i have found if you buy cheep rod its hard to work with . and DC rod in a ac welder can give you problems to .1714 works in ether ac or dc but some 1718 ac rod is junk . good luck
Borrowed a friends dump trailer . when dune i fixed his fenders light repainted it welded cracks on gate . Dick never even noticed all the work i did to thank him for the use of the trailer . it goes both ways i guess
alot of friends i wont lend anything to . and if i borrow it gose back better then when i got it . borrowed a saw mill when done cleaned it all painted it . looked like new again . when it went back friend said anything else you want to borrow lol