Why does the electrode stick when welding with an inverter?

What are the best electrodes for welding with an inverter, why does the electrode stick?

It's like a person having a headache. To cure it, you need to deal with the real cause of the disease. And there are a lot of possible reasons. So it is with the sticking of electrodes during welding. What happened and why the electrode sticks - this question may arise not only for beginners, but also for quite experienced craftsmen.

Reasons for electrode sticking during inverter welding

Let's try to separate the reasons that we cannot influence:

• Low or uneven mains voltage, which results in too low welding current.

Reasons we can change:

• high humidity of the coating and tips due to improper storage of hygroscopic electrodes;
• low quality of electrodes and their coating;
• incorrect choice of electrode for welding specific metals or alloys;
• incorrect inverter settings;
• incorrect polarity of the welding current;
• break or broken contact of the holder;
• poor quality cleaning of the surfaces of welded parts
• dirty electrode;
• incompetence .

As you can see, for one circumstance beyond your control, there are nine factors that you can work with in order to get rid of the unpleasant welding “syndrome” in the form of sticking electrodes. And if you figure it out, then you can cope with power surges. So everything is in your hands.

The most common cause of sticking is the use of transformer devices that do not and cannot have precise settings. But with modern inverter devices with the correct settings and an anti-stick system, such a nuisance can also happen. The reasons in such cases are much simpler and they are not at all related to the device.

The second most common reason is damp electrodes due to improper storage. The fact is that most coated consumables are extremely hygroscopic - they absorb moisture wherever possible.

Manufacturers produce such products in plastic packaging. At the slightest violation of the integrity of the moisture-proof packaging, such electrodes become wet and will always stick during welding.

“Incorrect” electrodes can occur in three variants.

• The first option is incorrectly selected consumables for a specific metal or alloy. The very first requirement is that they must be for direct current only! Welding with an inverter involves only this type of consumables. If you get a copy for working with alternating current, you will get an unstable arc and overheating of the metal. A drop of molten metal will precisely seal the tip tightly to the surface. The question arises: which electrodes are better to choose for welding with an inverter - ordinary low-alloy electrodes without special requirements or high-alloy ones? Nobody will give you a definite answer. Because it is necessary to select material for welding according to many criteria for certain metals and equipment. These criteria simply need to be taken into account accurately and unconditionally.
• The second is an old consumable with crumbling coating. The tip is the most important and at the same time the most vulnerable place: that’s where the old coating usually falls off. Such an instance will definitely stick. There are often cases where the tip has not crumbled and remains intact, but the consumable itself has been lying around for a long time and is simply old. Having forgotten to check the production date, the master begins to puzzle over why the electrode sticks when welding with an inverter, and cannot find the true reason.
• The third option is low quality from the manufacturer itself. Here the craftsmen are faced with a dilemma. Consumables from famous companies are quite expensive material, so there is always a temptation to buy something cheaper. There are a lot of such “somethings” on the market: consumables of very dubious quality, coated with incomprehensible mixtures, in which there is no need to even talk about compliance with standards. That's not so bad. The real problem is the frequent counterfeits of German or Swedish products. The solution to this problem will be to select reputable suppliers and check product certificates. And do not forget the proverb “the miser pays twice,” which applies, first of all, to the purchase of high-quality electrodes. You can save a lot in welding. But not on electrodes. Once again: not on the electrodes !

Types of welding that prevent electrode sticking.

Setting the wrong welding current - too low power. This situation can occur as a result of illiterate installation of the inverter apparatus. The current power must exactly correspond to two things: the thickness of the edges of the metal workpieces and the diameter of the consumable. Sometimes this kind of discrepancy arises due to basic ignorance, but more often it occurs due to a deliberate reduction in current power.

This “package of troubles” also includes incorrect technology for igniting the arc. A common method is to tap the tip of the consumable on a metal workpiece, resulting in a short circuit with instant heating of the metal, which is immediately followed by tight adhesion.

Poorly cleaned metal surfaces of workpieces are a separate story, which is mentioned in almost every article on welding. Nevertheless, young craftsmen continue to neglect cleaning parts in compliance with technology. But this is the most understandable and necessary way of not only preventing consumables from sticking, but also preparatory work that directly affects the high quality of the weld.

Treatment and prevention of electrode sticking

Schematic illustration of the welding process.

First of all, we get rid of unnecessary moisture. Calcination of consumables is often done at home in the oven at a temperature of 180 - 200°C. Of course, a home oven is better than nothing. But this method is not the best drying option from a technological point of view. A special oven for calcining welding material would be optimal.

There are rules for working with such stoves. If the electrodes have a basic coating, they must be calcined for two hours at a temperature of 250°C. Before starting calcination, you need to clarify the yield strength of these consumables in the specifications; it should not be higher than 355 N/mm. It should be clarified that all of the above applies to high-alloy consumables. Low-alloy types do not require calcination.

All these “stove” difficulties can be completely avoided if you follow the rules for storing and opening packages of consumables. There is only one rule here: after opening the plastic moisture-proof packaging, you can work with the electrodes for 8 hours without fear for their condition.

How to light an arc with an electrode?

The storage conditions for welding consumables need to be discussed separately. The most optimal solution is special separate warehouses that need to be heated in winter and maintain dry air with a constant temperature of at least 14°C. Humidity should not exceed 50 percent. It is clear that such warehouses cannot do without air conditioning. Most often, consumables are stacked.

In this case, special attention should be paid to the lower boxes. If all storage requirements are followed, the shelf life of the electrodes may become unlimited.

But even in this case, it is better to first test the “old” electrodes after long storage before the main welding work. This check does not oblige you to anything; it is simple and quick.

But you can avoid one of the most unpleasant questions when working with metals: why do the electrodes stick again when welding with an inverter?

Correctly setting the current and voltage is also a mandatory procedure to prevent electrode sticking. The proven arc ignition technology can also be included in this group of actions.

What about the inverter device?

The huge selection of inverter devices on the market complicates the choice to a certain extent: this is where the “eyes run wide” symptom begins to operate. This is especially true for not very experienced craftsmen who have not encountered the problem of electrodes sticking, but have only read about it.

Meanwhile, the requirements for inverter devices are quite specific, so choosing and purchasing the right device is quite possible. So that the acquaintance with sticking remains purely theoretical and the question “why the electrode sticks” never arises on the professional path in the future.

Anti-stick function in the inverter device.

