what makes a good "arc?"

[Arc weld]

According to Shield Arc, some inverters don't like 6010. With Miller XMT 304's you barley need to strike an arc with 7018 to be welding and they only have about 60 OCV. Try to strike an arc on some other machines with only 60 OCV and you'll have a lot of trouble. Frequency plays a role too. SA200's turn at a slower RPM and I think that makes a difference too. My former neighbor had a 1957 short hood and was offered $5500 for it. He bought a new Classic diesel and couldn't get it to run as good of downhand 6010 as his 57. He hooked a frequency meter to it and was playing with the throttle but couldn't get it to "stack dimes" like his 57. That's why the older SA200's are still in demand for pipeliners. The SA200's were true DC and used a DC exciter so you only had DC for power tools. The newer 300D and some other models models use an AC exciter so you can use AC power tools but the welding arc suffers as a result. Not a big deal for 95% of jobs and most wouldn't notice a difference but old school pipe welders do. Same thing with the aluminum winding SA200's. Lincoln claimed they welded the same. A blind test proved what the pipeliners had been telling Lincoln for years. How convincing was the blind test? Lincoln scrapped the aluminum windings and all the Classic and later models went back to a round barrel and copper windings. Some people/manufacturers claim gouging doesn't affect the way a machine runs but use a machine that had a steady diet of gouging and you will notice a difference.

 

[Blade Breaker]

According to Shield Arc, some inverters don't like 6010. With Miller XMT 304's you barley need to strike an arc with 7018 to be welding and they only have about 60 OCV. Try to strike an arc on some other machines with only 60 OCV and you'll have a lot of trouble. Frequency plays a role too. SA200's turn at a slower RPM and I think that makes a difference too. My former neighbor had a 1957 short hood and was offered $5500 for it. He bought a new Classic diesel and couldn't get it to run as good of downhand 6010 as his 57. He hooked a frequency meter to it and was playing with the throttle but couldn't get it to "stack dimes" like his 57. That's why the older SA200's are still in demand for pipeliners. The SA200's were true DC and used a DC exciter so you only had DC for power tools. The newer 300D and some other models models use an AC exciter so you can use AC power tools but the welding arc suffers as a result. Not a big deal for 95% of jobs and most wouldn't notice a difference but old school pipe welders do. Same thing with the aluminum winding SA200's. Lincoln claimed they welded the same. A blind test proved what the pipeliners had been telling Lincoln for years. How convincing was the blind test? Lincoln scrapped the aluminum windings and all the Classic and later models went back to a round barrel and copper windings. Some people/manufacturers claim gouging doesn't affect the way a machine runs but use a machine that had a steady diet of gouging and you will notice a difference.

I would think it is safe to say that some inverters are not great for stick welding no matter what rod. But for farm use they work. I've heard the same about gouging but have not experienced it myself. I use my xmt for gouging occasionally. Had a sales guy once tell me it will mess up the arc on it. Pretty sure he was confusing what you mention on the generators with inverters. To my knowledge it won't hurt a inverter.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

According to Shield Arc, some inverters don't like 6010.

Yep, the Miller Maxstar 150s is one of them. Miller said it wasn't designed for 6010 and to use 6011 in its place.

I tried some 6010 (red) with my maxstar - it did not like it - arc kept going out if any whip-and-pause technique was used.

It runs every other rod pretty well for me though: 6013, 7018, 7014, 6011

As a side bonus, it runs on 240 volts off my old ugly generator quite well (generac 5000/6250)
Aside from the noise drowning out the arc, hard to tell the difference.

 

[Blade Breaker]

Yep, the Miller Maxstar 150s is one of them. Miller said it wasn't designed for 6010 and to use 6011 in its place.

I tried some 6010 (red) with my maxstar - it did not like it - arc kept going out if any whip-and-pause technique was used.

It runs every other rod pretty well for me though: 6013, 7018, 7014, 6011

As a side bonus, it runs on 240 volts off my old ugly generator quite well (generac 5000/6250)
Aside from the noise drowning out the arc, hard to tell the difference.

I can't recall for sure but I thought I used a max star to run 6010 5p+. Possibly the iron powder in the coating helped stabilize the arc. Give that a try.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

I can't recall for sure but I thought I used a max star to run 6010 5p+. Possibly the iron powder in the coating helped stabilize the arc. Give that a try.

I'll do that

Any chance you used the maxstar 200? It is rated for 6010.

 

[PILOON]

Want to have some fun?

Tie 3 or 4 good 12 volt batteries in series and give it a try.
Heck I have stuck kid's bikes back together with a 24volt 25 amp hammond transformer using 1/16 or 3/32 6013rod.
Popped breakers more than once but sure helps create a steady hand. Not all that pretty welds but what the hey!

I also have wound a few homemade welders just for the fun of it. Kinda of a hobby.