DCEP And DCEN...

[Buggerlugs]

This is the first time I've ever run DCEN with any welding rods. I was using SIP 6013s from Toolstation, 2mm rods at around 50 amps.

The top 4 rows are DCEP and the bottom 3 are DCEN. I'm still trying to perfect a steady hand with the smaller rods.

 

[chrismac]

What was your reason for changing polarity? we used to change for certain procedures, apologies if you already know, it changes the heat input, I was told approx. elecrode + 2/3rds heat in the parent metal, 1/3rd in the rod, electrode - 1/3rd heat in the parent metal 2/3 in the rod, hence its good for rooting and thin material. I never like how it ran in electrode - though, sounded rough.

Did you like it?

For a steady hand, 7018s and just rest them on the plate.

 

[BrokenBiker]

i used to use DCEN for thinner stuff, 2mm and below...DCEP is the norm for me now though, but them if ive got the stick welder out either something has gone tragically wrong, or im looking at 8mm+ and it needs to be strong so a root with a 2.5 then however many passes it needs with 3.2's.

 

[Erie Fred]

This is the first time I've ever run DCEN with any welding rods. I was using SIP 6013s from Toolstation, 2mm rods at around 50 amps.

The top 4 rows are DCEP and the bottom 3 are DCEN. I'm still trying to perfect a steady hand with the smaller rods. View attachment 540778

It looks to me at least, that the rod is running at the low end of the range.
If you would turn the amperage up some, then you might start to see the differences
in polarity, more pronounced.

 

[Buggerlugs]

What was your reason for changing polarity? we used to change for certain procedures, apologies if you already know, it changes the heat input, I was told approx. elecrode + 2/3rds heat in the parent metal, 1/3rd in the rod, electrode - 1/3rd heat in the parent metal 2/3 in the rod, hence its good for rooting and thin material. I never like how it ran in electrode - though, sounded rough.

Did you like it?

For a steady hand, 7018s and just rest them on the plate.

I've seen YouTube videos for the last few months going on about DCEP versus DCEN, so I thought I'd give it a try.

I know DCEP is supposed to penetrate slightly more with 6013, but I fancied a change.

I also wanted to see if there was any difference in the arc visually or audibly. Some videos say there is. I can't say for definite that there is, with just 3 short beads.

 

[Buggerlugs]

i used to use DCEN for thinner stuff, 2mm and below...DCEP is the norm for me now though, but them if ive got the stick welder out either something has gone tragically wrong, or im looking at 8mm+ and it needs to be strong so a root with a 2.5 then however many passes it needs with 3.2's.

I'm lucky enough to have a selection on 6013 rods from 1.6mm, up to 4mm (all the usual sizes). I've got some 3.2mm 7018s too, just under 1kg worth. I've even got a couple 6010s.

 

[Buggerlugs]

It looks to me at least, that the rod is running at the low end of the range.
If you would turn the amperage up some, then you might start to see the differences
in polarity, more pronounced.

Yes, I had turned it down to the minimum range of that rod, as I was experimenting with it. It also reduced the spatter slightly, as compared to 70 Amps.

I've got some larger rods to try. I think the difference should even more noticeable.

 

[Turbo]

You need to check the rod specs, some are ac only, some dcen, some dcep and some are a combination of these.

 

[Buggerlugs]

You need to check the rod specs, some are ac only, some dcen, some dcep and some are a combination of these.

Hence the reason I was using 6013s.

 

[Bornfree]

I regularly swop between EP and EN normally 50 times a second.

 

[addjunkie]

Yes, I had turned it down to the minimum range of that rod, as I was experimenting with it. It also reduced the spatter slightly, as compared to 70 Amps.

I've got some larger rods to try. I think the difference should even more noticeable.

I would suggest you stick with 6013 a bit of steel and concentrate on technique, building a pad of multiple runs till your welds are consistent and straight, with slag peeling off nicely, before you start experimenting.

3.2s a bit of 6mm plate 150 mm square, and increase its thickness with weld to about an 25mm, you should be somewhere near.

 

[Buggerlugs]

I regularly swop between EP and EN normally 50 times a second.

Sixty times a second across the 'pond'.

 

[Buggerlugs]

I would suggest you stick with 6013 a bit of steel and concentrate on technique, building a pad of multiple runs till your welds are consistent and straight, with slag peeling off nicely, before you start experimenting.

3.2s a bit of 6mm plate 150 mm square, and increase its thickness with weld to about an 25mm, you should be somewhere near.

I've ran a load of 3.2mm 6013s recently, as it's my favourite size of rod. I usually just chuck the metal after a few rows, built on top of each other. I mark the piece of steel with sharpened welder's chalk, in straight parallel lines.

 

[premmington]

I regularly swop between EP and EN normally 50 times a second.

I not got an AC MMA welder left here...

They all DC - no problem till someone gives you a bit of steel water been running over for years - the arc blow was unreal... (how flowing water does this - magnetizes metal I don't know - but it does).

 

[Bornfree]

I not got an AC MMA welder left here...

They all DC - no problem till someone gives you a bit of steel water been running over for years - the arc blow was unreal... (how flowing water does this - magnetizes metal I don't know - but it does).

I find the inside corners on rsj's and channels are bad for it. The old oil cooled cytringan comes out for those.

 

[Buggerlugs]

I find the inside corners on rsj's and channels are bad for it. The old oil cooled cytringan comes out for those.

Perhaps another reason to have an old buzz box in the inventory? Do I need to get the wallet out again?

 

[SipMerlin150]

I not got an AC MMA welder left here...

They all DC - no problem till someone gives you a bit of steel water been running over for years - the arc blow was unreal... (how flowing water does this - magnetizes metal I don't know - but it does).

My electrical guess is as the water vaporizes, you get a steam which is inundated with carbon dioxide from the flux coating and metal vapor being mixed with the steam, its electrically conductive so the arc will typically use this to travel to ground in other places than where you wanted it to go. DC current typically is prone to arc blow due to its continuous directional electron flow.

 

[aesmith]

Hence the reason I was using 6013s.

My small branded selection all specify AC or DCEN. That's two sorts of Bohler, plus Oerlikon Overcord, and Magmaweld ESR11.