Here are the requirements for the inverter device that will reduce the risk:

• Anti-stick or anti-stick function : when stuck, the current is automatically reset to zero, resulting in the preservation of the electrode and the inverter itself. This also includes a function of pulsed increase in welding current, which prevents the weld from being interrupted if the arc is about to break.
• Hot start function for fast and high-quality ignition of the arc.
• Automatic switch – including overheat protection.
• Supply voltage range from 160 to 250 V for operation during network power surges.

electrodes for inverter

and electrodes are published constantly; they may differ significantly from each other in different sources.

Types and purpose of electrodes.

Without pretending to be objective, the “arithmetic average” rating is as follows:

1. rutile-cellulose consumables from the famous Swedish company ESAB ;
2. American Omnia 46 from Lincoln Electric;
3. Russian OZS-12 ;
4. Russian electrodes Resanta MR-3;
5. UONI–13/55;
6. ANO : the most popular in Russia.

Summary

Which electrodes are best for cooking with an inverter? Of the exact unconditional requirements, there is only one: these must be electrodes for DC welding. All other requirements are actually advice, that is, they have the status of “desirability”.

Check before work, monitor the packaging, learn to ignite and hold the arc correctly. All of the above fits into the general concept. This is following the rules and technologies, which actually means increasing the professionalism of the welder. That's what we wish for you. Good luck!

Source: https://tutsvarka.ru/vidy/elektrody-dlya-svarki-invertorom

Why does the electrode stick when welding with an inverter?

Very often, from the practice of welding work, the question arises from beginners: why does the electrode stick when welding?

Experienced welders know that the causes of this disease can be different. Let's look at the main ones and possible ways to solve this phenomenon.

Poor quality materials

Electrodes are consumables for manual arc welding. Due to their prevalence, you can come across counterfeits of well-known brands and be disappointed when using them. Their quality may vary even in different batches of the same manufacturer.

Recommendations: You should choose materials from trusted companies, pay special attention to the labeling and expiration date. A guarantee may be that the seller has product quality certificates.

Knocked down coating

If the core at the end of the electrode sticks out of the coating, it will cause sticking. Raw materials are often susceptible to coating shedding.

Before use, it is advisable to “burn” the bare end of such an electrode by striking it on an unnecessary sheet or corner of the metal, and when it burns, begin welding the part.

Dampness

The coating of the welding electrode is very sensitive to humid environments. Due to the unstable formation of the welding arc, the welder tries to “weld” with a short arc and “clings” to the base metal.

The use of raw electrodes also reduces the quality of the weld by saturating it with hydrogen, which leads to the formation of cracks. When stored for a long time, a characteristic white coating appears on them.

Possible methods for drying electrodes:

• Calcination at a temperature of 130-150 °C for 40-50 minutes. You can dry it in a home gas oven (not microwave!) at 250 °C for 30 minutes.
• Warming up with electric current. An old method from experienced craftsmen, used when there is no time for drying. They take a new electrode and with a sharp movement “stick” it to the table and count to 7. Then they quickly tear it off, twisting it to the side and up. However, modern inverters with an anti-stick function will not allow you to do this trick.

We recommend! Essence and modes of gas acetylene welding

Incorrect welding modes

The next group of reasons why the electrode sticks when welding with an inverter is incorrectly selected welding modes, as well as erroneous actions of the welder.

Welding current

An underestimated value of the welding current for the selected electrode diameter will inevitably lead to sticking. The insufficient amount of energy required to form a weld pool and a stable arc forces one to maintain a small gap between the electrode and the base metal. The likelihood of adhesion to metal increases significantly.

The strength of the welding current is regulated according to the table values, especially for critical structures.

Lack of experience

It is difficult for novice welders to apply acquired theoretical knowledge in practice. Afraid of burning the metal, they try to hold the electrode too low, which leads to sticking. On the other hand, an increase in the welding arc and its further break instinctively forces the welder to lean the tip of the electrode on the weld pool, provoking sticking.

If you work with obviously good materials, eliminating this shortcoming is only a matter of time and perseverance of the welder.

Power supply problems

Low voltage in the welding machine socket is also a common cause of sticking. It is possible to use wires of insufficient cross-section, which reduces the characteristics of the welder and does not produce a normal, stable arc.

The problem can be solved by connecting to a network with nominal characteristics, or by using voltage stabilizers of the required power. If you connect the welding inverter through an extension cord, make sure that the required cross-section is at least 2.5 mm2.

You can try using thinner electrodes and cooking at a lower current.

As you can see, the reasons for electrode sticking can be different. The methods described above will help you identify difficulties and solutions.

Source: https://svarkagid.ru/tehnologii/prichiny-zalipaniya-elektrodov.html

5 Welding Mistakes That Can Cause Electrode Sticking

It is sometimes difficult for novice welders to get used to a new specialty. And it doesn’t matter - at a professional or amateur level. Either the arc does not work, or the bath does not form. The most common problem is electrode sticking. More often it happens on transformer devices. But this problem also happens with inverters. Why does this happen and what are the dangers? We will talk about this in the article.

Low quality consumables

This is a reason that is impossible to overcome. Unless you buy electrodes from a specific manufacturer. The welder is faced with a dilemma. Well-known brands are expensive, but they work. There is a temptation to take something cheaper and experiment. There are many such “cheaper” ones on the market and are made from materials of unknown quality and coated with dubious mixtures.

It’s worse when you buy a counterfeit brand - German or Swedish. And I paid a lot of money, and it doesn’t cook properly.

Improper storage

Storage of materials must be correct. Storage and use conditions are written on each pack of electrodes - a certain temperature and humidity. Large suppliers have warehouses with the correct temperature and humidity conditions - there are no complaints about them. Small stores sometimes store products in unheated containers or areas with high humidity.

Even with proper storage, the electrode may not light up if the expiration date has expired or the packaging is torn. Old consumables leak grease. As a rule, in the right place - at the tip. Such an instance will definitely stick. If more than 8 hours have passed since opening the box of consumables, the best solution would be to dry it at a low temperature - 100 degrees. The absorbed moisture will evaporate and the electrode will restore its properties.

Having forgotten to check the shelf life on the packaging, the technician begins to think that the inverter is faulty.

Incorrect setting

The reason may be incorrect settings of the welding machine - setting a low current. The current power must correspond to 2 values:

• electrode diameter;
• thickness of the edges of the metal being welded.

