Amp question

[10fold]

What is the rule of thumb to decide what amperage to use when welding?

[chip hayden]

shielded metal arc[stick] is: maximum amps is about the decimal equivalent of the rod. 1/8 is about 125 amps max, 5/32 is about 156 amps max and so on. operating amps is usually 10-30 amps below that number.

[Ed Heimbach]

Chip, I learned something today, thankyou. In all my experience, I have never heard of the amp/ inch decimal equivilence relationship.
Though it's to late to help me, I can use this rule to help coach others.
Thanks for giving an old dog some new tricks. Ed.

[steelhanger]

Ed , where exactly in eastern PA are you? I'm in Bangor, and work in NYC and metro NJ.

[chip hayden]

Ed, you are more than welcome. are you familiar with the "congressional rule of polarity"?
Sen=straight electrode negative. ya know,
like our"illustrious" Senator Ted Kennedy[haha]?
Rep=reverse electrode positive. chip.

[Ed Heimbach]

Senators and Representitives, I remember that one.
Did you know why electrode positive is called 'reverse'?
Back in the beginning of arc welding, electrodes wern't covered with anything, just bare rods.(A weldor had to be really skilled back then),the bare wire ran best on straight or normal polarity( DCEN).
Obviously, the opposite of normal polarity was called reverse.
Now that we have DC wire that runs better on reverse than staight, the old terminology only serves to confuse those new to the trade.
This bit of info I got from a 'History of Welding' pamphlet that Hobart Brothers Co.(the old company, before miller bought them), published back around 1970.

[Hobart Expert Rock]

HI EDWARD........... SORRY BUT HOBARTS WAS NOT PURCHASED MY MILLER..... ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS OWNS BOTH COMPANY'S ALONG WITH SMIOTH/OXO/MCKAY/WELDCRAFT/COREX/ ETC..... YOU GET THE IDEA THEY ARE A HUGH CONGLOMERATE....... NOT BEING CRITICAL JUST PASSING OUT INFORMATION....... ADDING TO YOUR BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE SO TO SPEAK.................ROCK
[email protected]

[Ed Heimbach]

Thanks, Rock, I learn something new each day,(or at least I hope to). BTW ,is that pamphlet still available? or has it gone out of print, I haven't seen one in 25 years.

[Hobart Expert Rock]

YES ED.......... I THINK IT IS STILL AVAILABLE...... IF YOU DO THE SEARCH AT THE HOBART INSTITUTE OF WELDING TECHNOLOGY THEY CAN STILL BE PURCHASED.......... I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS BUT AS I RECALL THEY ARE STILL AVAILABLE... PLEASE DON'T QUOTE ME THOUGH AS BEING AVAILABLE....... AFTER 2 YEARS YOU KNOW HOW THINGS CHANGE....... HAVE SOME FUN WITH IT...............LOOK AROUND AND ENJOY YOURSELF...... ROCK............ [email protected]