welder opinion

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There has been much discussion on this forum about welders and such. As I have little experience with them, I'd lke to ask about a comparison that my limited experience has led me too. I have only welded AC stick. A tip from one of the posters (Highbeam?) stated that the 7014 was a sweet rod to use with ac. Well, he's right. It is much smoother than any of the other rods I've used (mostly 6011-6013) and I found 7014's also started better. My question, since never having welded with dc stick, how does the ac welder smoothness with 7014 rods, compare to dc welding with any other rods?

 

[JB4310]

IMO, Not a huge difference between a good weld/bead with a AC compared to DC.
But that's the beauty of DC, smoother welds and easier arc starting with all the different rods.

I just stated using DC after 30 years of AC only, I wasn't blown away by DC with first use but am now appreciating it's subtle advantages.

I learned to deal with AC just fine, I think it would be more difficult going from DC to AC.

JB.

 

[dex3361]

I think it is a marked difference between the 2 is that can produce a good quality weld with the AC but I really have to focus on what I am doing.With DC I can truly close my eyes and strike and hold an arc just by feel and sound. I weld with my eyes closed though. But if you are going to buy a stick welder do yourself a big favor and get a AC/DC you will be glad you did. the other thing a DC can do is weld aluminum with stick.

 

[Soundguy]

you get more rod choice with dc.. also gets you better in OOP for some rods.

soundguy

 

[Willl]

OOP

Lost me on the OOP stuff ?

 

[Soundguy]

out of position

soundguy

 

[Willl]

out of position

That would be all the 'positions' I don't like doing.

Mostly overhead, I dislike overhead. I'll take that back,,,I HATE overhead.

 

[mbohuntr]

Once you get the hang of not standing under the puddle, and putting on those shoe covers, it becomes less painfull....

 

[MossRoad]

Once you get the hang of not standing under the puddle, and putting on those shoe covers, it becomes less painfull....

And don't forget to un-tuck your shirt so the sparks don't drop into your belt line and start your belly on fire. (don't ask how I know that )

 

[SPIKER]

And don't forget to un-tuck your shirt so the sparks don't drop into your belt line and start your belly on fire. (don't ask how I know that )

Naw, just don't set cross legged under something while welding overhead, even though it was the ONLY way I could get in to weld this part. Believe me when I say setting the forest on fire is hard on the trees as well as the rolling stock setting under em...

Needless to say re-applying burn ointment is not an easy task when ya cant get the light of day in the area!!

 

[radman1]

I don't weld a lot on only with a Miller 250 MIG welder. Last summer I did a little welding on an irrigation pivot with DC welder. It was an old portable unit powered by a 250 cu in ford motor. It was really sweet to weld with. Surprised me. Easy to start an arc and the weld was 12' in the air hanging on to a pivot pipe with weld on the back side where I couldn't see well. It was a nice looking weld on galvanized pipe. It was smooth, continuous arc and the rod sticking to the metal like an AC welder was not an issue.