stick / arc welder questions

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beaufort-fj60

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I got a free el'cheapo arc welder today. got a few questions.

it's a 70 amp / 115 mastercraft stick welder (campbell hausfeld rebadge)

1.) can you weld aluminum with this thing?

2.) there are no buttons on this thing except and on/off switch. do you just turn it on and weld... or do you turn it on and then press the knob on the stick holder and then you can weld?

3.) if I read the directions pamphlet right.. if it's 20% duty cycle.. you can weld to 2 minutes and then you have to wait 8 minutes for it cool down then you can weld for another 2 minutes, then wait 8 minutes......
IMG_0998.webp
 
Yes

yes

no/yes



:flipoff2:
 
Okay, Welding AL with that would be a serious PITA. Not saying it couldn't be done, but man, it would suck.

Is there another knob on the holder that we don't see?? I am betting turn it on and away you go.

Duty cycles are misleading. try it and find out.
 
thanks mace, i knew I could count on an answer from you.

the only switches are on/off, and a low/high. the low high is for a 15a/20a circuit or 1/16" / 5/64" sticks.


yeah it's turn on a go. the only thing on the stick holder is a button that looks like it opens up the stick holders inside the handle.
 
The button is a lever that opens the jaws of the eletrode holder.

Any welder is better than nothing but that one is gonna be really limited..
 
Buy a 10 pack of 6013 sticks and try it on some scrap steel. 6013, AKA "the Farmer's Rod" is about the easiest starting and welding stick you can buy and is designed to be used with welders like that and can give a surprisingly good result.

I think it would be a waste of money to try to use it in aluminum.
 
honk said:
Buy a 10 pack of 6013 sticks and try it on some scrap steel. 6013, AKA "the Farmer's Rod" is about the easiest starting and welding stick you can buy and is designed to be used with welders like that and can give a surprisingly good result.

I think it would be a waste of money to try to use it in aluminum.
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7014 as well (although I am not sure about the AC only part of that mix)

agreed on the AL part..
 
i picked up an lincoln electric auto darkening helmet from lowes yesterday. its model kh605. the directions say: "standard polycarbonate clear protective plates must be installed on both the inside and outside surfaces of the solar moduale"

wtf is it talking about, i thought the helmet was ready to go?
 
lol

Now you know ;)
 
beaufort-fj60 said:
it's a 70 amp / 115 mastercraft stick welder (campbell hausfeld rebadge)

1.) can you weld aluminum with this thing?

......
Click to expand...

no.

to stick AL you need a DC machine.
i really doubt your 110v machine is an ac/dc welder.
for 3/32 al rods you need 50-90 amps, your old 70amp machine probably is going to be way cold for anything but soda cans.

stick welding AL is a pain in the ass under the very best conditions.
i've done it once myself, just say i've done it. i have had to fix other peoples attemps at aluminum repairs after thay took the stick to it. which is an even bigger pain in teh ass.
 
Sort of..

You can use a Scratch start tig torch with a stick welder on AC mode. But with that welder you are basically wasting your time.
 
Mace said:
Sort of..

You can use a Scratch start tig torch with a stick welder on AC mode. But with that welder you are basically wasting your time.
Click to expand...

yeah, without a pulser or the constant high freq, that will be a BIG waste of time.
 
I grew up welding with sticks, Bought a Lincoln wire feed, love it you can plug it into any 110v recept.
Still use the stick for the heavy stuff.

Anyone used Messer's 80T ac rod?
Just bought some, it's supposed to be the hot ticket.

Can't wait to get started on my bumper build.
 
beaufort-fj60 said:
had some fun with this thing. burnt some holes through 25ga sheet, and slowly got the thing to arc on the base of a wheelbarrow
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Just keep you're index fingers away from the hot stuff.
I keep shrinking the leather on my gloves and can't get my fingers back inside.
By the way Beaufort, dont change you're avi, it's perfect.
 
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