Arc keeps going out help

[Thebeast]

Hi I am new to stick welding but I’m starting to practice it more but I have this problem where the arc goes out and comes straight back while welding like it’s not continuously one smooth connection throughout the full weld. (It goes out for a split second and goes back) it’s like a split second pause every couple of seconds
I’m using an old Clarke 210 amp stick welder. Just wondering if anyone could help me figure out what could be going wrong.

Many thanks

 

[Erie Fred]

What rod ?
What polarity ?

 

[Thebeast]

What rod ?
What polarity ?

Hi mate earth on the left and stinger on right, I’m using 6013 rods (they are dry) 2.5mm running at around 90 - 120 amp range happens on the lower end and the higher end aswell. I’m guessing it’s probably more of a technique problem or something

 

[Erie Fred]

what would you estimate your arc length or gap is ?

 

[carbon]

Would it be possible to get a picture of the data plate that's possibly on the back of the welder. I know someone who has a welder something like that and that really struggles to weld on 240v unless the current is really low

 

[Thebeast]

what would you estimate your arc length or gap is ?

I have tried pushing the rod right into the puddle and also pulling it back to create longer arc gap, iv tried speeding up and slowing down and a few different angles. I will try get a video tomorrow see if that is any help. Like I say iv never really done stick welding before so it might just be my technique. Just trying to learn along the way :-) il post that video up tomorrow if it allows me on here

 

[Thebeast]

Would it be possible to get a picture of the data plate that's possibly on the back of the welder. I know someone who has a welder something like that and that really struggles to weld on 240v unless the current is really low

Yeah il get a photo tomorrow, maybe I could do with a new inverter type to try iv heard it’s better on DC than AC

 

[Thebeast]

Also to mention is there any brand I should be looking for when it comes to getting electrodes? These ones weren’t to expensive only from local machine mart

 

[fzr phil]

90-120A sounds a bit high for 2.5mm, 75-90 may be nearer

 

[Thebeast]

90-120A sounds a bit high for 2.5mm, 75-90 may be nearer

Thanks il give this ago today see if that helps :-) thank you

 

[addjunkie]

Would it be possible to get a picture of the data plate that's possibly on the back of the welder. I know someone who has a welder something like that and that really struggles to weld on 240v unless the current is really low

My neighbour has a machine like that, hateful thing to use. A modern inverter set is far better, if you have a tool buying fetish like many here.

Are your rods damp?

 

[Wozzaaah]

My neighbour has a machine like that, hateful thing to use. A modern inverter set is far better, if you have a tool buying fetish like many here.

Are your rods damp?

I still have one and can concur.
My old 140a buzzbox was so much nicer to use but stepping up to even a cheap dc inverter one puts things on a whole new level.
@Thebeast , I’d seriously consider changing that machine.

 

[aesmith]

Also to mention is there any brand I should be looking for when it comes to getting electrodes? These ones weren’t to expensive only from local machine mart

Decent rods will help. If you want to to try a few you can get "Magmaweld ESR11" in small quantities from Ebay. As a rank beginner I find these miles better than SIP for example.

 

[zeppelin builder]

Also to mention is there any brand I should be looking for when it comes to getting electrodes? These ones weren’t to expensive only from local machine mart

get some Teflon Ones
non stick they say

 

[Erie Fred]

90-120A sounds a bit high for 2.5mm, 75-90 may be nearer

Turning the amperage down on a newbie that is just trying to keep an arc going sounds like the wrong idea IMHO.

 

[frank horton]

my two pence worth......
never used a modern inverter welder.......
vey happy with my copper wound 180amp Buzz box.....even gets used on a genny....
it's never missed a beat and often run until the thermal overload trips ...did put a bigger fan in years ago......
thinking it must be nearly 20 years old now, still works and bomb proof......
I norm use it around the farm in dusty wet conditions...
no idea how the inverter would do in such conditions and am guessing it wont be around in 20 years anyway...the electronics and or solder joints will have given up by then.....
just get a better rod....mine are Olekeron or similar....same price a machine mart etc....

 

[Shedendman]

my two pence worth......
never used a modern inverter welder.......
vey happy with my copper wound 180amp Buzz box.....even gets used on a genny....
it's never missed a beat and often run until the thermal overload trips ...did put a bigger fan in years ago......
thinking it must be nearly 20 years old now, still works and bomb proof......
I norm use it around the farm in dusty wet conditions...
no idea how the inverter would do in such conditions and am guessing it wont be around in 20 years anyway...the electronics and or solder joints will have given up by then.....
just get a better rod....mine are Olekeron or similar....same price a machine mart etc....

Ah,but your using greek leccy,english leccy is different

 

[Thebeast]

Hi managed to get a video hopefully this is some sort of help.

The arc just stops in the middle of welding. I don’t feel that the arc length is far away and i don’t feel like it’s too close either.

https://streamable.com/rekzaj

 

[Thebeast]

I am using 3.2mm 6013 electrodes here @ 110-120amp

 

[Erie Fred]

The video looks like you have 7018 rods.
They act like that on A.C.