Stickmate235AC/160DC

[TxBoy]

From a welding neophyte,
Can anyone tell me what the advantages/disadvantages of the stickmate 235AC and 235AC/160DC. I understand one is direct current. There has got to be more to it, Thanks to everyone who replies!

[cope]

Re: Stickmate235AC/160DC

Originally posted by TxBoy
From a welding neophyte,
Can anyone tell me what the advantages/disadvantages of the stickmate 235AC and 235AC/160DC. I understand one is direct current. There has got to be more to it, Thanks to everyone who replies!

That's the difference in a nutshell: one is AC only, and the other AC/DC. With AC you can run any rod you want except 6010. The 6011 is the AC replacement for the 6010, so NBD on that issue, although the 2 rods weld differently. With AC/DC, you have the ability to run DC both straight and reverse polarity. DCEP is reverse, and DCEN is straight. Reverse gives deeper penetration. The next paragraph is from someone else's post at the Chaski Forum:

DCEN besides having less penetration (arc is less forceful) it also adds metal from the electrode faster to the work than dcep. Dcep gives more penetration (arc is forceful) because electrons flow from neg to pos so if the work is neg the electrons will flow from the work to the electrode and less metal from the electrode will be added to the work.

[Hobart Expert Rock]

TXBOY...........WELCOME ABOARD......... I THINK COPE PRETTY MUCH EXPLAINED IT .......... VERY GOOD COPE AH EVEN QUOTEING AREN'T WE......... HAHAHA......... WHO SAID WERE TO OLD TO LEARN..... ...................................TXBOY I'M (WE'RE) ALWAYS CURIOUS HOW DID YOU FIND THIS SITE............ QUESTIONS WE TRY TO ANSWER HERE..........BUT THE FINAL DECISION ON WHAT YOU BUY IS YOUR DECISION..........WE ALL HAVE OPINIONS ON WHICH ONE IS BEST........... BUT IN THE END IT IS YOUR HARD EARNED CASH AND YOUR CALL............. SO THIS WILL HELP IT BECOME AN INFORMED DECISION ON YOUR PART........... STICKMATE WERE YOU LOOKING AT ONE AT TSC, SEARS, OR A DISTRIBUTOR................ THE AC/DC WILL ALLOW YOU TO DO MORE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WELDING UTILIZEING DIFFERENT ROD CHARACTERISTICS.................ENJOY THE SITE.............ROCK......
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[cope]

ROCK, we truly are never too old to learn. I started welding with AC and never understood the reason for DCEN until I read that post. When I started looking at TIG, I found out why you need DCEN to protect the torch, but that was all.

[TxBoy]

Rock

Rock,

I'm an owner of a 175 Handler. I mainly use it for hobby, farm/ranch. I was considering perhaps a stickmate, but have heard mixed reviews about both stickmates. It would be great if you would discuss which you would preferring barring you had the proper funds.

[Sberry]

Absolutely the AC/DC No comparison.

[Hobart Expert Rock]

I AGREE AC/DC ALLOWS MORE TYPES OF WELDING...... HOWEVER IF YOU ONLY HAVE ENOUGH TO BUY THE AC YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO SOME TYPES OF STICK WELDING............... IT IS YOUR CALL AND YOUR HARD EARNED CASH...........................ROCK........ [email protected]