ac welder question

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I am familiar with ac stick welders and ac-dc stick welders.I also have seen the new small inverter dc type stick welders.I gave a guy some 6010 rod because he had a ac-dc tombstone at home and wanted to try it.I told him I couldn't use it on my ac machine.This other guy hears us and tells me I can use it just change my ground and electrode holder opposite of what they are now.If thats the case why wouldn't stickmates and tombstones and the millers just have it so you switch the leads in the front?Didn't sound right to me.There has to be more to making a machine dc than that.Last edited by stevinator; 03-11-2008 at 11:15 PM.pro-level dumpster diver                                     Hobart 125EZ
Reply:6010 rods are made for DC Electrode positive (DC+, DCEP)...  I'm hoping the guy misunderstood you, because switching the leads around on an A/C only machine does nothing since the polarity is constantly switching anyway. On a DC machine there is either a switch to change the polarity, or you manually switch the leads since some rods run on DC+ and some rods run on DC-.But again, he must have misunderstood you. Switching your leads around wont do squat on an A/C machine. Its only used to change the polarity on a DC machine.Last edited by CaptainWilly; 03-11-2008 at 11:46 PM.I like to party!
Reply:You are right.  AC (Alternating Current) here runs at 60herts which means the current switches back and forth from negative to positive 60 cycles a second.  Swapping leads will not make DC current.  If you switch the leads on a DC machine you can change POLARITY, but not current.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:This other guy hears us and tells me I can use it just change my ground and electrode holder opposite of what they are now.If thats the case why wouldn't stickmates and tombstones and the millers just have it so you switch the leads in the front?Didn't sound right to me.There has to be more to making a machine dc than that.