding seam.

how to weld metal correctly
T-seam with one-sided groove

The use of transverse movement of the electrode allows you to obtain the required seam width. It is performed with oscillatory back-and-forth movements. The width of such transverse vibrations of the electrode for each specific case is determined individually, and strongly depends on the position and size of the seam, the properties of the materials being welded, the shape of the groove and the requirements for the welded joint. As a rule, the seam width ranges from 1.5 to 5.0 electrode diameters.

electric welding manual
Welding with electrode support

As a result, all three movements, overlapping each other, create a rather complex trajectory of the electrode. In practice, each experienced craftsman has his own skills in choosing the trajectory of the electrode. The classic trajectories of electrode movement performed during manual arc welding are presented in the figures below. But in any case, the trajectory of the arc must be chosen so that the edges of the parts to be joined are fused, forming the required amount of deposited metal and the specified weld shape.

manual arc welding technology - welds
Bottom layered seams

During the process of electric arc welding of metals, the electrode can burn out almost completely - only a small piece of the rod remains in the holder clamp. If the seam cannot be completed by this point, welding should be temporarily stopped. After replacing the electrode, it is necessary to remove the slag and resume welding again.

Welding technique for vertical seams
Electrode movement pattern when making vertical seams

To complete a broken seam, the arc is struck at a distance of 12 millimeters from the depression that has formed at the end of the seam, called a crater. To do this, the electrode is returned to the crater in order to form an alloy of the new and old electrodes, and then they begin to move it again along the originally chosen path.

how to use electric welding correctly
Horizontal seam on a vertical plane

Advantages of manual arc welding:

the ability to perform work in places with limited access;
the ability to weld various types of steels due to a very wide selection of produced types of electrodes;
the possibility of a relatively quick transition from one joined material to another;
possibility of welding from any spatial position;
simplicity and fairly easy transportability of welding equipment.
The disadvantages of electric arc welding of metals include:

harmful conditions of the welding process;
low productivity and efficiency compared to other types of welding;
dependence of the quality of connections on the qualifications of the welder.

How to weld metal: step-by-step instructions

The most common method of welding metal is fusion. With this method, metal parts are placed close to each other, leaving a small gap. Using a special heat source, the edges of the parts are melted and joined.

Instructions
1If only the parts were heated, then at the junction of the parts a seam is formed, which consists only of the metal from which the parts are made. If additional metal is introduced between the parts, then the connecting seam is made from the main and additional metal. The second option is most often used. Welding occurs at temperatures from 2000 degrees. Fusion welding is carried out using electric arc, gas, electron beam and electroslag methods. The most common are electric arc welding and gas welding.

2Heat used for electric arc welding, is produced by an electric discharge in gases. The temperature during such a discharge reaches 30,000 degrees. To ignite an arc, the voltage that occurs in the electrode and the metal part itself is used. The electrode itself can participate in the formation of a seam (if welding wire is used as an electrode), or it can also be non-consumable (if the electrode is graphite, carbon or tungsten).

3 Since during such welding the metal forms compounds with nitrogen and oxygen on the surface, which can lead to a decrease in the strength of the connection, the electrode is coated with special substances, and flux is poured around the electrode, melting, special. substances and flux form a gas film that isolates the connection from air. For the same purposes, a gas stream is used, which is supplied through a special nozzle. These gases successfully insulate the melting metal.

4For gas welding, they use the heat of gases burning in oxygen, most often acetylene, which gives temperatures up to 3200 degrees. Using an acetylene torch, you can weld metal parts up to 6 mm thick.

How to learn to weld metal. Tips for beginners.

The author of this article is a self-taught welder. Therefore, I ask professionals to be very skeptical about this article. On the other hand, for those who are just starting to try their hand at electric welding, I will try to show that there is nothing wrong with learning arc welding. It is not the gods who burn the pots. Best teacher- practice, practice and practice. Welding is the joining of parts by melting the material of the parts being joined. Typically with the addition of additional homogeneous material.

