6wheeler 603 #1 Posted January 29, 2020 Hi all. An interesting thought came up at work today. I picked up an old Powermate 110v wire feed welder at an auction. It is gasless. So, since it is flux core ? I want to reverse the polarity for less roping and spatter. The welder is old and switching it will take extra modification to be able to change it. And, make easy to switch it back. The question I raised was? My welding table is an old steel desk with a Wilton vise added. It has 4- 2" legs that just sit on the concrete floor in the shop. When I reverse the polarity, it will technically make the table the "hot" and the torch the ground. With that being said? Should I put rubber pads under the table legs? Will it ground through the floor and short the welder? Of course, this would only be a question when using the vise to hold "work" or laying it on the table. Away from the table. Say, on a tractor or implement that isn't touching the ground, it really shouldn't matter. Am I thinking right here? Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 7,871 #2 Posted January 29, 2020 There is a real good chance the polarity is already correct for flux core, since the machine is gas less. try it first. As far as hot to the table and visa versa, not to worry, that is only relative the the welder itself. It is just the direction of flow. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 9,689 #3 Posted January 29, 2020 have you seen the video Pullstart posted. Your heading the right direction switching you polarity with fluxcore wire. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CCW 1,292 #4 Posted January 29, 2020 I have Hobart flux core welder recently purchased and am very happy with it. The video @pullstart posted is excellent. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
6wheeler 603 #5 Posted January 30, 2020 Thanks guys. No, I hadn't seen it. I have heard of reversing polarity on a welder before. I watched it now. My welder is currently set up with standard polarity. It will not be as easy as the video Pullstart had. I talked to one of our fabricators at work and he told me how to do it. I will have to put some different wiring and welding connectors in it. But, It will work. My only question was? If the ground clamp becomes the positive and the torch the ground? With the Positive (now) clamped to the table? Wouldn't that make the table Hot? JoeM. is right. Since the power can only go through the welder since that is where the ground comes from. So Thanks again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pabird 40 #6 Posted January 30, 2020 I think you'll be ok with the polarity from the factory. My wire feed welder came set up for flux core wire but was capable of running gas. I only changed it when I converted to use gas. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
