Show your stick welders

[A-one]

I upgraded. What a difference

 

[California]

I upgraded. What a difference

What was the 'before'?

It's clearly more portable than a transformer welder but how else is it different?

You might convince me to retire the 1963 Monkey Wards welder that I've saved for heavy work ... but haven't used for several years.

 

[A-one]

I bought an Amico brand 160 amp inverter. It doesn't run quite as hot as the Lincoln.

 

[Sberry]

bought at a sale.

 

[Sberry]

The difference between inverter and a 63 Wards is the new is DC. Really uses "professional" rods for out of position work on equipment, piping etc.

 

[A-one]

Professional rods? I'm getting more and more to the point that I will use a 6011 on mostly everything. I want to try a 6010, but don't want to be stuck with them if the machine won't run them.

 

[California]

The difference between inverter and a 63 Wards is the new is DC. Really uses "professional" rods for out of position work on equipment, piping etc.

And another question, if you have the patience:

I'm doing decent amateur work with flux-core in my modified HF Mig-180. But I have no idea if it will throttle down to weld thin material. I've found it hard to keep the arc lit when I've tried this.

The other welder - Grizzly - that I got at the same time is rated 130 A stick / 160 tig.

220V Tig Pulse Welder - Grizzly Industrial

<p>This is the ideal TIG welder for both the novice and the expert alike. The high start-up frequency gives you the ability to easily weld thin materials at low amps. And, the variable pulse gives you the flexibility to weld thin automotive sheet metal without troublesome heat distortion, or...

www.grizzly.com

I doubt I'll ever go to gas for either welder, I'm simple. Would this Grizzly with tiny rods do better work on thin material compared to .030 flux core in the wire welder? What rods should I buy?

 

[Sberry]

6011 is the sheet rod. For a couple of reasons. While 6013 is talked about real sheet guys use 11 as it freezes fast and is the lowest current. 13 takes a lot of power. It penetrates a little less but uses higher current and freezes slow. But ,,, ,,, if you are doing sheet it's worth getting gas, wire cost less.

 

[Sberry]

The difference between 10 and 11 is minor. The biggest reason for the part time to use 10 as they can take some from work. Used to be an old joke, buy ac and buy rods, spend another 100 on DC and never got to buy rod again

 

[Sberry]

I use 11. I have a Maxstar, I like them for restrike, the nature of the work makes the difference irrelevant and 11 has very good mechanical properties.
I believe they do list it for some pipe . Just had 50# in good shape given to me, will last me to the end. 10# go a long way these days.

 

[A-one]

Forget the flux core thin material, if thin is 18 gauge or less.

 

[A-one]

Solid wire and 100% CO2 is probably too hot for that. Won't look near as bad though.