Equipment - welding transformer, rectifier or inverter. Fortunately, there are a great many of them on sale now. Whether to make a homemade welding machine yourself is up to everyone to decide. In my opinion, it's not worth it. Learn to cook - in 99% of cases it will no longer satisfy you, you will still come to the need to buy normal equipment. I advise you to buy it right away. It must be said that once you learn how to weld metal, you will be able to solve a huge number of problems that arise for a summer resident in the process of developing the area entrusted to him.

Which welding machine should I buy? For beginners, the best welding machine is one that has smooth adjustment of the welding current. The fact is that to ignite and maintain the welding arc great value has the current strength in the electrode. And since the electrodes different manufacturers different (according to the tolerances of their specifications) and the humidity of the flux on the electrode can be different, and the mass of the parts being welded is different, and the diameter of the electrodes is different, then it is better to be able to smoothly select the welding current for each welding case.

What else is needed? Of course, a protective mask or welder's shield. When welding, the electric arc emits hard ultraviolet radiation in such quantities that any solarium is resting. And if you look at such an arc longer, you can “catch bunnies.” In scientific language - burn the cornea of the eye. At the same time, the eye will begin to feel as if a handful of sand had been poured into it. Suffering can be relieved by applying a cold compress or paste. raw potatoes on the eyes. But you will definitely spend a couple of days in a horizontal position.

You will also need a robe or jacket, trousers made of thick material and the same gloves. Preferably made of thick leather or canvas. Since sparks from the electric arc splash in all directions and thin cotton gloves are burned through by them. And don’t expect to cook “at arm’s length” so that the spark doesn’t fly... It will definitely fly and end up in a place where you’ll forget what you cooked. Yes! You also need a 200-300 gram hammer with a sharp end to knock off scale from the weld seam. This is necessary because the seam is covered with sludge and it is not always clear how reliable the welding is.

It is best to start learning to cook, in my opinion, with an electrode with a diameter of 2.5 - 3 mm. These are the most popular electrodes in “domestic” conditions. Thinner electrodes are used to weld very thin metal, and in general, in these cases it is better to use semi-automatic welding machines with gas blowing of the welding site. And electrodes of 4-5 mm are used quite rarely. And for welding they require a powerful electrical network, which is not always available in countryside conditions.

First exercises. Don’t try to cook something “healthy” right away. You will only ruin the workpieces. Practice first on a piece of worthless metal. Having a bucket of water nearby will be very helpful. Because, unknowingly, you can try to start cooking on a wooden workbench... There should be nothing flammable within a radius of one meter! Even just the remains of a used electrode can ignite something!

Attach the ground clamp securely to the part, and insert the electrode into the electrode holder. Set the current on the welding machine to match the diameter of the electrode. By the way, it is better to learn on completely new electrodes in order to understand the essence of the process. Because old electrodes are very unstable and can forever discourage you from learning to weld.

Arc ignition. Imagine that the electrode is a pencil. Set it at an angle of about 60-70 degrees relative to the workpiece, that is, almost vertical, but still at an angle. At a speed of 5-10 cm/sec, move the electrode along the workpiece. A sheaf of sparks and crackling. Great! Now touch the workpiece at approximately the same angle and immediately lift the electrode so that the gap is 3-5 mm. The arc will ignite and burn, melting the metal of both the workpiece and the arc. Try to maintain this gap as the electrode burns out and at the same time move it horizontally. If the electrode sticks, rock it from side to side, tear it off and strike the arc again. Electrode sticking or the absence of an arc less than 2-3 mm long indicates a weak current. Increase it a little. Achieve the skill of obtaining a stable arc with a distance of 3-5 mm between the end of the electrode and the workpiece.

Don't think that you will learn to cook "with one electrode." Well, unless you are a born welder who has hitherto buried his talent. Then quickly drop everything and run to get a job as a welder - they are at a great price... Count on a couple of packs of electrodes at a minimum. Electrodes are not very expensive, consider it tuition fees.

So, you have learned how to strike and sustain an arc. Well, at least 3-4 times per electrode, no more. Now let's try to fuse the bead. To do this, we light the arc and begin to smoothly move the electrode horizontally (along the welding seam). At the same time, we perform oscillatory movements with an amplitude of 2-3 mm, as if “raking” the molten metal towards the arc crater. Then that very beautiful seam with light, barely noticeable waves of deposited metal is formed. Solid and reliable.