More often this happens due to lack of experience. Sometimes experienced welders deliberately reduce the current for fear of overheating the thin material. The current is not enough to maintain the arc and it goes out.

Sometimes it happens that the current of the device is not designed for the diameter of the electrode that the specialist wants to use.

Incorrect selection for a certain type of metal is also one of the reasons. For aluminum, stainless steel, ferrous metal, certain types of electrodes are used.

A poorly cleaned surface is a separate issue. Beginners don’t always understand why they should do this at all. It's still metal!

After lying outside for months or years, the metal corrodes and becomes covered with dirt; old structures are often painted. Before welding, it is necessary to clean the welded surface from rust and dirt. The connection point for the mass holder is treated with particular care.

Incorrect ignition

This is a problem for a beginner welder with no experience. Ignition of the arc using the tapping method can lead to sticking due to prolonged contact with the surface to be welded. It is more correct to strike metal like a match. Inexperienced technicians sometimes fail to keep the electrode at the correct distance from the part. This is studied in special courses or comes with experience.

How to prevent

Once we have looked at the reasons for electrode sticking, we will give a number of step-by-step recommendations:

• properly prepare the surfaces for welding and fastening the mass - clean, free from corrosion, paint, bitumen;
• select the right consumables depending on the thickness of the metal and welding machine;
• purchase high-quality domestic or imported electrodes;
• prepare the electrodes, dry them open for half an hour at a temperature of 100-110 degrees;
• configure the inverter correctly - set the current in accordance with special tables;
• learn to ignite an arc correctly - by striking metal;
• ensure sufficient arc length.

Now you know the common mistakes of a novice welder and methods for properly operating an inverter. Clean the metal, use high-quality electrodes, set up the welder correctly.

Source: https://TehnoPanorama.ru/instrumenty/5-oshibok-svarki-iz-za-kotorykh-mozhet-prilipat-elektrod.html

Why electrodes stick when welding - reasons

During welding, especially for inexperienced welders, trouble often occurs - the electrode sticks to the workpiece. The arc does not ignite and the work stops. Why the electrode sticks when welding - experienced craftsmen give several reasons for this. They are related to the condition of the electrode, the equipment settings and the lack of experience of the welder.

Causes

Experts identify several typical causes of electrode sticking.

The result of repeated sticking of the electrode. If the thickness of the workpiece is small, this can lead to burn-through.

Among them: the condition of the electrodes, the quality of preparation of the workpiece surface for welding, inverter settings and incorrect ignition techniques.

Raw electrodes

The welding electrode consists of a steel core and powder coating. The coating material is quite hygroscopic and, when stored in high humidity conditions, absorbs water vapor from the air.

If the electrodes were sealed in vacuum plastic packaging at the manufacturer's factory, they will not be exposed to moisture. But if the film is even slightly torn during transportation, the electrodes will inevitably become damp.

The damp coating begins to conduct electric current, as a result the arc does not ignite, and the electrode sticks to the workpiece.

Low quality

Why does the electrode stick if it is dry? It may not be of sufficient quality. Welding materials purchased in random places or from hand are often manufactured in violation of technology, the material of the rod does not meet the requirements of the standards, and the coating does not adhere well to the core and crumbles. In this case, sticking will also be frequent.

It happens that the rod material is not suitable for the alloys being welded. Incorrect selection of consumables leads to constant attenuation of the arc or even the impossibility of igniting it .

Experienced welders check the quality of suspicious materials this way: they drop a rod from a height of 1.5 meters onto a flat concrete floor. If the coating has crumbled or peeled off, it is clearly not worth using such products.

Incorrect machine settings

Insufficient current set on the welding machine is also a common cause of sticking , especially among inexperienced workers. A weak current cannot ignite an arc, but only melts the tip of the rod, and it sticks to the workpiece.

The inverter parameters must be set based on:

• workpiece material;
• their thickness;
• electrode thickness.

In order to find a suitable parameter, you should use the tables from the user manual or on the website of the welding machine manufacturer.

An approximate table for selecting welding current depending on the thickness of the workpieces.

Why does the electrode stick on a modern inverter? Most often this also occurs due to too little operating current.

Uncleaned metal and improper arc ignition

Another common cause of sticking is poor surface preparation for electric welding . If there are oil and fat stains on the workpiece, traces of corrosion of an oxide film, chips or dust, the conditions for discharge formation are violated and the arc does not ignite.

Before welding, prepare the seam zone and the heat-affected area (10 cm in both directions):

• remove mechanical dirt with a wire brush or grinder;
• degrease.

This treatment should be carried out immediately before welding, since after some time the oxide film will be restored.

Effect of current

Novice welders are often afraid of burning through the workpiece, especially if it is small in thickness. Therefore, they underestimate the welding current values ​​found in the tables, mistakenly thinking that with a low current they will slowly weld everything without defects. Unfortunately, this approach doesn't work.

If the current is insufficient, the melting of the workpiece and core to the metal stops before it has even begun, since the current strength is not enough to maintain the arc. The tip of the rod is immersed in the unformed and rapidly cooling weld pool and is seasoned with it.

It is necessary to set the current strength according to the tables and learn how to properly ignite an arc and make a seam.

Mains influence

Why else might the electrode stick? The stability of the electrical network parameters has a strong influence on the ignition and maintenance of the electric arc.

This happens especially often when using outdated models of welding machines - AC transformers and rectifiers. The voltage on the secondary winding of the transformer in such units directly depends on the voltage in the network. If the voltage is unstable, then its surges also lead to the inability to ignite the arc; the secondary voltage is not enough for the discharge.

If the power of the local network is insufficient, then the very switching on of the welding transformer causes sudden voltage drops in the network, and the newly ignited arc dies out, and the tip of the electrode sticks to the cooling weld pool. This happens especially often when there is a lack of practical experience.

The use of welding inverters allows you to get rid of this dependence.

How to fix

Sticking is not an insurmountable problem. Modern and serviceable equipment, high-quality materials, proper storage, careful preparation of workpieces for work and a set of experience allow the welder to forget about annoying sticking.

Preparation

Electrodes removed from a freshly opened film package do not require additional preparation; they can be immediately cooked. They are not in danger of sticking.

But after just a few hours of being outdoors, they can gain moisture. Then they should be dried before work . For this purpose, special drying electric ovens are used in production, heating up to 400°C.

In a home workshop, you can use a muffle furnace . Let's allow the electrodes to warm up on the radiator, but this will take several hours. It is unacceptable to use an open fire for drying - the flame temperature may exceed the permissible one.

