I don't hate AC now compaired to the way I remember it.

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I recently picked up my used craftsman 230amp AC buzzbox/deathtrap for $100 and removed the death trap features.Years ago (about 14 of them), the last time I used a stick welder I did not like running AC at all. We ran ideal arc 250 machines, I am pretty sure all we had was 6013 and hard facing rods plus some 6011.I really didn't like running the 6013 rods on AC and never tired AC with the hard facing rods.Now I use 5/32'' and 1/8'' 7018 rods on my craftsman AC machine and I like it, so far I am not seeing a huge advantage to a DC machine for building simple things like trailer ramps and tire racks. I have not tried hard facing yet.Are 6013 and 7018 rods really that much different on AC?I still plan on installing DC on the craftsman, because It will be fun.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:AC welding is not as bad as some may say. But that is a personal thing.I like that the arc is very consistent and does not wander in corners and such.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Personal preference but I like 6013, 7014, 7024 on AC. 7018 definitely like better on DC+ as I have not tried the 7018AC version.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Rod tends to seem less sticky on AC and the arc is easier to point into corners but your actual welding amperage is lower (will take more amperage for a given rod) than a DC machine.
Reply:Please excuse my ignorance, but what are "death trap features"? And how to fix them?Does the Lincoln 220AC buzzbox have the same issue(s)?
Reply:I believe that was referring to frayed wiring of the input cable.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:I'm making a wood stove and I have some tough tough corners with curves and deep channels in the joints. The weld joint is really narrow and deep.  Too deep in fact to use a mig nozzle or even a flux core tip on my mig gun. So, out comes the Lincoln Buzzbox.  I always start out with DC, but the arc blow was bad.  The joint is really dirty and full of scale where a wire brush, let alone a grinder can't get into...So, some 3/32" 6011's worked pretty well.  When I switched over to AC to help with arc blow, those 6011's were "awesome!"   I've said it before in other posts, I just like the consistency of AC better than DC.  Yeah, there's more spatter with AC, but I don't care.  Usually that all cleans up.  However in my case, all the spatter and slag has to stay in the weld joint.  It's NOT a joint that will be seen from any angle.  It's actually within the combustion chamber of the stove.  No worries.  Again, I prefer AC stick welding, but I'm NOT a professional welder that knows what I'm doing to begin with. Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:I'm with ya man - arc blow sucks, why fight it when AC fixes the problem. mad welder 4 - cool old video on arc blow (if you haven't seen it already).Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Look at that machine ! It makes me want to gather up the boards of directors of Miller and Lincoln and pull out all of their nails one by one with a recently returned pair of Harboring Fright needle nosed pliers.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:DC is sooooo smooth and clean looking though!  It's  what most pros and "experienced" welders use all the time!   ...and this is why I too choose AC most often.  No bullchit, just get'n it done!
Reply:AC good - no arc blow     bad - more spatter, need higher amps for equivalent to dc heat, harder to start some rods, poor for out of position (non flat) welding.DC - opposite of above"The reason we are here is that we are not all there"SA 200Idealarc TM 300 300MM 200MM 25130a SpoolgunPrecision Tig 375Invertec V350 ProSC-32 CS 12 Wire FeederOxweld/Purox O/AArcAirHypertherm Powermax 85LN25
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749 ...Smooth & easy. Welded vertical really nice...
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDavePersonal preference but I like 6013, 7014, 7024 on AC. 7018 definitely like better on DC+ as I have not tried the 7018AC version.
Reply:Originally Posted by GWDPlease excuse my ignorance, but what are "death trap features"? And how to fix them?Does the Lincoln 220AC buzzbox have the same issue(s)?
Reply:Disclaimer: Just my $0.02….AC: Pro’s, Cheap, easily available, no arc blow, my AC machine will weld out of position very nicely not able to difference from DC.Cons: Most do not easily digest 7018 electrodes, I have great luck with “Washington Alloys” brand. The spatter is a pain. In a pinch they don’t like to run aluminum stick either. You need A LOT of amperage to ARC-AIR gouge.DC: most are smoother than AC, if you have ever be lucky to run an old Lincoln generator style they are like butter only louder. They will digest pretty much anything you can give them.Cons: Arc blow. Welding on old drill pipe or other mag charged steel can be a bit more tricky….Just my thoughts, I have used both, and for the work I do I will take my 1940’s Buzzbox over a DC, but for lighter work a Wire gun or TIG suits me just fine, to each their own..
Reply:[QUOTE=Oldendum;3287801]My son did this when he was in school.  Like you say, smooth and easy.  Too bad stick is obsolete, he really liked it.   I think stick is obsolete only in the opinion of people who haven't learned how to stick weld, especially the ones who only own a little 110v mig or wire welder.                                                                                  MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:I have burned up several hardfacing rods and my 1/8 inch US forge rods had little difference between AC and DC but I did this test before I added the extra big inductor and capacitor to the DC side. So with those rods AC and rough DC are just about the same.I have washington alloy 5/32 inch "7018 AC" and hate them. Almost impossible to restart.But on the other hand 1/8" inch "7018 AC" rods made by lincoln are a breeze to relight.I have only tried these with AC.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:This is an old post that got resurrected, so I'll add more as we'll.... Today I was welding angle iron for a shelf to hold a $h!t load of ammunition cans (read: "Heavy" metal ).  I always start off on DC, but I was having terrible arc blow in the corners where three separate pieces of angle iron join up.  Fed up and moving the work clamp "ahead" of the weld bead direction did nothing to resolve my problems.  So, I switched to AC and life was great again. . I had a slight increase in some bb's (spatter) but nothing the flap disc can't take care of.  I was using Lincoln 7018AC because I ran out of Excalibur 7018MR.   Looking at my 7014's or 7018's on AC, the beads look great.  Some damn undercut was experienced, but I don't care.  It's not a trailer, it's a shelf that won't be vibrating down a road on a daily basis.  I'm 100% with MinnesotaDave whereas I prefer AC on 6013, 7014 and 7024.   Everything else, I'll at least start out on DC.   When DC gives me a problem, I "fire" it and go back to AC. "All Cool". Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:I will give that a try, I have a few pounds of smaller AC compatible 6013 I bought for DC that I will try on AC and a big pile of half burned 1/8 inch 7024 I haven't touched.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:Makes no difference to me.I only weld because it's the most efficient way to fasten pieces of steel together.AC-DC-MIG-Oxy-acet.If the world was created by me everything would be stainless and wood and bolted together.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)