I wanted to thank everyone for the replies. I have a used K1297 Lincoln Electric AC/DC 225/125 hooked up but have been having trouble dialing it in, or something? I have some 1/8' 6010 and 3/32' 7018 but can't seem to run it properly on my 3/8' scrap pieces. I don't have DIG function or anything like that, only a stepped transformer. I replaced the welding leads, ground clamp and stinger so that part is solid. I also took it all apart and cleaned and lubed the controls with dialectic grease. It seems the machine works fine, but for me it's too hot or too cold, so I'm sure the problem is me
Pls, what setting should I be on? I don't have a lot of choice here .... What it seems like to me is either it's too cold and constantly sticks at the beginning and fudges everything up, or it's burning so hot it's melting and warping everything and smoking my electrodes before I am able to completely use them. I'm not working with a whole shop, but I did grind the rust off the metal all around where I was welding. The 7018 runs better than the 6010, smaller rod on the same amperage. Neither of them is running well, tho. My pieces are all warped from excessive heat, but lowering the heat doesn't want to work. I wish I had a new machine to compare it to, but I don't.
The DC settings are 30, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 90, 95, 105, 115, 125A
DCEP @ 105A seems to work best, but it is too HOT. I wanted to use 95A but it sticks like crazy and the whole table jerks off the floor, when I try to break the rod loose. My little welding table is a brazed 1/2" EMT piece of crap. I tried to work on it with some little 1/16 7014 rods from HF and was blowing holes all over the place even with the low settings on the tombstone. I finally had to give up on that and just trying to practice my welding on some scrap I have balanced on top of the rickety workbench that's a bit rusty.
Yeah, my 7018's have sucked in humidity, but this is only practice work. I went out and bought some 1/8" 6011's and 3/32" 7018 from HD with the intention of running them on DCEP but I would prefer to just use what I already have for practicing for an eventual structural weld test. I did not have all these problems in school, but the machine was modern and also had a DIG function. I don't even know if a tight arc is possible on this AC/DC 225/125 and I only feel like I have lost any ability to weld at all.
I want to see Jody welding with this machine on DC and show what can be achieved with E6010 and what setting he would use. The 6011's are a cheat. I don't want to cheat myself, won't be tested on those rods, either.
I want an Everlast Machine which will work awesomely, but I have no money.
Maybe next year and with the plasma cutter, too. Once they have it all working correctly in a single machine.
thanks for the replies guys ....
