Do I really want a DC welder?

[gary350]

It has been 26 years since I welded with a DC welder. Last thing I welded was, I spent 2 weeks welding HRS plate together to build a 100 ton hydraulic press. They still have the 100 ton press and that old 300 amp bullet AC DC dynamotor generator welder where I use to work. I seem to remember it welded great. I just can't remember what the advantages of a DC is over AC???

Will DC weld thinner metal than AC with out melting a hole in the metal?

Start easier?

Less sticking?

I have been welding .062" mild steel with 3/32" 7014 rods with my 34 year old 225 amp Lincoln Welder. These rods almost weld themself. I don't do much welding at home.

[bob308]

dc is much better smother, less spatter, you can weld stainless with it. a lot of wires are dc only . you can switch polarity.

if you like sparks in your ears and your shoes. crappy looking welds then ac is for you.

[J Tiers]

Oddly, the ONE time I used an AC welder, at class, it was one of the best looking welds I made, it went on like buttering bread, and spattered a heck of a lot less than some of the 60XX DC rods.

Penetration was a little less, but still penetrated reasonably on a butted "T", with 1/8 rod using a big Miller machine.

Some of the thin-coated 60XX rods EDIT: using DC.....spattered horribly, with trailers and spatters in all directions, looked like "willy pete". Stuff was even getting under the helmet and bouncing off the safety glasses.

[Cheeseking]

Guess it depends on if you plan to weld aluminum.

[tsmartin_98]

I've used AC almost exclusively for close to 30 years. Contrary to what Bob said, I've forgotten how much stainless I've welded with it and 7018AC makes a good looking solid weld without a lot of fireworks.
TS

[radkins]

AC welds stainless just fine and believe it or not it will weld really thin material with less likelihood of burn-through than will DC, the option to switch to AC on most DC machines is there for a reason. Not saying AC is better, for 99% of steel welding DC is the best choice, but AC is not that much of a problem compared to DC and with some mild steel rods it really does weld quite well.