Clean an electrode holder?

[posixPilot]

I guess I've sinned by running some of my rods down to a stub, since I looked at the contact on my electrode holder last night and all I can see is soot. I have the screw-type, snub nose electrode holder that came with my PowerPro 256. I had problems starting an arc, so that's when I noticed how dirty it was.

I took the handle off of the electrode holder last night, and found that the head appears to be one piece of molded plastic. Any tips on how to get the contact clean again?

Thanks
Mike

[DaveO]

sinned by running some of my rods down to a stub

Not at all, that just means you've had a good day. Would acetone on a q-tip take the soot off?

[performance]

I guess I've sinned by running some of my rods down to a stub, since I looked at the contact on my electrode holder last night and all I can see is soot. I have the screw-type, snub nose electrode holder that came with my PowerPro 256. I had problems starting an arc, so that's when I noticed how dirty it was.

I took the handle off of the electrode holder last night, and found that the head appears to be one piece of molded plastic. Any tips on how to get the contact clean again?

Thanks


Mike

This is not to sound flippant, but replace the holder with a good lenco tong type 200 amp holder for about 15.00. You'll be much further ahead...and whole lot less aggravation.

[jerky]

also if your having problems with starting an arc, maybe turn your arc force up a tad.

[posixPilot]

Not at all, that just means you've had a good day. Would acetone on a q-tip take the soot off?

Agreed . I wasn't too keen on the solvent approach, as I know how most solvents like to eat plastic. I might test it on the handle to see what happens.

This is not to sound flippant, but replace the holder with a good lenco tong type 200 amp holder for about 15.00.

No, I think that's fair ... I stick a lot of rods, and the clamp release would probably be worth $15 alone.

also if your having problems with starting an arc, maybe turn your arc force up a tad.

I think this was definitely a contact issue, since I barely even got a spark until I reseated the rod.

Thanks
Mike

[welderdude]

Try tightening it until you can just barley move the rod in and out. Work it back and forth and see if things gets better. If not, something more abrasive will be needed.

[Cippee]

Some people like the screw type but I find them annoying. Also if you stick the rod you can release it easy by just squeezing the handle. With the screw you can do that.

[todmorg]

Tongs are much handier, you can also grab the rod at angles other than 90 degree

[DaveO]

I wasn't too keen on the solvent approach, as I know how most solvents like to eat plastic.

I just tried some acetone on a paper towel to see if the Everlast electrode holder would melt- both the handle and the head held up just fine. The acetone took surface dirt off with some rubbing.

[67cudafb]

Can you stick small rat tailed file in and clean it that way?

[bobwills]

I dont see how you aint getting good connection in there. As long as its seated under the prong thing in there its always held the rod good and got a good connection.

[posixPilot]

Try tightening it until you can just barley move the rod in and out. Work it back and forth and see if things gets better. If not, something more abrasive will be needed.

I tried scraping at it a bit with the end of a rod, and I could see that I wasn't making any progress.

Some people like the screw type but I find them annoying.

Tongs are much handier, you can also grab the rod at angles other than 90 degree

I think I'm going to fall into the "annoyed" category ... the next time I need to order some stuff on-line, you can bet a clamp style holder will be in my shopping basket.

I just tried some acetone on a paper towel to see if the Everlast electrode holder would melt- both the handle and the head held up just fine.

Can you stick small rat tailed file in and clean it that way?

If the acetone doesn't work, then I'll probably pick up a small file and give it a try. I might see if I can find a good dremel bit that won't gouge the electrode (like a thin grinding bit).

Thanks for the ideas guys.
Mike

[posixPilot]

I dont see how you aint getting good connection in there.

Well, the "V" shaped piece of brass that holds the bottom of the electrode is covered in brown/black soot, as is the prong that holds it down. Some times I get a good connection, and arc start, but other times I have to stop and reposition the electrode rod. Once I found that I had put the rod too far into the holder, so I was clamping down on the flux, but that was not always the case.

Cheers
Mike

[Cippee]

All these reasons are why screw ones suck. You can get a clamp one at almost ever hardware store even harbor freight has a decent one. When they get sooty you just open them up and use a small wire brush to clean them. It drove me craze trying to hold to rod in position with one hand and screw it tight with the other. I did what posixPilot did I would clamp it down on the flux all the time. If you clamp it down to far the flux it can prevent electrical contact sometimes.

[bobwills]

Wonder If it happened from like sticking a rod and it arcing when pulling it out. That might create a little sooty layer. Id just take a real small file to it.

[Cippee]

Yeah it does arc when you pull the stinger off the stuck rod. I try to pull it off as fast as I can but even though it still arcs for a split sec.

[bobwills]

It will arc a bit even with the tong type. What im guessing is its because the twist kind has much smaller surface area it looks that the little area becomes covered with soot much quicker. And when pulling it off it arcs more at the smaller spot.

[posixPilot]

Wonder If it happened from like sticking a rod and it arcing when pulling it out.

Oh yeah, I've done a good bit of that ... actually those 1/16" rods would seem it stick pretty easily. Of course,
when you swing them from side to side, they would just flex instead of breaking loose (breaking off the flux in the process).

Cheers
Mike

[Cippee]

Yeah the little 1/16th rods took me a while to get used to. I could help laughing the first time I used them. They are so thin it is ridiculous. Anywhere you would use the 1/16th you could just use a mig just as easy though.