Hardware settings

Before starting work, you need to accurately determine the type of alloy that is going to be welded and measure the thickness of the workpiece . In accordance with these parameters, using the reference tables given in the welding machine’s passport or on the manufacturer’s portal, the thickness of the electrode and the required welding current are selected.

It should be understood that these are basic parameters; depending on the specific conditions, features of the apparatus, seam configuration and the experience of the welder, some amendments may be made to them.

Particular care must be taken when selecting parameters for thin blank sheets or body parts. The risk of burning through is especially high for them. in this case, start from the lower limit of the table range, gradually increasing the current until optimal penetration is achieved.

Inexperienced welders often ask why the electrode peaks, that is, the coating on one side does not burn completely, forming a peak. This occurs due to an overestimation of the welding current and non-compliance with the angle of inclination of the rod to the workpiece.

In addition to setting up the unit, it is also necessary to thoroughly prepare the surface.

In addition to the seam and heat-affected area, you should also clean and degrease the place where the bulk wire is connected to the workpiece.

Learn how to strike an arc correctly

Proper ignition of the arc avoids sticking. What you need to do in two main ways:

• tapping;
• by striking.

If you don’t have much work experience, then it is better to ignite the arc with a short strike, reminiscent of striking a match on a box. In this case, the electrode must be held perpendicular to the plane of the part. As soon as the arc flares up, you need to tilt it 15 degrees back, and, without stopping in one place, smoothly and evenly move the seam along the intended line. This prevents the tip from sticking.

Two ways to ignite an electric arc. For beginners, it is recommended to ignite the arc by striking.

It is important to maintain a constant gap between the tip of the rod and the workpiece . Exceeding the arc length leads to incomplete penetration and increases the risk of combustion failure.

The holder should also not be tilted at too sharp an angle. At the same time, the conditions for heating the workpiece worsen, the weld pool narrows, and the seam will become weak.

To prevent the electrode from sticking, it is necessary to use dry and high-quality welding materials. You should also correctly set the operating parameters of the welding machine. Finally, it is important to use proper arc starting techniques.

Source: https://svarka.guru/oborudovanie/rashodniki-i-kompletuyushie/pochemu-elektrody-prilipajut.html

The main reasons for electrode sticking

Electrodes during electric welding often stick to the metal, this problem is especially common among novice welders. When the electrode sticks to the surface being welded, it is almost impossible to quickly remove it, which leads to many problems and can result in overloading household electrical networks. In this article we will tell you why the electrode sticks when welding, look at the main mistakes made by beginners, and tell you how to prevent the electrode from sticking.

Electrode sticking: causes of the problem

Most often, this problem is encountered by welders who use transformers in their work without the ability to fine-tune the operating mode, or by beginners who use inverters. Expensive models of modern inverter devices have a function that prevents the electrode from sticking. But novice welders often purchase budget models and, due to lack of experience, immediately encounter sticking.

So, why does the electrode stick when welding with an inverter? Below we describe the main reasons.

Reason No. 1: Increased humidity of the electrode

The electrode surface is a special coating that is susceptible to the accumulation of moisture from the environment. If the electrodes are left without packaging, then over time they become damp and lose their quality characteristics, which subsequently leads to sticking.

Reason No. 2: Poor quality of electrodes

First of all, the correct choice of electrode for welding with an inverter is important. Many novice welders save on consumables by buying them from unknown artisanal manufacturers who are unable to confirm the quality of their products. Such electrodes have only one advantage - low price, but otherwise they only complicate the welder’s work. It is low-quality electrodes that can cause them to stick to the metal.

Reason #3: The device is not configured correctly

This is another common cause of electrode sticking. The welder incorrectly estimates the thickness of the parts, selects the wrong electrode diameter and sets excessive or insufficient current power on the inverter.

Reason #4: The surface of the part is not prepared

Some beginners forget to clean the surface of dirt and rust before welding. Because of this, the contact of the electrode with the surface of the part is insufficient and the arc goes out immediately after ignition. In an attempt to correct the situation, the welder strikes the arc again and again, trying to weld the contaminated parts. This causes the electrode tip to stick.

Reason No. 5: The arc is ignited incorrectly

Another common reason is due to the inexperience of the welder. The welder incorrectly ignites the arc using the tapping method and holds the tip of the electrode on the surface to be welded for too long. The metal begins to quickly heat up and literally solder the electrode. Subsequently, the electrodes stick one after another with each new job.



How to prevent electrode sticking

Now that we have found out why the electrode sticks when welding with an inverter, we will talk about simple methods for preventing errors. What can every welder do to prevent the electrode from sticking? The solution is not difficult to find based on the essence of the problem.

Solution #1: Prepare the electrodes and metal

Buy electrodes in sealed packaging from trusted manufacturers. These can be domestic Rotex rods or European ESAB rods. They meet quality standards and should not stick if you set up the device correctly and ignite the arc.

If the electrodes have been left unpacked for more than 8 hours, they need to be dried. This can be done in an electric furnace, taking into account the melting temperature of the electrode. The electrode itself cannot be dried more than three times, otherwise it will lose its properties.

Also, do not forget about preparing the metal. Thoroughly clean the surface of the parts from dirt, rust and paint.

Solution #2: Configure your hardware correctly

By setting the correct settings for the welding inverter, you will not only prevent sticking of the electrode, but also improve the quality of the weld. Below you can find the recommended settings that you should set on your device.

But keep in mind that these are approximate values ​​and you need to rely not only on educational tables, but also gain your own experience. We recommend that all beginners start with a low current setting and increase it gradually. Over time, you will begin to understand what parameters are needed in each individual case.

Solution #3: Learn how to strike the arc correctly

To light an arc, many welders use the method of tapping the tip of the electrode on the metal, but we recommend not tapping, but striking (similar to matches).

First, “idle”, practice moving the end of the electrode smoothly along the surface of the metal. Once you can do this quickly, you can start lighting the arc.

After igniting the arc, it is necessary to ensure that it is of sufficient length. It is important to learn how to do this quickly, otherwise the electrodes will stick and ruin the whole job.

Instead of a conclusion

Now you know how to properly weld using electric welding so that the electrode does not stick to the metal and your work is not in vain. Briefly summarizing, monitor the current parameters set on your inverter, do not skimp on high-quality electrodes and learn to ignite the arc correctly. Share your positive experience in the comments so that novice welders can adopt it. Good luck!

