favourite stick rod

[deereman75]

Well the title pretty much says it all. My favourite rod now is the blueshield 6011 from air liquide. I am thinking that might change when I get dc and start using 7018s. So whats yours?

 

[JB4310]

Well the title pretty much says it all. My favourite rod now is the blueshield 6011 from air liquide. I am thinking that might change when I get dc and start using 7018s. So whats yours?

If you're like me, your favorite will change to 7018 when you get DC.

Mine use to be what ever worked with AC, but by far the best beads with ac came out with 7024. But that is a horizontal use rod (in position) I got real good at flipping things over so I could still use the 7024.

Right now with DC the only rod I need is 7018. At my limited skill level I really wouldn't care if there was no other rods available.

JB

 

[flusher]

Well the title pretty much says it all. My favourite rod now is the blueshield 6011 from air liquide. I am thinking that might change when I get dc and start using 7018s. So whats yours?

I like 7014 drag rod, 1/8 inch. It's not as sensitive to moisture as 7018 and is easy to weld with on DC positive. 7024 drag rod is really easy to use also.

 

[deereman75]

I am thinking of getting a box of 7024 rods next time I am at air liquide. Only 200# of o2 left, so I will be going fairly soon.

 

[sweettractors]

6011 in the 1/8 and 5/32 diameter. Good penetrating rod for old farm equipment. Ken Sweet

 

[k0ua]

7018. kinda hard to restrike unless you break off the "corn" or covering on the end of the rod after you finish a bead, but the appearence of the bead is great. And they run so smooth. I use 6011 for deep penetration on dirty metal and 6013 some too for sheet metal and tack up, but its 7018 for me when ever possible.

James K0UA

 

[Gizmo2]

I like 7014 drag rod, 1/8 inch. It's not as sensitive to moisture as 7018 and is easy to weld with on DC positive. 7024 drag rod is really easy to use also.

X2, Been using the 7014 forever. 7018 for the big stuff.

 

[Scooby074]

6013 and 7018. Both from Air Liquide.

 

[deereman75]

The only problem I have had with my 6011s is that some of them have about 1/8" of flux over the end of the rod, but a quick tap on the floor fixes that. The other thing is these rods are a few years old, and have dried out. So I diped some of them in water and let dry in the sun for a few days, and they worked much better.

 

[Soundguy]

6011 for thick, and 6013 for thin or top dressing..

soundguy

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Unless you are doing a flat weld or a horizontal fillet, 7024 is of limited value. Again, 7018 looses its advantages largely unless you keep it stored dry and hot.

7014 will give you what you need in strength and smooth welds.

If you're finger nailing your rod as you say you are, then its possible that you are holding too much of an angle when you are welding.

 

[deereman75]

If you're finger nailing your rod as you say you are, then its possible that you are holding too much of an angle when you are welding.

I guess I wasnt clear, they came out of the box with the end of the rod covered with the flux as well, not a bare spot like they should have. Now I am betting it was a bad batch or something, as only say 1 in 5 have this.

 

[Scooby074]

I guess I wasnt clear, they came out of the box with the end of the rod covered with the flux as well, not a bare spot like they should have. Now I am betting it was a bad batch or something, as only say 1 in 5 have this.

Interesting. Ive never had a bad batch of AL rods.

 

[deereman75]

Interesting. Ive never had a bad batch of AL rods.

The box of 6013s I bought at the same time was just fine, and I am sure if I told the guys there about it, they would give me a new box. It just doesnt really bother me, besides, I am almost done that box.

 

[Scooby074]

The box of 6013s I bought at the same time was just fine, and I am sure if I told the guys there about it, they would give me a new box. It just doesnt really bother me, besides, I am almost done that box.

your right they probably would.

AL is a really good retailer. Ive never has an issue with them.

 

[digger2]

Mines 7018 1/8'.I love those things for any kind of properly prepared
weld joint.....UNLESS,its some rusty old garbage with paint and who knows what all on it,and you can't get to it to clean it before welding,and the boss says.."come on hurry it up,this things gotta be done"....then its 6011.
Although i dont like to do stuff like that,sometimes its a "have to".And then i still dont like doing it.
As far as the 7018's getting a "corn" on the end making it hard to restart...try "flicking" your rod as soon as you pull off before it hardens on the tip.Just be cautious if your working some place where there might be
something to catch fire (cardboard,wood,etc.)That molten glob of flux could go anywhere.But really,those things should'nt be around somebody welding anyway.I try not to do any welding unless i know i'm gonna be around the rest of the day so i can keep an eye on my shop.I'd hate to lose all my equipment because a spark got in the wrong place and i left to go to town.
I've seen it happen many times.

digger2

 

[brokenknee]

Mines 7018 1/8'.I love those things for any kind of properly prepared
weld joint.....UNLESS,its some rusty old garbage with paint and who knows what all on it,and you can't get to it to clean it before welding,and the boss says.."come on hurry it up,this things gotta be done"....then its 6011.
Although i dont like to do stuff like that,sometimes its a "have to".And then i still dont like doing it.
As far as the 7018's getting a "corn" on the end making it hard to restart...try "flicking" your rod as soon as you pull off before it hardens on the tip.Just be cautious if your working some place where there might be
something to catch fire (cardboard,wood,etc.)That molten glob of flux could go anywhere.But really,those things should'nt be around somebody welding anyway.I try not to do any welding unless i know i'm gonna be around the rest of the day so i can keep an eye on my shop.I'd hate to lose all my equipment because a spark got in the wrong place and i left to go to town.
I've seen it happen many times.

digger2

6011 for stuff can't (or don't want to take time) to clean. 7018, That being said, don't use much of either since I bought my wire feed.

 

[deereman75]

your right they probably would.

AL is a really good retailer. Ive never has an issue with them.

Mine seems to be a really good one, they have often told me to not consider some of their house brand things, such mig welders. Also, when I bought my torch kit from them, I got the blueshield industrial kit, and the oxy and acct tanks. They gave me the biggest discount the computer would allow, and the trade school discount, which I in now way applied for, and charged me for empty tanks, and gave me the gas for free. In all I probably saved around $400-$500. I havnt been there in quite a while though, just got back to welding around 6 months ago, and havnt needed to go yet. Hope they are still as nice to me.

 

[grsthegreat]

Get that DC and go with 7018. youll be glad yo did :laughing: Course i had to go get a small rod oven also. but thats life.

 

[deereman75]

Get that DC and go with 7018. youll be glad yo did :laughing:

If I had a nickle for every time I have heard that, I would have that new welder now.