right electrode for 50 amp ac buzz box

By Travo65 Date 09-02-2005 00:15

at my grandpas house i found an old ac stick welder. just wonderin what electrodes i need to get for it to work. the smallest rod i have had experience with is a 7018 3/32. and as far as i can remember i ran that about 80 amps min.

By 357max

Date 09-02-2005 13:40

Measure the Open Circuit Voltage. If it is less than 60 volts, use low open circuit voltage electrodes. These may be called AC (ie, 7018AC)electrodes. Welding suppliers have a variety of 6011, 6013 and 7018 that are low ocv electrodes. If this is a tapped output machine, the low tap should give the highest open circuit voltage. Check out each setting for the highest voltage combination.

By Travo65 Date 09-02-2005 15:03

on the machine it says the output is 50amps at 25 arc volts

By 357max

Date 09-02-2005 18:25

Get an AC voltmeter from someplace like Radio Shack for $10 or less. Turn machine on and don't strike an arc. Measure the voltage across the electrode lead connection and the work connection. The machine may have on the work side, three taps, High, Medium and Low. Then the electrode side will have variable amperage taps. Measure each work side tap across to the electrode side.