8.4 SMAW Operation and Welding Techniques
David Ridge
Welding Basics
Now that you have all of the preliminary background information, you are ready to strike your first arc. (Be sure to read Chapters 2, 3, and 4 welding safety and PPE and ensure that you are familiar with and possess all the necessary PPE and tools required. If not, take this opportunity to do so.)
This section describes the techniques you will use when welding with the SMAW process. You will learn the basics of striking an arc, breaking an arc, and the acronym CLAMS, which stands for current, arc length, angle, manipulation, and travel speed. This acronym helps us remember the elements of good welding technique and can be applied to every welding process.
Getting Comfortable
The first step in making any weld is actually to get into a comfortable position. Being comfortable and having freedom of movement to perform the weld is imperative to making good welds, especially as a beginner. This can take whatever form makes sense to you, as everyone is different. However, consider the following points as general guidelines for good welding posture:
- Whether you are sitting or standing, try to keep your torso as upright as possible. Try to find something to brace your body or a leg against.
- If the object you are welding can be moved freely, try to position it at a height somewhere between your chest and your waist. This allows you to both see and reach the weld zone easily. If the object cannot be moved, instead try to position yourself so that the weld you are making is as close to the area between your chest and your waist as possible. Welding below your waist or above your shoulders will tire you out quickly and it is hard to see the weld.
- Hold the stinger (electrode holder) in your dominant hand, and then brace that hand with your off-hand. For example, if you are right-handed, you will hold the stinger in your right hand and then brace that hand with your left.
- Find something to rest the elbow or forearm of your bracing hand on. This can be almost anything: the workbench you’re using, a wall if you are next to one, or even a clamp attached to the piece you’re welding. It is important to understand that you don’t need to lean all of your weight on that arm—instead, it is there to steady you. As you will find out when welding, everything but the arc becomes dark through your hood. Having your arm in contact with a solid object will reduce this effect.
- Most of the movement during welding should come from your wrists and forearms. Avoid needing to move your elbows and shoulders and try to keep your elbows as low and close to your body as possible.
- Before actually welding, make a few test runs along the joint to be welded to ensure that nothing will impede your movement when you make the actual weld. Notice whether your bracing hand can easily slide along the joint without getting caught and if you can reach the entire length of the weld easily. Test runs can also help you t