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DC welding
- Thread starter john11139
- Start date
Elmo77166
Member
Dc is best for welding rusty metal. Also Low hydrogen rods work best with DC. You will encounter some Arc Blow when welding into tight corners with dc.
Bondo
Well-known member
Ayuh,.... Havin' DC available, opens All sorts of doors....
If I had a choice of Either AC, or DC,... DC is Far Superior...
If I had a choice of Either AC, or DC,... DC is Far Superior...
rsanter
Well-known member
Generally DC is best for steel and AC is best for non ferrious material
An ACDC welder is basically a power supply for a TIG. So you can then add the TIG lead and weld scratch start or you can add a hi frequent box and do the lift start welding with no foot pedal control
Next question
How much are you getting it for. The ACDC machines used to be expensive but with the advent of reasonable priced TIG welder that are not worth much anymore
Bob
An ACDC welder is basically a power supply for a TIG. So you can then add the TIG lead and weld scratch start or you can add a hi frequent box and do the lift start welding with no foot pedal control
Next question
How much are you getting it for. The ACDC machines used to be expensive but with the advent of reasonable priced TIG welder that are not worth much anymore
Bob
Voi
Well-known member
There are a lot of good discussions on AC vs DC arc welding around the web.
I read a good article on it recently but can't seem to find it. I did find this one. Note that there are two pages to this article.
http://www.agweb.com/article/stick_versus_mig/
The other article I found emphasized the difference in vertical or overhead welding and when welding on rusty or painted surfaces.
You might also do some reading on inverter welders as these are often DC only and the discussion often strays towards what one is giving up by going to DC only, although that doesn't sound like a concern with this welder you found.
I read a good article on it recently but can't seem to find it. I did find this one. Note that there are two pages to this article.
http://www.agweb.com/article/stick_versus_mig/
The other article I found emphasized the difference in vertical or overhead welding and when welding on rusty or painted surfaces.
You might also do some reading on inverter welders as these are often DC only and the discussion often strays towards what one is giving up by going to DC only, although that doesn't sound like a concern with this welder you found.
2mJps
Well-known member
I got 2 small ac/dc welders at a sell . I have worked as a welder on and off for 25 years. They dont weld as good as the biger welders. I have wanted one to use at home and i am disappointed.
dc is the way to weld, remember with ac the cycle changes from neg to pos 60 times every second, that where your spatter come in, for a microsecond you have no voltage. with dc current its a constant current during the whole weld so it nice and clean, the spatter is less. its a 100 % better than welding with ac. I will never go back to ac
38Chevy454
Well-known member
I have an old stick welder (or as it is officially known "shielded metal arc welding (SMAW)"), it is AC only. DC is better for welding steel if you can get it. I use the stick welder for thicker stuff as I am sure to get good penetration. Use 6011 rod typically, it is an all position rod as well. 7018 won't run on AC unless you get special 7018-AC rods. As stated, most low hydrogen rods are intended for DC. I don't need anything rated stronger than 60,000 psi tensile strength, so the 60xx rods work just fine for me and run nice on AC.
I have had a cheap Miller for years. It is a AC DC, but never used the DC. I have a good Miller mig welder that I use most of the time. About the only time I use the AC any more is when I am bulding up something on my backhow or dozer, like the cutting edge or bucket teeth. I ran on to a old Sears AC DC welder, looks to be in real good shape and weighs about twice as much as the Miller and I like how the controls work better. I went ahead and bought it, gave $100. Some fellow is supposed to take my Miller for $140. I think I paid $60 for it at a auction but needed the coolong fan repaired. (fan was bent.) I thought all AC welders welded the same but I dont think so. Years ago I had a old 20th century that welded like you was spreading silicone out of a calking gun. Some guy made me a offer on it that I could not refuse (but should have) Had two other welders that just wouldnt seem to weld a smooth bead. Maybe just me.
Since you are talking about a plug in welder vs an engine driven unit then you are getting pulsed DC. Just like an alternator on a car, AC to DC.
Engine driven DC generators give very stable currents.
The advantage of the plug in ac/dc units is you can do reverse or straight polarity on dc and use some different rods. Always good to have options just don't think it will compare to a true DC generator unit.
Engine driven DC generators give very stable currents.
The advantage of the plug in ac/dc units is you can do reverse or straight polarity on dc and use some different rods. Always good to have options just don't think it will compare to a true DC generator unit.