Slag removal. But that same seam is usually covered with a layer of slag, which is formed during the combustion of the flux with which the electrode is coated. To make sure the seam is secure, after it has cooled, tap it with a hammer. Then the slag will fly off and the actual electric welding seam will open, shining with clean metal.

After you learn how to make a bead 2-3 cm long, you can start doing business welding, welding some real parts and tools.

Buy a welding machine or a welding inverter, spend a few hours on self-study welding and discover the enormous possibilities of its application in country house construction. Repair and production of new garden tools, installation of various structures, welding of metal parts, etc., etc. will become as accessible to you as digging a hole with a shovel.

Beginning specialists should watch welding video lessons in order to avoid common mistakes and do their work with high quality and safety. You should always remember that before starting work you need to put on special clothing, namely:

suede and (or) canvas gloves; an apron or robe; ; tarpaulin boots.

The light filter for the mask is selected individually for each person, depending on the sensitivity of the eyes to light, the thickness of the electrode and the current power. The higher these indicators are, the larger the number of protective filters should be used. After equipping the mask with a filter, you need to check for possible gaps by looking at the light. Glass should be replaced as soon as scratches or dirt appear on it, making it difficult to clearly see the weld pool and seam.

Before starting work, you must thoroughly clean the surface to be treated from dirt, rust or oil stains. This is the only way to count on high-quality welding work, video lessons for which are posted on our website.

Selecting Electrodes

(video) begins with choosing an electrode. As a rule, its thickness should be equal to the thickness of the part. The choice also depends on the material used.

For steel, the ANO and UONII formats and categories 1, 2 and 3 are best suited.

Alloy steels require 1Y, 2Y and 3Y electrodes. The numbers, in this case, are directly proportional to the strength of the weld being deposited.

For non-ferrous metals, appropriate electrodes are selected. But silumin is not amenable to conventional welding. Also, beginners should not take on cast iron, as this process requires high qualifications and availability great experience work.

After connecting the electrode to the inverter, it is necessary to set the current strength, which is indicated on the device body for various types of materials.

Welding lesson for beginners (video) shows that you should not bring the electrode to the surface to be worked too quickly, because this leads to sticking.

Before starting welding, connect the ground terminal to the product, after which you can begin the welding process.

Arson arc

Welding video lessons teach that you need to bring the electrode to the workpieces at an angle to the surface, which is 700. Then you should lightly hit the surface several times. After this, the electrode must be removed from the metal surface to a distance equal to the diameter of the electrode, and the formation of a bath must begin. To warm up the metal being processed, you will need 2-3 small circular movements of the electrode around the perimeter of the weld pool. It is necessary to ensure that its diameter is always the same.

Arc gap

Watching welding work (video lessons), special attention It is worth noting that the arc gap should not change. This is the most important and difficult thing that novice welders need to learn. The fact is that during welding the electrode gradually decreases in size, and it is necessary to constantly lower it.

When the gap is less than normal, the base metal does not have time to warm up, and the fusion of the surfaces will be of poor quality. With a large gap, it is difficult to hold the arc in place and control the deposited metal. By maintaining a constant gap, a high-quality and neat seam is formed, guaranteeing a reliable connection of the parts.

Seam formation

Welding video lessons show how to correctly perform circular or zigzag movements with the electrode to form the correct weld. If you move the bath crosswise, then if there is a lack of metal, undercuts may remain, which are small grooves along the edges of the seam, located below the surface level. Inverter welding lessons (video) will help you avoid such mistakes and teach you how to use arc power to control the bathroom. The basic idea is that the greater the inclination of the electrode, the more convex the seam will be, and vice versa.

Seam processing

After the weld has cooled, scale is carefully removed from it using a hammer, as shown in the video on our website.

Seam quality control

After completing the welding work, it is necessary to check the quality of the seams by external inspection, testing for leaks and detecting hidden defects. These include sagging, undercuts, cracks, burns, lack of penetration, the presence of slag inclusions in the seams and others.

Welding video lessons will help you understand the causes of defects. This could be power surges in the network, an incorrectly chosen angle of inclination of the electrode, slipping of the weld wire in the feed rollers, a change in the welding speed during the formation of the seam, and others.

