Losing the arc

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Hi guys,I ran into an interesting situation today while stacking some practice beads on 3/8 plate.  Like clockwork, I would lose the arc about 1 1/2" into the bead.  This happened every bead, same spot, and I would randomly lose arc 2-3 more times throughout an 8" pass.  It was an abrupt loss, like someone flipped the switch on the machine.  The rod restarted and ran fine until the next cutout.  The ground was fine.I was running Hobart 5/32 6011 on an AC225.  I bought them yesterday and opened the package minutes before use.  Occurred at both 135 and 150 amps.  I ran a few 1/8's afterwards that burned perfectly. Is this a rod issue?  Did I get a bad box?
Reply:Welcome to welding on AC. I've had good luck with Hobart's 335A 6011.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Use the 1/8".  City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Hmmm, that's odd.  I've never seen that before with such consistency.   Try those rods on a different machine if able and see what happens.  Or return the box and get a new one.  Maybe it's something that does happen on AC as cep mentioned. "Hey I didn't come to look and learn, I came to turn and burn.... If I can't light up, I'm gonna light out!"-JodyIdealarc 250 "Fatman"MM 252MM 211 "Little boy" Victor Torches
Reply:It's possible those 5/32-inch rods have been setting on the shelf long enough they have dried out. You may have to recondition them.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Does it happen with any other rod?
Reply:Originally Posted by SupeDoes it happen with any other rod?
Reply:same thing happens to me when I run 6010 on the maxstar 150. it runs 3/32 7018 fine but will not run 3/32" 6010 or 1/8th for that matter.curious to see what you find though our problems may be very differentbosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:If all I had was an AC only machine, I would stick with Hobart's 335A 6011. I ran these, and never lost the arc once. First one is over head. 2nd and 3rd vertical up hill open root. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Thanks for the input guys.Unfortunately I don't have access to another machine for a while.  I haven't had problems with any other rods before.  I've been running Lincoln Fleetweld 180's exclusively for the past couple months, all of which ran fine.  I'm thinking maybe I got a dried out box?  I bought them from the local Tractor Supply, and if I recall, they were the only box of 5/32 there. Is there a procedure for reconditioning cellulose rods, other than having the package open for a while?
Reply:Originally Posted by rtp8989Is there a procedure for reconditioning cellulose rods, other than having the package open for a while?
Reply:Just a thought, how many amp service is this machine running on? Also welding with AC you need to bump up your amps bout 15%Nothing Ever Got Done By Quitting, Never Give Up.
Reply:LOL luckily I'm not married and have a slop sink, so I'm golden. I will give it a try and run some this weekend to see if they improve.
Reply:Originally Posted by Doug247Just a thought, how many amp service is this machine running on? Also welding with AC you need to bump up your amps bout 15%
Reply:I just got bad box of 3/32 lincoln fleetweld 180.  Inconsistent  sputtering crap tha looked like sparklers.  I was pretty  surprised. The 180 's have always been consistently mediocre and never just plain ****. Must have been made the day after Cinco de mayo.I was going to check out my idealarc until I ran some different rods which ran fine.The 180's are still better than crap that all the lws idiots here are pushing.Last edited by kald; 02-19-2014 at 01:17 AM.Idealarc 250AC 225SVictor OA-older made in USA stuff.And a crap ton of other stuff.