Stick welding

[akist]

I need to weld a plate about 400mm x 150mm x 10mm onto a 152mm universal column on its flanges thereby closing off the gap, in order to strengthen an existing weld. The plate will straddle over the existing joint/weld.

Please see photo.

As can be seen, two of the welds are vertical. I am not a welder and my stick shakes like crazy (even if I cut it in half), and also the molten metal wants to run down rather than sideways into the joint. It does not matter if I try from the bottom or from the top.

Could anyone please advise me how best to do this?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Employ a professional.

 

[Wayners]

Find local mobile welder might be your best bet. Looking at that it needs to be a good job and safe.

 

[cdbe]

Maybe ask your engineer if you can bolt a plate or two on instead?

 

[Burnerman]

if only it was possible to turn the building on it's side........!
If you are going to give it a bash, you'll need 130 amps at a guess and preferably 4mm rods.
Clamping the plate heavily in place;
Grind on a 'prep' where the weld is to go
Work from down to up in a series of centimetre tacks, and grind away any spatter and slag as you go.
John

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Does your insurance cover you for this ?

 

[Exedon]

As a sometime welder ( was ticketed to asme 1X G6R) best advice is as above get a qualified welder in.
Also you will never make much of welding down hill with normal rods.
Really needs celuluse coated rods very quick technique in skilled hands.

 

[akist]

Maybe ask your engineer if you can bolt a plate or two on instead?

That is exactly what I was thinking I should do, bolt the same plate rather than welding it.

So I have tried to weld it, it was a nightmare, the horizontal top seam was OK, but the vertical was a disaster.

Not sure if I can even take it off! I would have to use the angle grinder to cut the welds off.

As a sometime welder ( was ticketed to asme 1X G6R) best advice is as above get a qualified welder in.
Also you will never make much of welding down hill with normal rods.
Really needs celuluse coated rods very quick technique in skilled hands.

If you are going to give it a bash, you'll need 130 amps at a guess and preferably 4mm rods.

I think I was at about 80 amps. I had a molten blob, but it was running down rather than into the seam.