Inverter welding: which electrodes are best for beginners - Setafi

Most beginners in the field of welding do not understand: which electrodes are better to put on the inverter so that nothing happens. As a result, they take any in the store that the consultant advises and work at home. You will hardly find photos and videos of such a disappointing experience.

The purpose of our article is to tell you which electrodes beginners should choose for inverter welding and what is the peculiarity of each of the options. The information will also be useful for professionals - they will increase the amount of knowledge in order to know which electrodes should be chosen for inverter welding. Let's start studying!

Parameters of electrodes for inverter welding: where to look to choose the right product

To choose the best of the electrodes for your welding machine, you should take into account the features of the welding material itself. Let's dwell on the main factors that every experienced and professional welder considers.

What is the purpose of the electrodes for the inverter

The purposes of using consumables are different. From this, all electrodes are divided into several categories. This separation is due to the characteristics of the metal that you are going to join, and the technical characteristics of the product. The purpose of all products can be viewed in the category of the State Standard 9466-75. Below we have described several groups:

1. Welding low carbon steel.
2. Welding metal of high thermal capacity.
3. Welding of steels with additional properties.
4. Surfacing layers under an electric arc.
5. Work on cast iron products.
6. Welding of copper and derivative alloys.

We conclude: the best electrodes for inverter welding are selected, first of all, according to their intended purpose. This will help you avoid mistakes in the future. For example, in order not to weld stainless steel with electrodes for high-carbon metals or copper. The seam will quickly rust and become unusable, although it should last longer than the metal base itself.

Look at consumable equipment based on the type of metal element and its characteristics. After that, the type of the best electrode for welding is already selected.

What type of electrodes is better to use in inverter welding

As you already understood, there are several varieties of covering the consumable item for the inverter. The most popular are basic and rutile. Each of them has striking differences and is used in a specific situation. Let's figure out what the essence is in more detail.

Main

Basic coated electrodes have a number of positive qualities. Firstly, they provide an even and high-quality seam. Secondly, the place of welding is resistant to intergranular corrosion and variable loads.

The main coating allows the base material to work at low temperatures. But in order to get such a seam, you need to get used to it and gain some experience.

Products that can be welded are additionally calcined before installation in working elements or structures. And the metal must be cleaned of plaque and rust before joining.

An electrode with a basic coating works exclusively on direct current with reverse polarity.

Rutile coating

This product is universal. If you don’t know which electrodes it is better to cook with an inverter for a beginner, then feel free to choose with a rutile coating.

Their main feature is high-quality welding even on an uncleaned plane, on oxidized and dirty metal planes. But this certainly does not mean that the metal should not be processed. Vice versa.

The electrodes can operate on both direct and alternating current. Without problems, they are set on fire several times due to the additional composition of the coating. During welding, a minimum amount of slag elements are formed that do not require physical activity for removal.

Choosing which electrode coatings are best used for inverter welding is based on the welded joint and the requirements for it. Among the parameters may be: resistance force, impact strength and others. This is influenced by both the type of welded metal and its chemical composition.

 Work rules

We have already talked about how to choose electrodes for inverter welding. It is worth talking about the rules for working on a welding machine. Without them, even the best inverter welding electrodes for beginners will not perform at their full potential.

Here's a little checklist:

• It is better to start your welding practice with rutile coated electrodes. Due to their special composition, the work is simplified several times. They are easier to set on fire, allow you to cook on a weak arc. You will be able to control the whole process and see the welding. Another plus - slags are removed more easily.
•  Half the success is if you set the correct amperage and polarity. For direct current and direct polarity, the metal is connected to the plus, the electrode to the minus. If the value is reversed, the polarity of the wires is reversed. The current strength itself is better adjusted according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Before working on the desired metal, practice for a week on scraps similar in characteristics to the base. You will be able to intuitively adjust all inverter parameters for successful welding.
• No safety equipment anywhere. Do not start welding until you are sure that you and others are protected from the welding machine. Protective clothing and gloves are your permanent outfit. Wear a welding mask or goggles over your head.
• Before switching on the current, make sure that the device is connected correctly. Do not allow flammable materials to be at hand. Work better alone, without outsiders in the workshop.

Practice, practice and more practice. After a couple of months, you will learn how to properly set up the welding machine, and then select the electrodes. We hope that our short article has brought you new experience in choosing consumables for inverters. Good luck!