Tack welding with a stick welder involves creating small, temporary welds to hold pieces in alignment before the final weld. Set the machine to a low amperage suitable for the material thickness. Strike the arc and briefly touch the rod to the joint, then remove it quickly to avoid overheating. Keep each tack weld short, typically 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. Space tacks every few inches depending on the length of the joint. Use a chipping hammer to remove any slag between tacks if needed. Ensure the base metal is clean and free of rust or paint. Maintain proper arc length by keeping the rod close to the workpiece. Avoid weaving the rod during tacking to keep the weld small and easy to break later. Check alignment after each tack and adjust as necessary before continuing.
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