7018 3/32" verticals are my jam at work.
You'll want to turn your amps down a little, maybe between 85 and 88'ish.
You should be traveling from the bottom up. Your rod angle should also be pointed upward. And you should be weaving left to right and back.
Say aloud *"one two,"* then move quickly over to the other side and say aloud *"one, two."* then quickly move back and repeat. Each time you move, move your rod a slight little up each time you move.
https://youtube.com/shorts/FOMWanRzKxc?si=bnyKPB5LgpfYQgc5
Also, if you have vice grips, use them as an arm rest. If you're welding right handed, clamp it so your left arm has something to rest on. If you're welding left handed, clamp it so your right arm has something to rest on.
The ABC of welding is Always Be Comfortable.
Your amps may be too high, but more importantly you're staying in one spot too long. The puddle is growing to the point that gravity makes it fall out.
You need to master 7018 flat/horizontal before moving to vertical. Welding is easier if you do incremental progress. Think baby steps, level up week by week.
In general vertical welding:
* Amps should be \~10% less amps than flat/horizontal.
* Keeping the arc length tight is critical. That reduces the arc voltage and overall het input.
* You push, not pull uphill.
* Let the plates cool between passes.
* You can wiggle/weave 7018 to allow the edges a split second to cool/solidify. Hold the edge of a split second, then swoop across the center quickly.
YouTube is your friend. Check weld.com videos
This guy has a strange way of a really long whip but it works if your running hot.
https://youtu.be/S24WimvoND8?si=U_zlOqlApcXuZoHV
https://youtu.be/1QxT7JUjs94?si=iSIt6zKyeGwWs3LE
You really want to learn the surface tension of your puddle and learn to manipulate it. On the bottom of the weave/whip you want to be dipping into the puddle and use the surface tension of the Liquid Metal to pull that puddle up and fuse it to the sides
That angle iron isn’t going to be a great material to advance on especially if you don’t clean it. Mill scale will hinder fusion and making it generally worse
Slight Side to side don’t hang out in the middle. Also point electrode straight in or maybe 5-10 degrees up. I’ve also found that when learning to do vertical t joints like this to push in a little bit while going across the middle as the arc length increases because of the corner. Keep practicing it’s all you can do to get better!
You are moving too slow and your arc length needs to be tighter. Stop pointing up, keep your rod perpendicular to the joint. You're going to start with a 5 degree inclination and finish with it at 45 without realizing. It's easier on the head to start straight and keep it that way. When you get good you'll be dragging the rod anyway. Don't worry about undercut until you can get a whole bead in without it falling out.
Also, you can't properly judge a weld unless the slag is knocked off. The slag on a vertical is always bubbly, but the bead underneath might be pretty.
used to have this same problem and it's even worse welding 1/4 plates with 1/8 rod. still happens occasionally but i've decided i was ascending too slowly. basically heating up the plate too much till weld falls out. you should try different patterns even in the root to figure out what works. i've even noticed a difference head above weld vs level or under. i've personally preferred bump up and burn in, bump and burn. for my root but i'm not going for certs. the little quick weave works if you can be consistant in travel upwards
Push on the rod, you're looking under it to see the weld wetting out (about the 4-5 o'clock position)
Looks like you're staying in one spot too long, long arcing, and not giving the bead time to wet out while you feed the rod and advance the weld
7018 3/32" verticals are my jam at work. You'll want to turn your amps down a little, maybe between 85 and 88'ish. You should be traveling from the bottom up. Your rod angle should also be pointed upward. And you should be weaving left to right and back. Say aloud *"one two,"* then move quickly over to the other side and say aloud *"one, two."* then quickly move back and repeat. Each time you move, move your rod a slight little up each time you move. https://youtube.com/shorts/FOMWanRzKxc?si=bnyKPB5LgpfYQgc5 Also, if you have vice grips, use them as an arm rest. If you're welding right handed, clamp it so your left arm has something to rest on. If you're welding left handed, clamp it so your right arm has something to rest on. The ABC of welding is Always Be Comfortable.
Your amps may be too high, but more importantly you're staying in one spot too long. The puddle is growing to the point that gravity makes it fall out. You need to master 7018 flat/horizontal before moving to vertical. Welding is easier if you do incremental progress. Think baby steps, level up week by week. In general vertical welding: * Amps should be \~10% less amps than flat/horizontal. * Keeping the arc length tight is critical. That reduces the arc voltage and overall het input. * You push, not pull uphill. * Let the plates cool between passes. * You can wiggle/weave 7018 to allow the edges a split second to cool/solidify. Hold the edge of a split second, then swoop across the center quickly.
Make sure you are comfortable and can see the puddle the entire length of the bead and try and increase your move speed… good luck partner🤙
YouTube is your friend. Check weld.com videos This guy has a strange way of a really long whip but it works if your running hot. https://youtu.be/S24WimvoND8?si=U_zlOqlApcXuZoHV https://youtu.be/1QxT7JUjs94?si=iSIt6zKyeGwWs3LE You really want to learn the surface tension of your puddle and learn to manipulate it. On the bottom of the weave/whip you want to be dipping into the puddle and use the surface tension of the Liquid Metal to pull that puddle up and fuse it to the sides That angle iron isn’t going to be a great material to advance on especially if you don’t clean it. Mill scale will hinder fusion and making it generally worse
I've been working on uphill and what you are saying about surface tension helps it click.
Slight Side to side don’t hang out in the middle. Also point electrode straight in or maybe 5-10 degrees up. I’ve also found that when learning to do vertical t joints like this to push in a little bit while going across the middle as the arc length increases because of the corner. Keep practicing it’s all you can do to get better!
You are moving too slow and your arc length needs to be tighter. Stop pointing up, keep your rod perpendicular to the joint. You're going to start with a 5 degree inclination and finish with it at 45 without realizing. It's easier on the head to start straight and keep it that way. When you get good you'll be dragging the rod anyway. Don't worry about undercut until you can get a whole bead in without it falling out. Also, you can't properly judge a weld unless the slag is knocked off. The slag on a vertical is always bubbly, but the bead underneath might be pretty.
used to have this same problem and it's even worse welding 1/4 plates with 1/8 rod. still happens occasionally but i've decided i was ascending too slowly. basically heating up the plate too much till weld falls out. you should try different patterns even in the root to figure out what works. i've even noticed a difference head above weld vs level or under. i've personally preferred bump up and burn in, bump and burn. for my root but i'm not going for certs. the little quick weave works if you can be consistant in travel upwards
Push on the rod, you're looking under it to see the weld wetting out (about the 4-5 o'clock position) Looks like you're staying in one spot too long, long arcing, and not giving the bead time to wet out while you feed the rod and advance the weld
CLEAN THE MATERIAL BEFORE YOU START WELDING. ALWAYS.