Source: https://svarkaed.ru/rashodnye-materialy/elektrody/pochemu-pri-svarke-prilipaet-elektrod.html

Why does the electrode stick to metal when welding?

One of the unpleasant moments that can arise during welding work is sticking of the electrodes. It can manifest itself in a specialist of any qualification. Why the electrode sticks during welding is a rather complex and multifaceted question. Depending on the accuracy of determining the cause of adhesion, the further quality of the seam depends.

Reasons for sticking electrodes

Experts, when answering the question of why the electrode sticks, distinguish three categories:

1. Problems with consumables.
2. Incorrect initial setup of the device used and instability of the electrical network;
3. Low user qualifications.

The first category includes the following reasons:

• the consumable was stored in conditions of high humidity, which led to the accumulation of excess moisture;
• mechanical damage to the coating of the rod;
• incorrect choice of type for the work being carried out (correspondence of its brand to the product being welded);
• increased pollution.

The second category combines the following set of reasons:

• changes in the supplied voltage (the result is a change in the parameters of the welding current: its reduced value or a sharp change);
• incorrect connection of contacts;
• failure of the device’s initial settings;
• violation of the integrity of the cable (break, damage to the braid);
• Initially, the welding machine is not configured correctly.

Subjective reasons include:

• low qualification of the employee (incorrect determination of current parameters);
• failure to comply with the heating mode of the welding holder;
• there is no experience in maintaining a stable level of arc combustion;
• bad operation with the inverter.

The variety of reasons why consumables stick to metal requires careful preparation. Any reason can lead to a number of negative consequences. Electrode sticking occurs at the stage of formation of the welding arc, during welding. Any welding method can lead to sticking, including inverter welding. Despite the fact that modern units of this type provide a so-called anti-stick function, the sticking effect still appears.

Increased humidity of the electrode

The composition of the so-called coating has a porous structure consisting of fine powder. The appearance of adhesion depends on its quality. It tends to gradually accumulate moisture, even when placed in a room with natural humidity. Using consumables without first drying them leads to negative consequences. During operation, the electrode sticks when welding with an inverter. This effect is especially evident at the moment when the arc is ignited.

The adhesion can be so strong that it leads to the destruction of the consumable and deformation of the joint of the welded part. To eliminate this problem, professionals recommend using special techniques to remove excess moisture. It is advisable to store open bags with consumables left over from previous welding in a special thermal case. Before use, they must be placed in a drying cabinet.

Before welding, check the adhesion of the electrode tip to a third-party surface.

The adhesion of electrodes is affected by their poor quality. Modern manufacturers offer a large number of different types of such products. Each of them is designed to solve specific problems.

A large assortment has led to a negative phenomenon, which pushes the manufacturer to increase the pace of production with a gradual decrease in the quality of its products. This process is observed even among well-established manufacturers in the market.

Experienced welders have noticed that the quality of electrodes at the beginning of the production of a new batch is much higher than that of subsequent copies. The second unpleasant point is counterfeiting of products from well-known manufacturers.

Such companies do not monitor the technological process at all. Small companies operating in the market are not always able to accurately monitor production technology, which leads to the appearance of low-quality products. They are the ones who have the ability to stick at the most inopportune moment. When purchasing new consumables, you need to carefully examine their appearance.

Uncleaned workpiece surface

Preliminary preparation of parts before welding involves surface treatment aimed at removing various types of contamination. This is necessary to subsequently obtain a high-quality seam and prevent sticking.

To solve this problem, various methods are used: mechanical, chemical, thermal, electromagnetic. The cheapest and most common are mechanical methods of surface cleaning. These methods use a variety of tools and abrasives.

        In order for the electrode to stop sticking during welding operations, it is necessary to select a surface treatment method and carefully carry out the necessary operations.

Unstable power supply and current parameters

Often they can stick due to unstable parameters of the electrical network to which the welding machine is connected. This effect is especially evident when the supply voltage drops below the nominal or periodic fluctuations of this parameter. To eliminate this drawback, it is advisable to use electronic voltage stabilization devices.

Low qualification of the welder

An important subjective factor leading to poor results of the resulting weld is the poor qualification of the welder. Poor theoretical training and insufficient experience allow the electrode to periodically stick during its contact with the workpiece. Welding carried out by such a specialist can lead to a low-quality weld and damage to the part itself.

Preparation of electrodes and parts

The process of selecting and preparing electrodes consists of choosing the brand of this product and visually checking its condition. The quality of the future seam and the accuracy of welding work largely depend on the correctly chosen brand.

Experienced welders advise that when using electrodes from an already used batch, they must be prepared first. It involves forced drying or even calcination of the electrodes. For this purpose, special ovens are used, which make it possible to remove high moisture content from the electrode coating.

After this treatment, the products are dry, suitable for use and practically do not stick.

Equipment setup

One of the important points to get rid of sticking of electrodes during welding work is the preliminary setting of the welding machine. It must be done before each start of work in accordance with the attached instructions. The solution to the problem consists of two components. The first is choosing a unit with the required characteristics. The second is the direct setting of parameters.

The wrong choice of welding unit leads to poor-quality welding and destruction of the entire structure. For example, using a low-power inverter when welding thick parts will not provide sufficient current for welding and will result in sticking.

When choosing the right inverter, you should accurately set the required values, which will allow you to realize its capabilities and obtain a high-quality and reliable seam.

To eliminate errors during setup, special tables have been developed that show the indicators set depending on the characteristics of the metal and the electrodes used.

If the parameters are set incorrectly, the electrodes may not only stick to the surface, but also splash. This effect is observed in some brands of electrodes, and is considered natural (for example, MP-3, ANO-4(21), OZS-12 and some others). For other types of electrodes, it is considered the result of a violation of the set parameters or non-compliance with the welding technology. Check polarity, reduce the welding current, reduce the length of the welding arc.

Proper arc lighting technique

To form a welding arc, a potential difference is created between the metal surface and the electrode rod. Its value depends on the thickness of the product being welded and the diameter of the consumable used.

An arc is formed when the electrode touches the metal surface (the potential difference should be about 60V). The speed of arc occurrence is most influenced by the current strength that occurs at the moment the electrode touches the workpiece. The most convenient way to ignite an arc is considered to be mechanical striking of an electrode over the surface.

