Old timer told me to "let the rod do the work" and I laughed at him until I tried it

So I'm about 6 months into my apprenticeship and this grizzled guy named Hank keeps telling me I'm fighting my welds too hard. I thought I knew better so I kept yanking and pulling like crazy on this horizontal seam in a tank at a plant outside Indianapolis. Finally last Tuesday I just said fine and tried his way, barely moved the rod and let it puddle on its own. Came out smoother than anything I've done before, no spatter hardly. Anybody else have a piece of advice they ignored for way too long?

2 comments

2 Comments

derek_dixon781mo ago

I had the same thing with a 7018 rod on a pipe weld. I was pushing it hard trying to get the puddle to move and ended up with cold lap that had to get ground out. Once I just held the arc tight and let the rod burn at its own speed it laid down like glass. Hank was right, you ain't the one doing the work the rod is.

the_mia29d ago

Oh man, this hits close to home. I've been there too with 7018 on some structural stuff, trying to force the puddle like it's a competition or something. You're spot on though - the second I stopped trying to be a hero and just let the rod do its own thing, everything changed. Cold lap is a nightmare to grind out too, especially when you're in a tight spot and the inspector is breathing down your neck. It's funny how the simplest lesson in welding is always the hardest to learn, just trust the rod to burn at its own pace.