The Unknown Facts About MMA Welders in Australia

Posted by Kym Morgan on August 22nd, 2016

MMA welding or SMAW is more popularly known as stick welding throughout the world. It is the most basic and yet the most versatile of all welding methods. This is why it has become the predominant form of welding across all industries. If anyone wants to take up welding professionally or even as a hobby, it is almost essential to learn the basics of the trade by mastering one’s hand with MMA welding.

Here are some of the facts about MMA welders that will help you gain the edge in your work.

• Electrode ROD Numbers: These actually mean something and are not just for gimmicks. The rod numbers are usually four digits long. The first two numbers denote the tensile strength in pounds per square inch. The last two numbers represent the amount of flux coating, shielding, and metal deposited. So a rod number 7012 will be able to withstand more pressure than a 6024 rod, but will have less shielding. Most 70xx rods need clean surfaces while 60xx can work with dirty joints. However, it is always a good practice to work with clean joints.

• Restarting with a Half-Rod: Restarting an arc with a half spent rod often leaves an unsightly glob of metal. Worse, this can affect weld quality for some sheet thicknesses. The most efficient solution to this is to file the edge of the rod perpendicular on a flat file. You should be carrying a flat file in your tool belt in any case. Now you can put it for more use instead of discarding half-spent rods.

• Joint Preparation: This is important for all kinds of welding, but with the right preparation, it makes a significant difference in MMA welding. T and other perpendicular joints are relatively easier to prepare. The one that troubles most beginners is welding two flat surfaces. Without any preparation, the weld is shallow and lacks the strength from penetration. The Single V-B joint or Single Vee-Butt Joint is the most effective for stick welding two flat surfaces. It involves grinding a v-shaped groove down a distance and leaving some space as a ‘butt’ or flat. This flat section is generally the same as the height of the rod. This also means that you will need to make more than one pass to fill the weld. The first pass is the root pass. Pay special attention when an instructor or mentor shows you how this is done. No amount of words can describe the correct technique. It is as much a matter of reacting to the weld as understanding the theory. It is a crucial step in learning to weld with an MMA welder and will serve you well when leading other forms of welding.

About the author:

Kym Morgan is the marketing director of eWelders.com.au, a leading online specialty welding site in Australia. They sell a massive range of MIG Welders, TIG Welders, ARC Welders, Inverter Welders, Multi-Purpose Welders, High Function TIG Welders, AC/DC TIG Inverters, Spot Welders and Engine Driven Welders in Australia. Their mission at eWelders.com.au is to gather Australia’s best range of welders and put them under one roof.