Lincoln 7018 AC

[deereman75]

Well I just finished my welding table, and I was making a few practice beads on a piece of scrap sitting on it. I was using a lincoln 7018 ac 1/8. I got it stuck, and went to free it like I have hundreds of times, and in the process of that, every single piece of flux on the rod fell off. The fulx often seems to fall off the rods very easily, the last few inches are normally unuseable due to the fulx falling off while welding. I am glad I just got 10# of them. Next time I get 7018 rods, I will get either blueshield or esab atom arc. Never buying lincoln 7018 rods of any time ever again. :smiley_aafz::thumbdown:

 

[Gary Fowler]

I dont believe I have ever seen that happen to a 7018. It does come off pretty easily with a hammer if you need a bare rod, but I have never had it fall off the last few inches of the rod when welding either. If you stick it, it will loose up to an inch or so of flux from the bending at the end.

 

[k0ua]

I have never used any Lincoln 7018 or 7018AC but I am wondering how wet those rods might be. And Gary do you use a rod oven at home for 7018 when you are just fabbing up and fixing things and not having to do code work? What is your opinion on this? I was wondering if the expense is worth it for a guy like me.. just a hobbyist

James

 

[deereman75]

The rods have just been sitting in an open cardboard box in an unheated shed. They are a bit moist I am sure, but they even did this right out of the sealed box. I have heard that esab atom arc 7018 rods hold on to their flux a lot better, I might try those next time.

 

[rankrank1]

The rods have just been sitting in an open cardboard box in an unheated shed. They are a bit moist I am sure, but they even did this right out of the sealed box. I have heard that esab atom arc 7018 rods hold on to their flux a lot better, I might try those next time.

Only the metal tins are guaranteed to be properly sealed. Most of the smaller packages are only sealed with either wax paper or a plastic bag and I almost always find a hole somewhere in the wax paper or platic bag so techincally not sealed.

 

[Chilly807]

The Air Liquide 7018 rods are pretty good. I'm not sure if the ones I have are AC or not, I weld almost entirely on DC.

Sean

 

[Bigfoot62]

The rods have just been sitting in an open cardboard box in an unheated shed. They are a bit moist I am sure, but they even did this right out of the sealed box. I have heard that esab atom arc 7018 rods hold on to their flux a lot better, I might try those next time.

I would suggest that you keep them in the house until you need them.

ANY rod that is exposed to moisture and temperature fluctuations will give you problems.

 

[Shield Arc]

I've never used 7018 AC, in fact I didn't even know there was such a thing until joining these forums.
But I've seen this happen a million times to 7018, try welding in the rain, you'll see this.

deerman75 load one of those rods into your stinger, stick it to your welding table, and hold it there for 10 to 15 seconds, let the moisture boil out of those rods. Unstick the rod and go to work.

 

[lilranch2001]

Atom Arc is the best 7018 I have ever used, it is all I will buy
:thumbsup:

 

[deereman75]

deerman75 load one of those rods into your stinger, stick it to your welding table, and hold it there for 10 to 15 seconds, let the moisture boil out of those rods. Unstick the rod and go to work.

I will try that when I go back out. I have been practicing with 6013 rods, and I have had my first Ah Ha moment. I have been moving too slow for the most part. Once I sped up a bit, the beads were much better.

 

[k0ua]

I just signed up on their website for the free 1 lb sample of their ESAB Atom Arc Acclaim 1/8 7018... we shall see..

James K0UA

 

[Shield Arc]

I just signed up on their website for the free 1 lb sample of their ESAB Atom Arc Acclaim 1/8 7018... we shall see..

James K0UA

Yeah good luck getting that! But if you do, please let us know what you think. Soon as I run out of 7018 that will be my next purchase.

 

[deereman75]

A few people on wedingweb said they signed up for that, and a month or so later, they got it. I couldnt find anywhere on the esab site where you could sign up for it. If I could find it, I would do it. Free welding rods are always nice.

 

[Shield Arc]

I signed up 2 or 3 years ago, never got it. A girl from ESAB called me and asked quite a few questions. When she asked how many welding machines I had, she gasped, and said are you serious?!!!! :laughing:

 

[kevinj]

Yeah good luck getting that! But if you do, please let us know what you think. Soon as I run out of 7018 that will be my next purchase.

I got mine and have only used a few rods. I AM NOT a professional welder at all but did not notice much difference to the Lincoln Excalibur moisture resistant that I have.

The pipe welders at work seem to use either with no big preference either way.

 

[Shield Arc]

The pipe welders at work seem to use either with no big preference either way.

Do you happen to know what kind of machines they're running? I can tell the difference with inverters, but not with generators.

 

[deereman75]

Well I tried sticking the rods to dry them out, and it worked great. Thanks Shieldarc. They weld so much nicer hot. I also had my second AH HA moment today. I found that I was using too much motion with the 7018s. Just a straight drag worked great, and was making a really nice weld, until the breaker tripped again... I have got to get an inverter.

 

[Shield Arc]

You learn those little tricks when you have to weld in the rain. Next time it rains try it.:laughing:


I keep telling you, you won't find a better arc for the buck than the PowerArc 200.

 

[kevinj]

Do you happen to know what kind of machines they're running? I can tell the difference with inverters, but not with generators.

We have all the above, several Miller & Lincoln engine drive(Bobcats & Rangers, couple of big 40). Some inverters and some transformers(dial arc and such)

I have not used an inverter myself, ought to sign one out some weekend and try it out!!:thumbsup:

I have a trailblazer 225G and a Dialarc 250.

 

[deereman75]

You learn those little tricks when you have to weld in the rain. Next time it rains try it.:laughing:


I keep telling you, you won't find a better arc for the buck than the PowerArc 200.

Well it is raining right now, so if I want to weld more today I will have to. :laughing: If I had the cash, I would get the powerarc 200. I am also considering something like the powerarc 140st or the longevity stickweld 140. Partly because it would be nice to have something small that can run on 110 for repairs, and partly because they are about $100-$150 less.