How to teach a novice welder to hold an electrode and make high-quality welds

It is important for a novice welder to master the basics of welding. First of all, you should study the basics of safety precautions, the design and operation of welding equipment, types and features of electrodes, etc.

The quality of welding is greatly influenced by the magnitude of the welding current and the ability to adjust it, depending on the thickness of the materials being welded, the electrodes used, the spatial location of the welding seam, etc.

How to teach a novice welder to hold an electrode and make high-quality welds

It is important to learn how to strike an arc and hold it without allowing the electrode to stick to the metal or break it. There are two main ways to ignite an arc: by striking or tapping the electrode on the surface of the parts being welded.

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It is necessary to develop the skills of the correct angle of inclination of the electrode, which can range from 90 to 30 degrees. This allows you to monitor the behavior of the slag in the weld pool, i.e., the quality of the weld.

You should also master moving the electrode holder first in a straight line, then moving it in a triangle, zigzag, etc.

Quite often, the quality of the weld performed by a beginner suffers due to trembling of the hand with the holder. As a result, the seam is uneven and discontinuous. It is quite difficult for a beginner to get rid of this shortcoming. But it can be minimized with a very simple device.

Life hack for a novice welder: how to learn to hold the electrode straight when welding using a wooden block

In a small wooden block, at different angles, we drill a series of holes of such a diameter that the electrodes selected for welding can pass through them freely.

It is enough to insert the electrode into the hole at one angle or another in the block, hold it firmly with the other hand and weld as usual.

Without a bar, especially when working with a long electrode, it is very difficult to level out the shaking of the hand with the holder. In this case, the seam turns out to be uneven and intermittent.

We select the required angle of the electrode to the surface, insert it through the corresponding hole and, holding it firmly, cook. The seam is smooth and continuous.