If, during an unsuccessful attempt, a bead forms, the electrode sticks. If a build-up occurs, it must be removed mechanically. It is removed by beating the tip of the electrode on metal. It is advisable to do this on metal to which “ground” is not connected. Otherwise, the electrode may stick again.

In order not to leave traces of experimental touches, this operation must be performed in the direction of the future seam.

Source: https://stankiexpert.ru/spravochnik/svarka/pochemu-prilipaet-ehlektrod-pri-svarke.html

Why does the electrode stick when welding with an inverter?

The diverse number of types of electrodes sometimes puts even experienced people in a difficult position.

A natural problem arises in choosing electrodes for welding with an inverter, so which ones are better? Each type of electrode is designed for welding certain materials; in addition, it must have the necessary coating, which should not be damp.

The cause of sticking may be incorrect operation of the equipment, or incorrectly set output current parameters, as well as low mains voltage. We will talk about the main reasons for electrode sticking when welding with an inverter.

Selecting an inverter device

To understand why the electrode sticks when welding with an inverter, you must first make the right choice of welding machine in relation to the conditions of specific work. The unit must meet certain requirements that will ensure optimal operation of the device in real circumstances.

An example of such a device created for Russian conditions is the inverters of the “Neon” line produced in Nizhny Novgorod. Based on these devices, we will talk about the basic requirements for welding machines, which will reduce the likelihood of electrodes sticking during welding.

These properties are as follows:

• the mains supply voltage ranges from 160 V to 250 V, which makes it possible to work in conditions of unstable power supply;
• the presence of an automatic protection switch, including overheating;
• PV at maximum welding current 60%;
• open circuit voltage 70 V, which allows you to confidently hold the arc even at extreme input voltages;
• there is a hot start function for reliable ignition of a short circuit arc, as well as arc afterburner;
• To prevent the electrode from sticking, there is an anti-stick function;
• guaranteed stable operation at ambient temperatures from -40 °C to +40 °C.

It should be noted that these characteristics serve as a basis for selection, and not as a dogma, but stable operation at extreme temperatures and network voltages is very important for Russian conditions. For comfortable work, it is useful to use the hot start function, which helps to confidently start the process and optimally use welding electrodes for inverters.

Particular attention should be paid to such functions as anti-stick or anti-stick. Its essence is that at the moment of sticking, the welding current is reset to zero and this allows both the electrode itself and the inverter to be kept intact. Afterburner also helps eliminate sticking, allowing you to increase the welding current at the risk of arc breakage and prevents interruption of the weld, which has a beneficial effect on the quality of work.

Types of coated electrodes

Many, especially beginner welders, are concerned about the problems of correctly selecting consumables. So what kind of electrodes are needed for welding with an inverter, and which ones are better suited for different materials? To answer this question, you need to talk about the types of coatings and which electrodes to choose for welding specific metals or alloys. The coating serves the following purposes:

1. With the help of carbon oxides, it protects the weld pool from the action of atmospheric oxygen.
2. Stabilizes the arc discharge.
3. Helps remove oxygen from the metal or alloy, deoxidizing the seam.
4. With the help of impurities it has an alloying effect on the seam.

Based on the thickness of the coating, these materials are thin (M), medium (C), thick (D) and extra thick (G). This parameter is regulated by GOST 9466-75 and affects the welding process, enhancing the effect of the coating on the seam and stabilizing its properties. Based on the chemical composition of the coating, electrodes are divided into the following types:

• for direct current, a base coating is used, which provides a plastic seam;
• coating with iron powder, which increases welding strength;
• type with an acid coating, providing speed of work and ductility of the metal being welded;
• for vertical joints, a cellulose coating with low slag formation is more suitable;
• type with rutile content and the presence of ferromanganese and magnesium carbonate.

To make the correct selection in relation to the metal being welded and to avoid sticking of the electrodes, you need to know which of them are most suitable for the workpieces being joined. Technical characteristics of the coating and metals and alloys recommended for welding correspond to different brands of electrodes, namely:

• to work with structural low-alloy, carbon steels, it is necessary to use UONI-13/55, OMA-2, OZS-30, MR-3M, Vi-10-6, ANO-21 and VSF-65U;
• alloyed high-strength steels are welded EA-981/15, EA-395/9, NIAT-5, OZSh-1 and NIAT-3M;
• for heat-resistant and heat-resistant steels, ANZHR-2, TML-3U, TsL-39, IMET-10, KTI-7A and OZL-35 are used;
• stainless and corrosion-resistant alloys are welded using NZh-13S, NIAT-1, UONI-13NZH, TsT-15, and EA-400/10T;
• dissimilar alloys and steels are welded EA-391/15, TsT-28, OZL-32, ANZHR-2, NII-48G, IMET-10, V-56U and VI-IM-1;
• OZL-44, ANV-20, EA-112/15 and NII48G are suitable for special steels;
• cast iron is cooked using OZZHN-1, OZCh-2, MNCh-2, TsCh-4;
• for aluminum alloys you need OZA-2, OZANA-2, OZA-1 and OZANA-1;
• copper and its alloys are well welded ANTs/OZM-2, OZB-2M (bronze), Komsomolets-100, OZB-3;
• for nickel and alloys use V-56U, OZL-32;
• metal cutting is carried out by ANR-2M, OZR-2, OZR-1.

When welding without errors, by matching the metal of the workpiece with the brand of electrode, you will most likely be able to avoid sticking when working with inverter devices.

It is very important to know in as much detail as possible the properties and name of the metal of the workpiece, because the quality of the welded seam depends on this.

Let's sum it up

We examined the criteria for selecting welding inverters and the selection of electrodes to ensure an optimal welding process, and also found out the possible reasons for electrodes sticking during work. There are no comprehensive tips to help fix this problem, but the opinions of more experienced people will come to your aid, and we have tried to comprehensively cover this topic.

Source: https://electrod.biz/oborudovanie/elec/pochemu-prilipaet-elektrod-pri-svarke-invertorom.html

Why does the electrode stick and how to avoid it | Electric welding

It is always exciting for a novice welder to start practicing. And when the electrode begins to stick to the surface, it can be completely disappointing and discourage learning. Why does this happen and what can be done?

Reasons for electrode sticking

Among the factors affecting welding quality, there are many reasons why a coated electrode can stick to the parts being welded, preventing the job from being completed. The most common are:

• general voltage drop in the network;
• incorrect cross-section of ground and holder cables;
• incorrectly selected current parameters on the device itself or the resistance;
• electrodes that have absorbed moisture due to improper storage;
• incorrect angle of inclination relative to the parts being welded;
• polarity that does not comply with the recommendations on the packaging;
• the diameter of the electrodes is too large for the given thickness of the parts;
• contaminated surface.

