160sth & 6010

[stretch]

Hey guys,,,Gota question....Can running 6010 electrodes damage your tig function....My arc use to real nice..have been playing with 6010's & all the sudden my arc wanders bad now & eats up tungsten...Any thoughts????

[Rambozo]

Did you remember to swap your leads back to DCEN?

[geezer]

I think Rambozo has hit the polarity thing right on...as far as using 6010 on that welder,,I would suggest using 6011 instead...Why ..cause there are two kinds of voltages involved in these small welders =<200 amps,,,there are low voltage rods and high voltage rods,,,,a low voltage rod would be something less than 24 volts at optimum lay down a high voltage rod would be some where near 26 - 27 volts at optimum lay down for it's rod dia. Low voltage rods would be 6013, 6011, 7014 & 3/32 7018....high voltage rods would be...6010 & 1/8 7018.....If you have a PA 200 the extra ground eliminates the problem and you can burn 6010 and 1/8 7018 no problem.....I have stick capability on my Imig 205's but I don't try and use 6010 0r 1/8 7018 on them,,,3/32 7018 is okay...

The above information can be verified as to optimum voltage through the Hobart rod spec data sheets...at least that's my take on the issue..

[stretch]

Yep RAM..first thing I did....Looked to see if i was backwards...straight pol for tig..(work clamp in pos port)..An Geezer..Thanks for the explanation...I've been looking into that to no avail.(I finally got it).....Now in no way am I being argumentative..But I predominantly run 1/8 7018 on this machine(105-120) and they look real good.(or am I just thinking they look good?)lol...Also run 3/32 6011-7018 (65-85).. Do you have or are there pics here to compare???...AGAIN ..Thanks for your time & help...Most appreciated..stretch..

[everlastsupport]

Stick with what Geezer said and you should be fine on the rod type. Basically avoid 6010 if you can. We like 6011 and 7018 here, work fine. Our 250 will run the 6010 quite well, but we have a little more power. Little sticky but they run. Nice to have TIG, but it stick is the main gold, a PA200 would do most anything from 220vac.

[performance]

In a way running 6010 could damage the machine, or rather the accessories when trying to weld TIG. A wandering arc is a sign of a bad work clamp connection. Running 6010 where it sticks or causes the work clamp to heat up could cause issues with the work clamp connections. Also in TIG you need to be "grounding" directly to whatever you are welding.

[stretch]

Thanks for the info guys....If I knew then what I "think" I know know..I would have bought what I really wanted.. PA300 ,for the adjustable hot start & dig function....i had no clue you can get a gas valve torch..go dcen & run a tig torch...Combo pipe is what I'm aiming at....But..My little machine taught me how to stick weld....So it'll always have a place in my toy box...