6013 vs 7014 vs 7018

[Oldpath05]

It almost sounds like your in another country, the only rod you mention that I recognize is 7014 and I do like that rod for fast strong welds with less spatter with easy starts...

 

[Oldpath05]

Speaking of an all around fast rod, 7014 must be one of the fastest on flat, probably right behind 7024. But still I find that it takes a 5/32 rod to keep up with .030 mig wire.....

 

[GeneV]

With this plow project I just did, this was my first time really doings something with a stick welder. I learned a whole lot, and had a lot of fun. I used all sorts of rods, 6011, 6013, 7014, and 7018.

6011s for the root passes, I had quite a bit of undercut I had a hard time filling in, I dunno if it was my terrible technique or the heat was too high. So I did a bit of grinding/rewelding a few times. Actually I did that not only with the 6011. 6013 and 7014 I ground down a few times here and there because of porosity. 7018 went down real nice, but I just store that stuff in one of those "airtight" (NOT!!) plastic containers, so I dunno what to make of that rod stored like that.

The biggest problems I had was welding vertical, I kept blowing holes. I was welding vertical up. I looked at some youtube vids for pointers, finally started doing ok after turning down the heat a bit. Now I'm thinking maybe I should have been welding vertical down maybe, faster travel and letting gravity carry the pool? I tried several ways to fill in the holes I made, "texas tig" being one of them, which was pretty cool!

 

[deereman75]

6010/6011 vertical down works well. For 7018 vertical up I typically use no rod angle (90° to the surface) and a slight weave back and forth between the two pieces. Little bit cooler but not much.
The real key to vertical is to just stay calm and take your time. If it starts keyholing just keep going, and spend a bit more time at the edges and less in the middle. If you try outrunning it that's when things start going wrong in a hurry.

Too much rod angle hurts. It's a common tendency to point the rod up to try and "push" the puddle up and keep it from falling out. That is actually what causes it to get away from you

 

[GeneV]

6010/6011 vertical down works well. For 7018 vertical up I typically use no rod angle (90° to the surface) and a slight weave back and forth between the two pieces. Little bit cooler but not much.
The real key to vertical is to just stay calm and take your time. If it starts keyholing just keep going, and spend a bit more time at the edges and less in the middle. If you try outrunning it that's when things start going wrong in a hurry.

Too much rod angle hurts. It's a common tendency to point the rod up to try and "push" the puddle up and keep it from falling out. That is actually what causes it to get away from you

Ok, I could see all that what you're saying, thanks!

 

[Oldpath05]

70 rods have to go up. Best way is start with 3/32 then go to 1/8, the bigger the rod the harder it is to weld vertical up, it's almost like making puddle shelfs by weaving back and forth holding the sides/toes, same in mig welding....

 

[deereman75]

Thought I'd post this after mentioning ArcTec yesterday. This is done with 223XC.

As you can see they run quite nicely. Not quite a drag rod like 7018, works best to hold a very slight gap. Bit faster freezing puddle as well.

 

[jaxs]

Thought I'd post this after mentioning ArcTec yesterday. This is done with 223XC.

As you can see they run quite nicely. Not quite a drag rod like 7018, works best to hold a very slight gap. Bit faster freezing puddle as well. View attachment 674710View attachment 674711

Thanks for introducing those. They might become quite popular if you find time to cut,polish,etch and post pictures showing penitration.

 

[deereman75]

They're quite a popular and well proven rod in the right circles. Marketed primarily for repairing construction equipment. Good for welding cast steel, 4140, 1045, ect
85,000psi tensile, yet still better elongation than 7018. And no oven storage.

Their main drawback is price, around $80 a box.....
I have zero affiliation with the company, just a happy customer

 

[Oldpath05]

Thought I'd post this after mentioning ArcTec yesterday. This is done with 223XC.

As you can see they run quite nicely. Not quite a drag rod like 7018, works best to hold a very slight gap. Bit faster freezing puddle as well.
View attachment 674711

They're quite a popular and well proven rod in the right circles. Marketed primarily for repairing construction equipment. Good for welding cast steel, 4140, 1045, ect
85,000psi tensile, yet still better elongation than 7018. And no oven storage.

Their main drawback is price, around $80 a box.....
I have zero affiliation with the company, just a happy customer

Very nice:thumbsup: I still cant find those for sale online. How big is the box? hope its more then 10lbs.......

 

[deereman75]

Not available online unfortunately... Apart from getting lucky and finding them on the shelf somewhere I'm not sure there is an option other than phoning ArcTec directly.

Sadly, that's a 10# box. Up here they're just under double what 7018 costs.

Very nice I still cant find those for sale online. How big is the box? hope its more then 10lbs.......

 

[Oldpath05]

Not available online unfortunately... Apart from getting lucky and finding them on the shelf somewhere I'm not sure there is an option other than phoning ArcTec directly.

Sadly, that's a 10# box. Up here they're just under double what 7018 costs.

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
E718 1/8" Premium Arc Welding Rods Carbon Steel Electrode 1 lb Box | eBay

FORNEY INDUSTRIES 35 E718 Welding Rod,1/8-Inch 32277353 | eBay

 

[deereman75]

I think the last time I bought Esab OK-55 7018 it was around $50 a box

Keep in mind exchange rate and such

 

[Oldpath05]

I think the last time I bought Esab OK-55 7018 it was around $50 a box

Keep in mind exchange rate and such

Oh yeah exchange rate I forgot about that, it use to work out good for us US, not sure now.....

 

[MF RED in MT]

Very nice:thumbsup: I still cant find those for sale online. How big is the box? hope its more then 10lbs.......

Is this what you are looking for?

KC

ARCTEC 223 XC MEDIUM CARBON STEEL AC-DC 3.25-1/8 ELECTRODE 618546 | eBay

 

[deereman75]

That price is REALLY high, but those are the ones. I think exchange rate would make my price around $60usd

Is this what you are looking for?

KC

ARCTEC 223 XC MEDIUM CARBON STEEL AC-DC 3.25-1/8 ELECTRODE 618546 | eBay

 

[Oldpath05]

That price is REALLY high, but those are the ones. I think exchange rate would make my price around $60usd

WOW would be a understatement, on my end it says $95.00 $8.75 shipping for a 4.5 kg, just under 10lbs and open box, that sometimes is a bad sign. 7018 is under $25.00 5-10 lbs. cant we get somewhere close to that online or do I have to go across the boarder..........

 

[deereman75]

You could always phone ArcTec. Its also $2-3 per KG cheaper if you buy 3 or more boxes

WOW would be a understatement, on my end it says $95.00 $8.75 shipping for a 4.5 kg, just under 10lbs and open box, that sometimes is a bad sign. 7018 is under $25.00 5-10 lbs. cant we get somewhere close to that online or do I have to go across the boarder..........

 

[pmsmechanic]

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
E718 1/8" Premium Arc Welding Rods Carbon Steel Electrode 1 lb Box | eBay

FORNEY INDUSTRIES 385 E718 Welding Rod,1/8-Inch 322773853 | eBay

I don't know about you guys but after welding with Lincoln 7018 rods I'm not interested in welding with any other brand. They weld so nice compared to a few others I've tried. And it's been so long that I don't remember the brands any more.

 

[GeneV]

70 rods have to go up. Best way is start with 3/32 then go to 1/8, the bigger the rod the harder it is to weld vertical up, it's almost like making puddle shelfs by weaving back and forth holding the sides/toes, same in mig welding....

Good info man, thx.