Stick Welding Guide for Metalworkers: Safe Uses & Limitations.
New stick welder owners, especially those into blacksmithing or creative metalwork, need straightforward guidance on the right uses, material compatibility (like welding high-carbon steel for forging), and the limitations of stick welding. An online course or a detailed guide that covers best practices, suitable and unsuitable materials or projects, and how stick welds hold up under stress (such as forging) would be incredibly helpful. This would help users operate their welders safely and effectively, avoid damaging materials or failing projects, and understand the metallurgical effects of their welds.
Origin Reddit Post
r/blacksmith
Got a stick welder, what should and shouldn't I use it for?
Posted by u/SwoleFlex_MuscleNeck•06/05/2025
To test it I welded two bars of flat stock 1090 end-to-end, just kinda to see if it would work.
I abused the shit out of it to see if I had a strong weld and I couldn't break it no matter h
Top Comments
u/Lackingfinalityornot
So 1090 is high carbon steel and the shielded electrode steel is not. You could do what you’re talking about but the portion made up of weld will not harden like the high carbon flat stock wi
u/Lackingfinalityornot
With a proper forge weld there wouldn’t be a weak spot?
u/jillywacker
I use a stick welder, and i find heated mild steel will get issues faster than the welds 9 times out of 10.
You can acquire different electrodes for it that have varyinf degrees of difficult
u/ErwinRommel1943
The filler material in most cases will differ to the base metal.
You would be better off forge welding and even then, if you didn’t nail it there would be a weak spot.
u/SwoleFlex_MuscleNeck
I'm working on forge welding but I can't seem to get my metal hot enough with a double burner propane forge. Someone gave me some tips I will try out once I fix the refractory that got wet wh
u/DivineAscendant
If you clean the area you weld, then weld, then clean the scale off. You should have no issue with forging it in. If a piece of bar I forged is cross section correct but length short I will m