What can be done to solve the problem

It is necessary to look for the cause in each specific case by eliminating options. It may turn out that several factors contribute to electrode adhesion. For example, by testing the voltage in the network with the device, you can make sure that the line is not overloaded. Otherwise, you need to wait until full power supply is restored, and if the situation repeats frequently, install a stabilizer.

It is worth making sure that the ground cable and holder have the correct cross-section. Wires that are too thin will create excess resistance and reduce current flow, which will promote electrode sticking:

• for welding at 100-160 A, a 16-core copper cable with an outer diameter of 11.5 mm is suitable;
• To prevent the electrode from sticking when working on thicker metal, at a current of 240-300 A, you will need a 25-core cable with a 13.5 mm outer diameter.

Each metal thickness has recommended current settings. For example, for 3 mm plates you should set 100-120 A. If this value is less, the tip of the electrode will inevitably begin to stick. Those who use a regular transformer without adjustment, with a steel spring as resistance, need to move the cable connection to such a level that the current does not burn through the metal when welding.

The coating of the electrodes is capable of absorbing moisture from the surrounding air, so even a new pack from the store, if it was stored incorrectly and with damaged packaging, may perform poorly. Pre-drying at a temperature of 170 degrees is recommended here.

When making vertical welds, some novice welders hold the electrode at a very shallow angle relative to the underside of the surface. This leads to slag rolling onto its tip and arc extinction with sticking.

It is worth positioning the electrode at 45 degrees. The polarity indicated on the packaging helps ensure proper current flow and distribution of filler materials.

Incorrect connection of wires will lead to incorrect operation, so you need to check the recommendations and actual compliance.

The diameter of the electrodes must often match the thickness of the plates being welded. When performing work with a 5-piece on 2 mm iron at a current of 70A, sticking is inevitable. The electrode should be replaced with 3 mm. A thick layer of rust also affects arc performance. A quick clean with a metal brush will correct the situation.

Additional recommendations

Most often, the electrode can stick during ignition, which leads to painful twisting of the holder and crumbling coating. To avoid this at this stage, it is necessary to have a rough plate applied to the mass, on which you can test the current parameters and ignite the electrode. Holding the arc briefly on this object will allow for quick drying and ensure trouble-free continuation of welding on the base metal.

Another recommendation is to ignite the electrode not by tapping, but by striking. Direct impact of the rod on the metal promotes instant contact and adhesion, and tangential movement will initiate an arc.

If you still have any questions about this topic, write them in the comments, and I will try to clarify everything for you.

Also write if you liked this article and what you think about it.

More on the topic:

Marking of welding electrodes

What electrodes should be used to cook ordinary steel?

Which electrodes are best for an inverter?

courses:

How to cook with electric welding

How to set the welding current correctly

How to choose a chameleon mask

How to set up a chameleon mask correctly

How to choose a welding inverter

Source: http://www.elektrosvarka-blog.ru/prilipaet-elektrod/

Reasons for electrode sticking during welding

Even a highly qualified electric welder may experience a situation where the electrode sticks while welding. An experienced welder can easily solve this problem, but for beginners it is important to know the causes of sticking and be able to eliminate them.

Main causes of sticking

First of all, you should pay attention to the welding inverter. If it is of low power, it will not be able to produce enough current to weld thick parts. There are many other reasons why the electrode sticks during welding, these include:

• raw electrodes;
• chipped coating or its low quality;
• the core material is not suitable for the metal being welded;
• large voltage drops in the network can lead to low welding current or its sharp surges;
• a welder with low qualifications, for fear of burning a hole, sets a very low current on the welding machine;
• failure of device or inverter settings;
• When connecting, the phases are reversed, welding is carried out with a current of reverse polarity. This rule does not apply when welding aluminum and its alloys;
• the integrity of the welding cable may be compromised;
• pay attention to the heating of the welding holder, at a very high temperature, it is necessary to connect it to the cable;
• poor quality of preparatory work, parts are not cleaned of grease or rust;
• the possible reason is the low qualification of the welder and the inability to maintain a normal level of electrode combustion;
• The reason may be that the electrode is heavily soiled.

As you can see, the electrodes stick either due to non-compliance with the technology, or due to some defects in them themselves.

The electrode sticks when welding with an inverter, what should I do?

The electrode sticks when welding with an inverter

A welding inverter is an excellent alternative to old transformers for welding, which drain the power grid too much. Today, when the cost of inverters has dropped significantly, almost everyone can afford to buy an inexpensive inverter for their home. In this case, there is no need to even have the basics of a welder; everything will come with experience.

The most common problem when welding with an inverter is sticking of the electrode. This article from the construction magazine samastroyka.ru will talk about why the electrode sticks when welding with an inverter, and how to actually deal with this scourge.

Why does the electrode stick when welding with an inverter?

Electrode sticking is the most common problem among young, novice electric welders. Incorrect movement of the electrode, the arc is too short, errors in the inverter settings, and now the electrode is constantly “pulled” towards the metal, it sticks tightly to it. Of course, here, as mentioned above, everything largely depends on the welder’s experience and knowledge of using a welding inverter.

At the same time, the most common mistakes due to which the electrode sticks during welding are:

Using damp electrodes - the electrode coating may become damp after long-term storage, as a result of which the electrode will begin to stick and splash metal to the sides. To avoid this problem, you just need to dry the electrodes in a special thermal case or in a conventional electric oven at a temperature of at least 110 degrees plus. This will prevent the electrode from sticking during welding.

Bad electrodes or incorrectly selected electrodes also often cause the problem discussed in this article. This is especially true for electrodes for direct and alternating current. The main signs of this will be sticking of the electrodes and a very unstable welding arc.

How to strike an arc correctly

Mistakes during ignition of the electrode , as a rule, are made at the very beginning of their career by novice welders. The electrode simply touches the metal and does not move away from it in time, sticking in one place. To avoid such a mistake, you should hit the workpiece with the electrode and immediately move it upward, but not too high so that the arc does not go out. In the future, with the arrival of experience, this action will occur fully automatically.

An arc that is too short also causes the electrode to stick when welding with an inverter. Many experienced welders recommend learning to weld with an inverter on a short arc, about 3-4 mm. A smaller arc will cause the electrode to stick and cause the problem discussed in this article.

