When I was a teenager, my dad bought a 180 AMP Miller "buzzbox" welder. I took to it like a duck takes to water. I used it to build my first hot rod and first two race cars. It stayed at my folks house when I moved out. I got a MIG welder about 20 years later when I got back into the hobby and have been reasonably happy with it. A while ago, I bought an inverter-based stick/TIG welder because I wanted to do some chassis work. The inverter welder is DC only. In the ensuing 65 years, it looks like I have forgotten how to stick weld. I have a quality Auto-Darkening" helmet and have equipped it with a lense whose magnification matches my bifocals (a tip from a friend who is a professional pipe-fitter). I have run dozens of test beads and am continuously dissatisfied with them. Back in the old days, we had a stock of "farmer's rod" (6011/6013) and I just went to town. This time, I actually spent some time boning up on different rod types, and have tried fresh examples of every type applicable, all with equal lack of success. My question is if I am just (at 82) too old to weld, or could there possibly be enough difference between AC and DC welding that has caused the problem. BTW, I have asked a couple of friends to try the inverter welder and they like it just fine.
What size rod are you using? How many amps is the machine? Being it is DC only, I am going to assume that it is a smaller 110 machine and I have found that they just don't have the poop to burn the rod properly.
It's a 220 machine and I haven't run it at it's full setting (140 AMPS) yet, because I have had burn through problems when practicing on tubing. (I remember running the old Miller between 100-125 AMPS back in the day; that's why I figured 140 would be plenty.) Rods are 3/32" and 1/8" (nothing larger). I have more rod types that I can't remember of the top of my head which I will post when I get back from my shop.;
When you say DC , do you mean DC RP ? I bought an AC/DC that had reverse polarity option & found that to be an improvement over my old AC Lincoln buzz box ,( 30 years ago) . 6010-11-13 7014-18 ..
Nope. Checked with the Doc; he didn't like it (on general principles, I think), but gave me the go-ahead.
I use 6013 @ 90A , DC RP most of the time as a drag rod , @ 76 , even with a 4x magnifier lens its getting harder to see ( wet AMD) .
I'm finding a lot of things I'm "too old" for; I hope this ain't one of them. That'll mean a few unfinished projects.
Never tried either 6010 or 7018. Time to buy some rod. It's starting to sound like there is a bit of difference between AC and DC stick welding.
That’s all I ever used on high pressure vessel X-ray welding. Handles very well with minimal splatter and washes impurities very well. Most of the 6000 tensile strength rods work very well with dirty, rusty and oily metals. (Farmer’s rod) 7018 burns hotter and works well with washing slag from the weld.
Make it easy on yourself : 3/32" 7018 set at about 105amps DCRP for openers, then adjust to suit. keep the rod you're going to use in some kind of "rod oven" to keep it dry : any small insulated box you can seal up & put a small light bulb in to provide heat will work fine.
Forty years ago, I had the use of an ancient AC welding machine. A welder friend of mine suggested I get some 3/32 7018 AC rod, designed specifically for machines like the one I was using. Worked well. Lots of upgrades to welding technology today, even that 7018 rod.
6013 is for flat plate..we called it mud rod at our power plant. I had a red Lincoln AC/DC 220 195 amp and it was perfect. 7018 is a great rod DC only and I’m back yard guy at 80 years old now. We bought a Hobart mig and I became pretty good.
I've got a"built-in" house oven converted for powder-coating (and free electricity in my shop). I'll bet I could use that. Got a recommended temperature?
7024 JetWeld. Greatest thing in the world for welding flat down or filet welds. Ran miles of Jet on the floors and roofs of oil storage tanks. Set your heat right and you can watch the slag peel off the weld. Rarely have to power brush or grind it. @tubman, wish that I lived closer to you. Oh crap, what am I saying, it gets cold where you are! Wish you lived closer to me; I could get you back on track with your welds pretty quick. All you need is good eyesight and practice, practice and more practice. Oven temp at 250 F. If your rod has been sitting around exposed to humidity, put it in the oven for 4 hours. Don't forget to use your gloves to handle it.
Not a problem 'cause I go to Florida for the winter. (It is required when you get past a certain age.) I ordered 5 lbs of 7024 "Premium" 1/8 rod from Amazon just now. They did have "Jetweld", but the minimum order was 50 lbs! (I can't believe there's that much difference.)
Most of the welders I knew could easily burn 50 to 75 pounds of Jet in a day. By the way, 7024 runs better with DC straight polarity.
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