Arc Stick Welders - Advice:
Lincoln ARC welders make a valuable possession in any welders' arsenal, if you are thinking of acquiring one but are not sure which, we will provide some information that will hopefully aid you in your search. ARC welding has been around for a long time and is regarded as the simplest form of welding. The consumables which the process uses - such as electrodes - are usually quite cheap, Lincoln offers some of the best.
Click here for our range of ARC welders. |
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Lincoln ARC welders and welding consumables make great tools both in the workshop and anywhere that requires a lot of welding outside. With some other processes such as TIG and MIG, this isn't always possible as the volatile atmosphere blows away the gasses that are purposely put in place in order to stop contamination on the weld. Using the flux coated electrode, shielding from these scavengers and oxidants takes place as you begin to weld, though, this does have some disadvantages, like having to remove slag. There are many great ARC welders out there to choose from.
There are other ARC welders available for the job, but for reliability, longevity and a product that has been designed specifically for the welder, we would strongly suggest that you invest in a Lincoln. We guarantee a quality welder.
Arc Welding - Information:
Arc welding is the first process to be used in welding, it consists of a filling rod that is covered with flux. An Arc is made between this and the particular area to be welded, when this occurs, both the rod and flux melt. The flux releases a gas in order to prevent the possible oxidisation of the welded area. The melted substance then solidifies and creates slag deposits around this point directly after welding so as to prevent any oxidation during drying. When all required welding is finished, the excess slag is chipped off.
Arc Welding is a very versatile method as it can be used to achieve a high standard with the most basic welding equipment available today. It can be undertaken in most conditions and used to weld most metals.
Arc Electrode Types:
There are a few different types of electrode coating that can be used during Arc Welding, these are:
| Rutile Flux |
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Rutile Fluxes are the most popular electrodes, they are simple to work with and provide the welder with a strong and clean end result. |
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| Basic Flux |
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Otherwise known as the "Low Hydrogen" Electrode, these particular types of coat are generally used for applications that have joints with greater strength and materials that have a thickness of more than 10mm. These particular types of rod are slightly more awkward to use as well as not being able to provide the same quality end product when compared to the more popular rutile coated rods. These rods are best used in the hands of a more experienced welder. |
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| Cellulosic Flux |
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Allowing for deeper penetration of the weld area and a much faster burn rate, this coating is commonly used for the higher skilled and experienced welding of plates and piping. |
The overall current of an Arc is dependant on the type of electrode that is used, the application and also the material that is to be welded. As a general rule, allow for 35 amps of current each millimetre of Welding diameter, with allowances of up to 15% depending on the application.
Arc Welding Equipment Types:
There are three different kinds of Arc Welding Power Source, they are:
| Arc Welding Transformer with moving shunt power adjustment |
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Regarded as the best for value and rely on two sections of a transformer together in order to adjust the power. Although these sources are cheaper, the welding Arc can often be difficult to begin with and is also known to spatter occasionally. |
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| Arc Welding Transformer with potentiometer power adjustment |
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Compared to the previous Arc welding power source, the DC output provides a much smoother welding Arc overall. However, this type of power source has been gradually replaced with a more modern type of Arc welding power source, known as Inverters. |
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| Arc Welding Inverter |
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This type of source has similar power adjustment to machinery with a potentiometer, as well as providing a DC output that allows for more simplified Arc striking and a better overall end result. Inverters often have other special features like "Anti Stick" that reduces the possibility of the electrode coating becoming stuck to the application material. These machines are much lighter in weight and have a greater life-span that often outlasts the majority of other Arc welding power sources. |
