Red Arc

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angelo49
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Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2008 8:20 pm
Location: Brooklyn, NY Paradise, PA

Red Arc

Post by angelo49 »

When stick welding, 1/8'' or less rod, the arc is bright red.
I've done quite a bit of welding years ago but I'm thinking it was always a blue arc.
The weld is decent. It's a 250 amp AC/DC machine. Red arc in all polarities.
Any thoughts?
Thank's,
Angelo
Angelo
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mcostello
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Location: Lancaster, Ohio

Re: Red Arc

Post by mcostello »

Red rod-6010? :)
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GlennW
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Re: Red Arc

Post by GlennW »

Well, someone has to ask...

What color lens are you using?

Stupid question, but you never know!
Glenn

Operating machines is perfectly safe......until you forget how dangerous it really is!
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Steggy
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Re: Red Arc

Post by Steggy »

Red eyes from staying out real late the night before? :lol:

The electrode type can influence the color of the arc, plus there is some reflection from the puddle.

Absent the above causes and assuming you are using a helmet lens that uniformly impedes the entire spectrum (including ultraviolet radiation, which is what does the most damage), you may being seeing the results of a slight amount of tritanomaly in your vision. In simple terms, your perception of the upper end if the spectrum may not not as good as the middle and lower end, causing the apparent brightness of the blue component of the arc's glow to be lower than the reds and greens. A thorough vision check by an ophthalmologist (not an optometrist) using an anomaloscope can determine if there is anything about which to be concerned.
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angelo49
Posts: 56
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2008 8:20 pm
Location: Brooklyn, NY Paradise, PA

Re: Red Arc

Post by angelo49 »

OK
3/32'' 7014 rod........about 5yrs old out in the garage (ouch!)
DC str or rev
#12 old school black lens.
Gave my neighbor a mask to watch and he sees the same red.
Noticable less red using AC
I might have answered most of my question (?????)
Angelo
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mcostello
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Re: Red Arc

Post by mcostello »

Maybe rust burning off? Never heard of it but anything can happen.
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