How and what electrodes to choose for inverter welding? Overview, features, types and reviews

Welding is now a demanded process both in the work of professional masters and home specialists. With its help, you can fix metal products, and if necessary, create new ones. To ensure that the quality of the seams is decent, you need a minimum experience with the welding machine. Not the least role is played by properly selected consumables.

Therefore, many novice welders are interested in the question of which electrodes to choose for inverter welding. Take this process responsibly. Advice of experienced masters will help to understand the difference between the presented material and choose the best option for each type of work.

Characteristics of inverter welding

Before choosing electrodes for inverter welding, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the features of this process. It involves the use of special equipment. The inverter is a welding machine, which uses the melting method for arc welding.

Advantages of this technique in comparison with transformer varieties have long been appreciated by professional masters. Inverters are now used much more often than other types of equipment. This is due to their stable welding current. It thus turns out very durable and high-quality.

The inverter unit, equipped with a rectifier, is capable of generating a constant and alternating voltage at power-on. If there is no mains filter, only a constant voltage is output. This feature must be taken into account when carrying out work.

Welding diagram

When using the inverter in its work, it is necessary to familiarize with its scheme of action. The main consumables of this equipment are electrodes. They are made in the form of a metal rod, through which the current approaches the working surface. When studying which electrodes are best for inverter welding machines, it is necessary to go deeper into the scheme of the equipment operation and the process.

When operating the inverter, other tools are also used. These include a control system, a mains filter (or rectifier), a transformer, and a frequency converter. This allows the device to work with different materials. Even the same specimen of the plant suggests using different electrode grades when welding different materials. Therefore, their choice should be given special attention.

Essence of electrodes

When studying the question of which electrodes to choose for welding with an inverter, you should familiarize yourself with the device of this consumable material. As already mentioned above, the same model of the device is used in different conditions. Therefore, the electrodes must be selected according to the working process.

Modern production of the main part of its products in the form of consumables for manual arc welding inverter. This tool is made of metal wire. This rod is treated with a special coating by pressing. It is designed to ensure the stability of combustion, as well as to protect the welded bath from the effects of atmospheric air. Materials for the production of such products are used very differently. The production standards for electrodes are regulated by GOST 2246, approved in 1970.

Varieties

When deciding how and which electrodes to choose for welding with an inverter, it is necessary to refer to the above-mentioned GOST. It states that there are three types of consumables suitable for such works. The electrodes can be carbonaceous, alloyed and highly doped. They are made of different types of wire.

A beginner who is going to produce inverter welding at home, does not need to delve into such varieties. It should only be noted that all the electrodes are divided into two large groups. The first category includes materials intended for responsible structures, and to the second category for conventional ones.

If welding is not involved in the process of creating load-bearing metal structures, to which considerable pressure will be exerted, then simple varieties of products should be preferred. When using an inverter in economic needs, this will be quite enough.

Survey of household electrodes

Professional masters are ready to share their experience and tell you which electrodes are better for a welding inverter. Overview of the most popular varieties will allow a newcomer to choose the right variety of products. To date, the most popular electrodes for inverters used in domestic conditions are ANO, MR-3. On their characteristics should be discussed in more detail.

The first type of electrodes do not cause problems during operation. They are easily ignited without requiring preliminary calcination. For a novice welder, the ANS is the best option. MP-3 is considered a universal consumable. It allows welding even on rusty, contaminated surfaces, as well as in wet conditions.

Overview of professional electrodes

When studying which electrodes to choose for welding with an inverter, it is necessary to choose brands such as MR-3C, and also SSSI-13/55 for responsible varieties of structures. They are classified as a group of consumables used to create responsible structures.

With increased requirements for the quality of the finished seam, it is better to give preference to the brand MR-3C. Such electrodes are used in metal processing with a constant, alternating current of reverse polarity.

For particularly important jobs when welding load-bearing structures should choose consumables brand SSSI. However, only a professional master can work with them. For the beginner, the capricious character of such an electrode will not be to the teeth. But, having learned to handle SSSI, it is possible to create the most durable seams with high density (even in low-temperature conditions).

Variety of metal

When studying which electrodes to choose for inverter welding, you need to pay attention to the type of working material. For each metal, there are different types of welding rods.

For cast iron, preference should be given to electrodes of the type OZCH-2. Their production is regulated by GOST 9466 from 1975. If it is necessary to work with low-carbon steel, it is better to purchase ANO-4 products with a rutile top layer or ANO-6, which have an ilmenite type of coating.

Conventional carbon steels require the use of electrodes OZS-4, MR-3S, MP-3, UONI13 / 45, ANO-21, etc. Stainless and high-alloy steels need the use of consumables for inverter welding under the brand TsL-11.

How to choose an electrode

Having considered what it is better to choose electrodes for inverter welding, it is worth saying a few words about the features of their purchase. First of all, it is necessary to pay attention to the composition of the coating applied to the product. This information can be found in the instructions for use. This will allow you to choose the right kind according to the type of material.

Further in the accompanying documentation it is necessary to consider the deposition coefficient. Depending on the scope of work, as well as the flow rates, the required number of electrodes is acquired.

Also, do not buy products that do not have the appropriate quality certificates. This can be unsafe. The quality of the joints when using questionable materials can be very different from the desired result. Therefore, the process of choice and purchase must be taken responsibly.

Having considered what electrodes to choose for welding by an inverter, even a novice master will be able to acquire the correct variety. The work will pass quickly and safely. The result will be good even for a beginner.