Trouble starting an arc

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Can someone give me some insight. I have an old craftsman box arc welder hooked to a 6500 watt generator. I had to fabricate the brass inserts on wire because I had a hard time finding any. Anyway im having trouble starting a weld I've tried a bunch of different sticks 6011 I had the best luck with. But I'm not too familiar in this feild. Would the length of the lead cause this. I have about 5 ft on the ground side but about15 on the stick side. Either way does anyone have any insight?
Reply:Buy a new machine if you are trying to run it from that genset.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:Yep - the generator is not big enough to run the transformer welder. You strike an arc & the gen-set boggs down extinguishing the arc.
Reply:Try using E6013 or E7014 both will start easily.On some welding machine you use the low plug and get a higher OCV too.Dave

Originally Posted by Richb2572

Can someone give me some insight. I have an old craftsman box arc welder hooked to a 6500 watt generator. I had to fabricate the brass inserts on wire because I had a hard time finding any. Anyway im having trouble starting a weld I've tried a bunch of different sticks 6011 I had the best luck with. But I'm not too familiar in this feild. Would the length of the lead cause this. I have about 5 ft on the ground side but about15 on the stick side. Either way does anyone have any insight?
Reply:im not sure about the generator run the welder but i suggest using a small diameter 6011 or 6013 MIGHT help some.   ALSO it could be the way you are striking the arc.  try striking the arc like you strike a match.  just a suggestion to try before you have to buy new welder.someone on here or on other threads can suggest a inexpensive welder that will run off your generator.  try telling all the parameters trying to weld with your setup.  rod size, settings and such.most of those old craftsman welders were made by lincoln electric and good ac welders.lincoln 125spdayton 250 ac/dcmiller 211 w/spool gunahp  200 sx tiglotos ltp5000dkubota b3200 FEL BHof course duramax diesel
Reply:6011 is the lowest current rod. Its one of the reasons its so widely used on sheet metal.Last edited by Sberry; 4 Weeks Ago at 09:55 AM.www.urkafarms.com