favourite stick rod

[Shield Arc]

Personally, I've almost quit using 6011's after discovering how brittle the welds are in comparison to the 7018's.

Brittle? I don't know if I agree with the word brittle. Sure 7018 is more ductile than 6011 in most cases, but brittle?

I never thought much of 6011 myself, then reading how people on welding forums were of the same mind set I decided to see for my self. I ran a 5-G test pipe with 6011, cut, and bent the coupons. I think bending a coupon 180-degrees is good enough for most of us here. To be honest I was surprised the 6011 passed the bend test.

 

[easygo]

I have to put my vote down with the 7018 crowd. For the most part I use 3/32 rods as I found the puddle easier to control then 1/8. I welded 1/2" stuff with 3/32 rod and it is holding fine. It took an extra pass or two that's all. I use 7014 for tacking things together as it re-strikes very well. I also keep 6011 just in case, but I hardly use that rod.

 

[Haywire]

7014 for me, but I just started welding this summer and a drag rod was easy to pick up, at least for flat or fillet welds. I never did get where I could lay a vertical or butt weld worth a plug nickel. I wish I was proficient with 6011, but haven't put the practice time into that wrist flip to get it right.

Ian

 

[Soundguy]

I should have added four words there "Getting one in your".

Leather aprons and the like are great in theory but in the way much of the time. Welding jackets are good, especially if your out of position but i need a new one.

Coveralls... they're pretty much useless against a determined piece of slag when your out of position and cant move.

i ware a good welding jacket, sleeves are the leather ones with straps to tighten around the wrists if needed, body is the green fire retardent material, high back collar, I wear long gauntlett cutt gloves and always denim pants with the pantlaegs over my boots ( cowboy boots.. not lace-ups )

many times I wear an apron, if it's convienient and I'm standing or welding at a bench.

if laying down.. not so much.

soundguy

 

[Haywire]

I've got one of those green fire resistant jackets and it wasn't long before there were pinholes burned through the sleeves and I'd get the occasional sting when something got through. I was going to buy some leather sleeves to wear on top, but I never got around to it. It was July at the time and the jacket was a sauna as it was.

Ian

 

[LD1]

I am a little late to the thread but I'll throw out my vote......7014 for 99% of what I do in the "home garage". Sometimes a little 6013 is mixed in.

Of-course we have AC only capability at home. And the 7018AC rod isnt worth crap IMO.

At work, we have a big miller DC-CC unit. It welds 7018 just as nice as 7014 runs at home on our AC box. But it isnt worth getting a DC unit @ home since 7014 has worked so well for years for what we do. And we also have a 225A MIG

 

[Soundguy]

I've got one of those green fire resistant jackets and it wasn't long before there were pinholes burned through the sleeves and I'd get the occasional sting when something got through. I was going to buy some leather sleeves to wear on top, but I never got around to it. It was July at the time and the jacket was a sauna as it was.

Ian

tat's why I got one with leather sleeves... figured they would see more clinkers up close.

soundguy

 

[deereman75]

And the 7018AC rod isnt worth crap IMO.

Oh course I hear this AFTER I buy 10# of 7018ac. I guess I will have to see how well they work for me. Well at least I will be getting dc soon.

 

[Soundguy]

remember.. for a given population, of X, there will be X+1 opinions ...

soundguy

 

[deereman75]

remember.. for a given population, of X, there will be X+1 opinions ...

soundguy

I know. It just surprised me to hear that. Seeing as jody on weldingtipsandtricks likes them so much. Oh well these lincoln rods were cheep enough. $29 for 11# at princess auto.

 

[Dargo]

i ware a good welding jacket, sleeves are the leather ones with straps to tighten around the wrists if needed, body is the green fire retardent material, high back collar, I wear long gauntlett cutt gloves and always denim pants with the pantlaegs over my boots ( cowboy boots.. not lace-ups )

many times I wear an apron, if it's convienient and I'm standing or welding at a bench.

if laying down.. not so much.

soundguy

I seem to only get requests to weld overhead jobs that are impossible to clean. :-(

 

[Soundguy]

that's way cheap...

 

[LD1]

I know. It just surprised me to hear that. Seeing as jody on weldingtipsandtricks likes them so much. Oh well these lincoln rods were cheep enough. $29 for 11# at princess auto.

You may like them on your machine. I wasnt speaking in general, just my own personal experience.

Everyone always talks about the superiority of a 7018 weld. So I decided to give them a try (this was a few years back.)

On our machine (which is an old craftsman that is about the size of a mini-fridge) using a FRESH pack of 7018AC 1/8", had almost no luck. Anything under 100A wanted to stick the rod. Anything over would sustain a decient arc, but only for about 1/2 the rod. The the last half was just glowing cherry red and wadded up like a wet noodle:confused2: This was on 110-120A.

And even that 1/2 rod worth of weld, wasnt as good or as strong as a 7014 on our machine.

But you may like them.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Welding accident


Welding accident - YouTube

 

[Soundguy]

i guess that's like setting on the 'loose' end of the branch that you are sawing off?

soundguy

 

[LD1]

definatally a cutting accident, NOT welding

 

[Brushhill dave]

Don't throw out that 7018 yet, the new stuff isn't that bad!

 

[Brushhill dave]

Also it's best to start 1/8 7018 at about 125 amps. General rule of thumb is to divide the top number by the bottom and that's your starting amps, seems alot of guy here having sticking problems are running waaaay to cold!

 

[k0ua]

Deerman, I have heard it said that 7018AC work well on DC. so don't throw them out if they don't work well on your AC machine.. I can't back that up, but I have heard it.

James K0UA

 

[JB4310]

using a FRESH pack of 7018AC 1/8", had almost no luck. Anything under 100A wanted to stick the rod. Anything over would sustain a decient arc, but only for about 1/2 the rod. The the last half was just glowing cherry red and wadded up like a wet noodle:confused2: This was on 110-120A.

Also it's best to start 1/8 7018 at about 125 amps. General rule of thumb is to divide the top number by the bottom and that's your starting amps, seems alot of guy here having sticking problems are running waaaay to cold!

Yes I agree, LD1 is to low on the amps for 1/8" rod, it's just shorting but not arcing properly, that's why the rod is getting red. I start around 130-140 amps on DC for 1/4"+ stock, go even higher for thicker materials. Get nice deep penetration and sometimes the slag self releases and just lifts off by itself, that's a nice feeling for an amateur welder.

LD1, crank up the amps a little more or try a smaller rod.

Deerman, I have heard it said that 7018AC work well on DC. so don't throw them out if they don't work well on your AC machine.. I can't back that up, but I have heard it.

James K0UA

I've used all types of rod with my old AC Thunderbolt, even 7018 that was not ac specific. wasn't easy to work with, and looked like heck, but stilled worked.

JB