Messer 80T-AC plus, test results.

Shield Arc · May 27, 2011

I ran this test at the request of rankrank1.
This rod is just a little easier to run than 7014, the slag isn't much of an issue at all, it stays where you put it. You still need to run it with more angle than 7018. Once I made the first weld and looked at the slag, I thought oops! But when I chipped the slag off I was surprised at how nice of a weld it was. Speaking of the slag, wow this stuff is tough to get out of a V-groove. If I had to do much of this I'd break out the needle gun. I ran the first test on AC 120-AMPS, noticed a lot of splatter, but when I ran the second test on DC 115-AMPS, the splatter was worse! The splatter was so bad on the DC test I had to grind it off / out after each pass! This rod puts off a lot of smoke, pretty much equal to 6010.

Personally I wouldn't buy this rod just because of all the splatter, so I can't recommend it. Now maybe I got a bad box, but I'll never know because I won't buy another box!

DC test.

This Harbor Freights compact bender is a joke. The AC test coupons bent just fine, but the DC test would not bend in the center.

k0ua · May 27, 2011

So lots of smoke and splatter... what's to like? Where is the upside..?

James K0UA

Shield Arc · May 27, 2011

k0ua said:
Where is the upside..?

Mark @ Everlast · May 27, 2011

Well,
Its fun to find out anyway. Thanks for spitting out the change so we don't need to.

My "favorite" sleeper rods are from US forge. They're cheap (relatively) but I've run many pounds of them in several different sizes,and classifications. Never had any complaints. If I need only 5-10 lbs, they are the rod I'll pick up. Local hardware carries them and the local large ag store does as well. I've run 6011, 7014, 6013, 7018, all from them with no issues. Not sure about their specialty rods though.

rankrank1 · May 27, 2011

Excellent review Shieldarc even though the results were not as I had hoped. Everything I had read on other forums indicated that these rods were even easier to run than 7014's and were the ideal rod of choice for anyone with an AC only buzzbox due to their ease of use. It sure looks like you have proved those claims wrong. The amount of spatter on DC leaves me speechless. Out of curiousity do they still spatter as excessively with the amps turned done even lower.

I have burned only 2 rods so far of the US Forge blue rods from Menard's that I believe to be the same rods as the Messer 80T AC only sold under a different label. My impression so far is that they are a little harder to strike than 7014's but do seem to penetrate slightly more than 7014's do.

I will try to experiment some more this weekend, but need to find a dry place to weld first. Hail storm 2 days ago literally put holes in my aluminum metal barn roof and I have standing water outside the barn and have excessive dampness inside the barn - all providing less than an ideal environment for doing any AC based welding. All my rods are in the house so at least they are dry. My cars look like someone took a ballpein hammer to them, and I have house siding and window damage too. Oh well, could have been much worse.

Thanks again for sharing this with the entire forum.

Shield Arc · May 27, 2011

rankrank1 said:
Out of curiousity do they still spatter as excessively with the amps turned done even lower.

I'll play with them some more tomorrow and see.

ALtheWelder · Aug 4, 2011

I know this is an older post, but I'm newly registered, and I liked Shield-Arc's series of tests he made on the most used stick welding electrodes in repair and fabrication welding.

Having said that, I kinda have a liking to the MG 80T AC rod tested here, and all I can say is that you may have gotten a bad batch, because in general, they operate like the best E6012-13 AC rod you may ever come across.
Earlier this year, I bought a 5# box of the 1/8" MG 80T-AC. [ebay $ deal...new rod in sealed box]It still is a super performing rod, and almost spatter free??. I ran it at all its' amp range 80-120 AC & DC+-
It will spatter slightly more on DC-.
Although you may find E6013's that operate just as good, [there are not as many as in the past]for far less $[on the net, the MG runs about $18 a 5# box]
As far as the 80,000 tensile...most E6013's specs out on the mid to upper 70k, some top out at 80k.
Any E7018 AC or E7014 would equal this 80T'a AC performance for far less $.
My favorite rod,for the past few years...if I only had one rod to use for just about everything is ESAB atom-arc E7018AC. [Best yet to be found to run on a small under 200 amp low voltage AC only welder]
Again, Shield-Arc did a great work in testing all these sticks for all the tractor net people and I for one liked his work!:thumbsup:

yomax4 · Aug 4, 2011

I have been through the MG Training School and can assure you that 80T is simply a higher carbon 6013. Yes it is awesome and I use it for demo's all the time. Over priced but I can expense it. Eutectic has the same thing for 2x the price. It's just a re-invention of the wheel for more $$$. Don't get me wrong..I love the stuff.

eastexan · Aug 7, 2011

ALtheWelder said:
I know this is an older post, but I'm newly registered, and I liked Shield-Arc's series of tests he made on the most used stick welding electrodes in repair and fabrication welding.

Having said that, I kinda have a liking to the MG 80T AC rod tested here, and all I can say is that you may have gotten a bad batch, because in general, they operate like the best E6012-13 AC rod you may ever come across.
Earlier this year, I bought a 5# box of the 1/8" MG 80T-AC. [ebay $ deal...new rod in sealed box]It still is a super performing rod, and almost spatter free??. I ran it at all its' amp range 80-120 AC & DC+-
It will spatter slightly more on DC-.
Although you may find E6013's that operate just as good, [there are not as many as in the past]for far less $[on the net, the MG runs about $18 a 5# box]
As far as the 80,000 tensile...most E6013's specs out on the mid to upper 70k, some top out at 80k.
Any E7018 AC or E7014 would equal this 80T'a AC performance for far less $.
My favorite rod,for the past few years...if I only had one rod to use for just about everything is ESAB atom-arc E7018AC. [Best yet to be found to run on a small under 200 amp low voltage AC only welder]
Again, Shield-Arc did a great work in testing all these sticks for all the tractor net people and I for one liked his work!:thumbsup:

AL, thanks for your take on the Messer rod. I haven't tried any yet, but may in the future. No one sells it around here.
I think I will buy some of that ESAB atom-arc 7018AC per your suggestion.
I have a Miller Thunderbolt 235AC and have found that it runs all the rod I've bought so far. But I haven't tried the ESAB.

I agree with you about Shield Arc's honest testing of all the different rods. I especially liked the hammer tests he did. Those tests have helped us put all the different types in perspective. I would like to see a hammer test made on the Messer 80T-AC as well.

I have enjoyed watching your welding video's and look forward to your comments on this forum. :thumbsup:

rankrank1 · Aug 7, 2011

I finally had a chance to burn a few more of the 3/32 US Forge packaged equivalent of these rods tonight and I must say that I really liked them. I usually struggle with the 3/32" diameter rods more than the 1/8" diameter rods due to rod flexing. (I have been known to cut rods in half with the smaller diameter rods to help combat this).

I must say these were very easy to use and I had no problems seeing the puddle and I was using AC current buzzbox which is where other posters on other forums have claimed this particular rod shines. I did not try it on DC yet.

Anyway the US Forge equivalent (same Messer rod in a different package) is available at places like Menards, or smaller hardware stores like ACE so it would be nice if other TBN members want to post their experiences here as well. A small pack is like $4.00 if anyone else wants to contribute to this experiment.