Frequent Stick Welding Issues

🔥 Stick Troubleshooting Guide

📋 Problem: Sticking Electrodes

• Is amperage set too low?
• Are you holding too tight an arc?
• Is the ground clamp on clean metal?

🔧 Fix: Increase amperage slightly, maintain close arc length but don't feed the rod too fast, make sure you got a good ground.

📋 Problem: Porosity

• Are rods dry and in good condition?
• Is material clean and dry?
• Is travel speed steady?
• Is environment too windy?

🔧 Fix: Use fresh/dry rods, clean base metal, slow down slightly to let the rod burn properly, make sure it's not too windy where you're welding.

📋 Problem: Excessive Spatter

• Check amperage setting (too high?).
• Arc length too long?

🔧 Fix: Lower amperage, shorten arc length.

📋 Problem: Undercut

• Check amperage setting (too high?).
• Arc length too far away?
• Is the rod angle up and down too high? (Pointing down too much?)

🔧 Fix: Lower amperage, shorten arc length, bring rod angle down lower.

📋 Problem: Lack Of Fusion and/or Cold And Bulged Bead

• Amps too low?
• Travel speed too fast?

🔧 Fix: Increase amperage, slow down travel speed