I'm about to adopt a little 120V stick welder to use at home. I've heard about cutting thin metal with one, but I've never seen it done. What do I need to do this, if it's doable? Thanks
They make special rods to do this, but you can just turn the heat up all the way and blow through it with a regular rod. Don't expect a clean cut. I think this method is used in a pinch. (Of course, the other day I work I used my tig torch to slice through some small pins on a jig I was building :)
-James
If you don't want to buy the cutting rods you might try using E6010 or E6011 3/32" diameter. They are good penetrating rods plus you can weld with them. 7018 rods do not cut very well with the current you will get from the 120 machine.
You must long arc when cutting steel with welding rods. If you have a electric grinder you can buy .045 cutting disc or similar thickness disc to cut steel cleanly. As mentioned above it will not be pretty with a weld rod.
Like Tim said you can use a 6010 are a 5p welding rod but if you have a grinder you can buy cutoff blades and get a better and cleaner cut and save your rods for welding.
Before I had an A/O torch I used to cut with a stick welder too. It is really messy and does leave a ratty edge. Don't let the dross & slag land on a concrete floor, it will turn moisture to steam and blow chunks out of the floor.
Try 1/8" 5p at 300 amps. Burns a good hole, and hey.....no grinding!! lol
I got a o/a torch, but I have done it. I used a 6011 1/8 a about 105-120 amps. I went veriticle and heated the area and then melted it and used the rod to kinda blow/push the goo outta there.
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