Problem with an S.D. Lee Stick Welder

[pablohoney]

Having some trouble with my S.D. Lee,100 amp stick welder. Not sure if it is Ac or DC. I am plugging it into the same plug that I use for my 2hp air compressor, so I don't think the power supply is the problem. Also, using a general use stick on a plain old steel bar. Not sure what is going on.

Thanks!

Quick vid of whats going on.
http://s721.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps8bccfe75.mp4

http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/w...psfc0f7fc7.jpg

[wagin]

Is that a carpet surface you are attempting to weld on?

[DSW]

Post up what amp setting roughly you are using and what size and type of rods. Looking at the static pict of the machine I'm guessing you are around 75-80 amps. Hard to say from the vid what the rods size is, but I'm guessing your amps are way too low for the rod size and type you are trying to run. Top end on that machine looks to be 100 amps, so chances are it won't run 1/8" rods. 3/32" is probably the largest it will run well and to do that you'll need to be up near the top of the amps you have.

Smaller rods like 5/64" or 1/16" are a better choice for the output range you have available.



That carpet has "bad news" written all over it.... Loose it FAST!

[ccawgc]

double post, didn't edit right

[ccawgc]

You have a AC welder. Made by the old Century welder co. Model 110 104.
Besides Lincoln electric, there are a couple of other places to get parts for your welder.
The weld terminals are not factory unless S.D.Lee had them put on.
Do not weld on top of carpet unless you want to start a toxic fire.
Make sure your rods are for use on AC welders. DC only rods do not like to arc on AC machines. Move the amp adjustment lever carefully. If you bend it. it may have to be replaced. some guys have been able to repair them but it is not easy.
Get the suggested amp chart for the rod size you are using. Try to stay in that range.
Watch the duty cycle limits. You can over heat this real fast at the high end.
Look at the top right corner of the welder front. 20% means 2 minutes of welder at full output then give it 8 minutes off to cool. Welding at a lower setting will give you a little
more time to weld.

[pablohoney]

First off, I would never weld on carpet, I just was doing a quick demo in my garage.

Thanks for the info.

I am using 6013 3/32" electrodes, and I turned it up to 100 and it still did the same thing.

The ground clamp does look homemade, not sure about the electrode clamp, but it doesn't look like it is in the greatest condition.

[pablohoney]

I checked my clamps with an ohmmeter and they both seem just fine. So I cracked open the cover and it is very dirty in there, and there are also two wire nuts. always suspicious of them. But is there anything wrong with whats going on in there? Thanks

[ccawgc]

An ohmmeter will not find a bad connection in the weld circuit, clamp and electrode holder. The best way is to use a load bank and a touchless thermometer.
Pull full load on the welder and look for anything that gets hot very fast.
Any connection that is the least bit resistive will get to hot to touch is a few seconds.
You can also use a voltmeter and look for voltage where it shouldn't be.
A 25 foot weld lead with 100 to 200 amps of current will read 0.25 to 0.5 volts end to end. Most migguns will read the same.
If you hard short a full welding rod for no more that 30 seconds. You can get similar results to using a load bank. Allow cooling time between tests.