smooth or crisp

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Often one reads about an gmaw machine having a soft or crisp arc.  What is your preference and why? what machine?Also, if you know, what causes an arc to be soft or crisp?Last edited by Scott Young; 03-17-2010 at 07:36 PM.
Reply:I personally like a softer arc.  on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being soft, I like a 4.5.clear as mud aint it.  I guess that is why I like miller and esab units.  I don't have a ton of experience with lincoln wire units but given my choice they would be last.  Esab, miller, then lincoln.  I also find the wire has a bunch to do with wetting and digging, but i am only referring to machines here.Last edited by Scott Young; 03-17-2010 at 07:39 PM.
Reply:I don't have a rule of thumb for soft arc or 'crisp' arc.  Each has it's place.  My definitions(which may not match others)A crisp or digging arc is good for ensuring good penetration, but can leave a rough bead appearance and more spatter.  A soft arc produces a smooth, not-turbulent, molten weld puddle.  This is good for cap appearance on multi-pass welds.The inductance built into the welding machine in part controls the character of the arc.  In modern inverter machines, this inductance is often controlled by software combined with solid-state electronics; and can be programmed extensively by equipment designers and engineers.  They often pass a limited amount of 'inductance' control on to the operator.  Knobs labeled Dig or inductance on newer machines affect lots of variables built into the software inside the power supply.  That software sets and maintains the shape and slope of the volt-amp curve for the machine.The crispness or softness of the arc is the visible effect of how the CV power supply responds when the wire shorts to the work piece, in short ciruit transfer.  The size of the molten ball on the end of the wire, and the speed at which the power supply changes current all affect that crispness or softness in the arc character.In the older transformer machines, the inductance is a function of the transformer design, materials- copper or aluminum windings, the iron alloy in the transformer coil, the discrete resistors, caps, and other electronic components, used in the machine.   The same basic things are happening, but the machines response is hardwired into the power supply, rather than controlled by software.   It's harder to change the character of these machines, but many people find the arc character of older machines preferable to that of newer welding power supplies. I would compare it to the audiophiles who still prefer to listen to music on vinyl albums and top end receivers with vacuum tubes, vs. to the folks who are happy with their solid state receivers and CD/DVD players.  Both play high quality music, but they still sound different.Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:I like old welders with a nice smooth arc and live music with vacuum tube amps until the 6th beer then any amp will due as long as it's loud.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:tubes man.. all the way...if you're not livin on the edge, you're takin up too much room..
Reply:I love tubes!  I have an older marshal tube unit that is in a garage built box.  apparently the guy before me kicked the stack down in a gig and the amp case didn't make it.  I have the rebuilt amp at a friends garage where we power it up.
Reply:mesa boogie roadster to an Avatar 4x12, and a 5150 2x12 combo for me... 100% tubes!
Reply:I rest my case.  I've got both types of receivers.  I much prefer listening to FM radio on my old 70's vintage Marantz receiver.  The modern Kenwood doesn't tune in half as well.  I think the marantz cranks out just as much volume as the Kenwood, despite being less than half the rated power output....Back to welding and the mysteries of arc performance and inductance...Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:Meridian CD transport with a Denon DAC and amp here...That aside, I prefer a crisp arc with 6010 and an arc right in the middle with 7018.
Reply:in all my years of welding I've never been able to characterize a welding arc from one machine to the other, besides obvious things like it not being dialed in properly and the likes.I have no machine preference, On Gtaw I don't care as long as the arc initiates properly. on GMAW you can vary your parameters so much just using Volts WFS and Stick out. That it would be impossible to call one arc "crisp" or smooth  when backing the gun off 1/2" totally changes the sound and how it welds.I've always been confused when people said an arc was smooth?
Reply:Originally Posted by Metarinkain all my years of welding I've never been able to characterize a welding arc from one machine to the other, besides obvious things like it not being dialed in properly and the likes.
Reply:Hey guys newbie here. I have never really played to much with the inductance while using gmaw, it just never really made any difference for me. Another reason why machines have different arc characteristics is because of the way they are built. Each type of machine has a different v/a curve to it which helps with arc stability and puddle fluidity. i.e. cc machines have a drooping v/a curve while c/v machines have a relatively flat v/a curve. As far as soft or crisp while smaw welding I use a crisp arc for 6010 because of the standoff distance. The more crisp you are the more arc voltage the machine wants to produce so that to dont snub out as easy. This is how I do my open root welds as you want to push the 6010 almost right through the key hole. Then soft for 7018 to get the smooth arc. you can also somewhat adjust your arc by long arcing your rod to increase the voltage.
Reply:I prefer the soft arc of the HTP and Passport to the crisp arc of the Millermatic 175.  The 350P and XMT both have adjustable inductance, so they can be whatever I want them to be.  I liked the arc of the old CP250TS with the taps set to soft.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Huge difference between my Hobart 175 & Lincoln SP175.  The Hobart has a crisp arc & you better be ready to move "right now" once you pull the trigger.  The Lincoln has a soft arc & the arc is much smaller, even when the heat settings are similar to the Hobart.  I actually prefer to use the Hobart over the Lincoln, might be selling the Lincoln due to my preference.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build