What current to set on the inverter

The current on the inverter is set incorrectly - before you start welding, you should figure out what current should be set on the inverter to work with certain electrodes, metal, etc. Much here depends, of course, on the diameter of the electrodes and on the thickness of the metal being welded. However, an incorrectly selected welding inverter current leads to electrode sticking.

So, for welding with an inverter, the following current values ​​are applicable:

• When working with 2 mm electrodes - the minimum current is 40A, and the maximum current is 80A;
• To work with 3 mm electrodes, the welding current must be in the range from 80 to 120A;
• To cook with a 4 mm electrode, the current must be set on the inverter within 120-160 A.

Modern welding inverters have smooth current regulation. Therefore, it is very easy to adjust the welding current upward when the electrode sticks, and vice versa when burning metal.

(5 5,00 out of 5)

Source: https://samastroyka.ru/prilipaet-elektrod-pri-svarke-invertorom.html

Why does the electrode stick when welding with an inverter?

When working with a welding machine, especially when welding work is carried out using a welding inverter, cases of electrode sticking are extremely rare. Much more often when using an AC welding machine or, more simply, a conventional welding transformer.

However, it should be recognized that an inverter welding machine is not immune to this problem. And here, in addition to the usual disappointment in work, with such equipment the other side of the coin is also revealed - an insufficiently strong connection of parts.

And although there are many hypotheses regarding this unusual phenomenon for welding with an inverter, there are only three main ones that have a real explanation:

• electrode that does not match the parameters;
• incorrectly set welding current on the device;
• poor-quality electrode coating material.

A detailed consideration of each of the mentioned cases will help you quickly and correctly find a solution to the problem and also quickly eliminate it.

Features of the use of welding equipment and electrodes for electric arc welding

   As is known, a welding inverter is a direct current device for welding metals of different thicknesses and qualities using a fusible electrode with a steel core and a special coating as a working element. For work with the inverter, electrodes are used that are classified as “universal” and intended only for working with direct current.

The use of electrodes that have a specification for working with devices that produce only alternating current leads to unstable ignition of the arc, the arc does not work stably, and great effort is felt to hold both the arc itself and the weld itself. Most often, in this case, the electrode simply does not have time to warm up, the metal forms a large drop and then the unheated electrode tightly sticks to the surface to be welded.

To solve this problem, if it has already arisen, is quite simple, you need to replace the electrode with one that is intended for welding with direct current. This is the most effective and reliable method, neither increasing the current power nor changing the polarity will help at all, the result will be predictable, the adhesion of large drops, an unstable seam, sticking of the electrode and a high probability of failure of the welding machine itself, especially when working with a large diameter electrodes.

Selection of the appropriate welding current when welding with an inverter machine

Experience with various welding machines and various welding technologies allows us to weld with an even, durable and beautiful seam. In this case, experience, as a rule, plays a major role, because mastering basic welding skills implies a certain level of theoretical training. At the same time, quite often, when a welder with little experience works, sticking of the electrode still occurs.

One of the reasons for this phenomenon, even if the electrode is selected correctly, is the discrepancy between the parameters of the welding current and the parameters of the electrode. Ignition of the arc for each specific electrode diameter requires the correct adjustment of the device.

 Too much current supplied by the device “pulls the electrode” and requires some effort in order to hold the arc; the ignited arc at a high current strongly attracts the electrode. At a low current that does not correspond to the diameter of the electrode, on the contrary, igniting a stable arc is somewhat problematic; it is necessary to keep the electrode too close to the surface of the metal, and the weld pool is formed too small, it does not allow the metal to melt.

At low current, even the smallest movement can open the arc and stop the electrode melting process. The coating of which will most likely simply break off from the rod. And the next time you touch it, the electrode will stick again.

In order to correctly select the value of the welding current, you need to use a simple formula, which, although approximately, will allow you to begin selecting the required welding current - 30A = 1 mm of electrode diameter.

An incorrect choice of welding current will not allow a normal connection to be made in a vertical plane, both when the seam is directed from bottom to top and from top to bottom, and welding from the bottom position of a horizontal ceiling plane is out of the question.

The influence of high-quality electrode material on the quality of the seam

Ignition and formation of the weld pool are largely ensured not only by the correctly selected current, but also by how well the electrode itself is made. Indeed, almost the majority of stuck electrodes are either low-quality or inappropriate rods.

Most often, sticking is associated with rapid solidification of the metal during welding, due to the lack of a sufficient amount of spar coating on the electrode itself or its complete absence. A crumbled coating or a layer that is too thin or does not sufficiently meet the requirements for the proportions of fillers is guaranteed to cause welding with such an electrode to stick.

 The problem here is that it is the coating that forms the necessary gas cloud around the weld pool and displaces oxygen from the weld pool, becoming covered with slag, such a connection forms a strong seam of molten metal.

The absence of such a gas shell does not allow the metal to displace oxygen and, accordingly, the pool itself is formed in a shorter time and the loss of control over the seam within a few moments makes the electrode motionless, captured at the site of arc formation by the liquid metal.

Coating can crumble for various reasons:

• due to manufacturing defects;
• substandard storage conditions for electrodes;
• mechanical stress, kinks, impacts, caking due to improper storage;
• when the electrodes become damp.

Electrode sticking is also characteristic of high humidity of the coating itself. An overly moistened coating does not ensure the proper level of combustion of the coating, resulting in multiple chips and cracks from the heated metal rod.

In addition, damp electrodes cannot be properly ignited, since it is the high humidity of the coating that is unable to properly facilitate the melting process of the electrode itself. The arc arising in the damp electrode shell will not have a stable appearance; the height of the bath will constantly fluctuate and, as a result, sticking of the electrode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkw-LIfeyHs

A coating saturated with moisture forms an insufficiently dense gas dome around the weld pool, which naturally affects the quality of the weld; even if it is possible to apply a seam without sticking the electrode, such a connection will still be unreliable due to the high content of the hydrogen component in the metal.

The only way out of this situation is to dry the electrodes. Removing excess moisture will allow you to continue working within a few hours with consistently high results.

Thus, sticking of the electrode to a greater extent is still the result of a lack of quality components of the welding electrodes, and not the welding technology itself using a welding inverter.

Source: https://svarkagid.com/pochemu-zalipaet-jelektrod-pri-svarke-invertorom/