Basics of electric welding

Welded metal joints are the most reliable today: pieces or parts are fused into a single whole. This happens as a result of exposure high temperatures. Most modern welding machines use an electric arc to melt metal. It heats the metal in the affected area to the melting temperature, and this happens over a small area. Since an electric arc is used, welding is called electric arc welding.

It's not really the right way welding)) At a minimum, you need

Types of electric welding

An electric arc can be formed by both direct and alternating current. Welding transformers use alternating current, and inverters use direct current.

Working with a transformer is more complicated: the current is alternating, so the welding arc “jumps”, the device itself is heavy and bulky. The noise that both the arc and the transformer itself makes during operation is also quite annoying. There is one more problem: the transformer greatly “stresses” the network. Moreover, significant voltage surges are observed. The neighbors are not very happy about this circumstance, and neither is yours. household appliances may get hurt.

Inverters mainly operate from a 220 V network. At the same time, they are small in size and weight (about 3-8 kilograms), operate quietly, and have almost no effect on voltage. The neighbors won't even know you started using the welding machine unless they see you. In addition, since the arc is caused by direct current, it does not jump and is easier to stir and control. So if you decide to learn how to weld metal, start with a welding inverter.

Welding technology

For an electric arc to occur, two conductive elements with opposite charges are required. One is a metal part, and the second is an electrode.

The electrodes used for manual arc welding consist of a metal core coated with a special protective compound. There are also graphite and carbon non-metallic welding electrodes, but they are used for special works and are unlikely to be useful to a novice welder.

When an electrode and metal of opposite polarity touch, an electric arc occurs. After its appearance, in the place where it is directed, the metal of the part begins to melt. At the same time, the metal of the electrode rod melts, being transferred with the electric arc to the melting zone: the weld pool.

How a weld pool is formed. Without understanding this process, you will not understand how to weld metal correctly (To enlarge the size of the picture, right-click on it)

During the process, the protective coating also burns, partially melting, partially evaporating and releasing a certain amount of hot gases. Gases surround the weld pool, protecting the metal from interaction with oxygen. Their composition depends on the type of protective coating. The molten slag also coats the metal, also helping to maintain its temperature. To weld properly, you must ensure that the slag covers the weld pool.

The weld is formed by moving the bath. And it moves when the electrode moves. This is the whole secret of welding: you need to move the electrode at a certain speed. It is also important, depending on the required type of connection, to correctly select its angle of inclination and current parameters.

As the metal cools, a slag crust forms on it - the result of the combustion of protective gases. It also protects the metal from contact with oxygen in the air. After cooling, it is beaten with a hammer. In this case, hot fragments fly away, so eye protection is required (wear special glasses).

How to weld metal correctly

Learning to hold the electrode correctly and move the bath is not enough for a good result. It is necessary to know some of the subtleties of the behavior of the metals being joined. The peculiarity is that the seam “pulls” the parts, which can cause them to warp. As a result, the shape of the product may differ greatly from what was intended.

Electric welding technology: before starting to apply a seam, the parts are connected using tack welds - short seams located at a distance of 80-250 mm from each other

Therefore, before work, parts are secured with clamps, ties and other devices. In addition, tacks are made - short transverse seams laid every few tens of centimeters. They hold the parts together, giving the product its shape. When welding joints, they are applied on both sides: this way the resulting stresses are compensated. Only after these preparatory measures do welding begin.

How to choose a current for welding

It is impossible to learn how to weld using electric welding if you do not know what current to set. It depends on the thickness of the parts being welded and the electrodes used. Their dependence is presented in the table.

But with manual arc welding, everything is interconnected. For example, the voltage in the network has dropped. The inverter simply cannot produce the required current. But even under these conditions you can work: you can move the electrode more slowly, achieving good heating. If this does not help, change the type of movement of the electrode - passing over one place several times. Another way is to use a thinner electrode. By combining all these methods you can achieve a good weld even in such conditions.

Now you know how to weld properly. All that remains is to practice the skills. Choose a welding machine, buy electrodes and a welding helmet and start practicing.

To reinforce the information, watch the video lesson on welding.