advice on welding rods

[laurencen]

Hi all, its been years since I used a arc welder, got a miller 250 gas welder and have to weld a trailer for a boat on site, I have no problems doing horizontal butt welds bit I will be doing 50% vertical and 30% overhead, my queston what rods are recomended and thaughts on ac or dc including the rod selection

thanks in advance

 

[JB4310]

Hi all, its been years since I used a arc welder, got a miller 250 gas welder and have to weld a trailer for a boat on site, I have no problems doing horizontal butt welds bit I will be doing 50% vertical and 30% overhead, my queston what rods are recomended and thaughts on ac or dc including the rod selection

thanks in advance

I'm just a hack welder who never even knew there were numbers on rods for the first 10 years I welded, with the ac buzz box I found on the side of the road. Used any rod I could find that was free.

I would say DC for sure, and 1/8" 7018 is always a good starting point. Since I got DC capability, that rod seems to be all I need, even when other rods should be more suitable for an application, I end up doing a better job with the 7018.

If you have little experience welding out of position, that's gonna be a challenge. Is this a critical application where the trailer is gonna go down the road? if so how big of a boat are we talking about?

JB

 

[BrianR]

Mig is going to be easier to weld out of position with, in my opinion. Can you get access to a portable 120v MIG welder, such as a Handler 120? I once welded a broken cylinder bracket on the discharge auger of a Case IH combine (in the field) using a gas generator to power the welder from the bed of a pickup truck. Hauled the welder up to the grain bin, and welded it back together in the dark (trying to beat rain that night).

 

[cowski]

1/8 6011 about a 100 on dc would be a good starting point.

 

[odleo]

Please don't use a 110 MIG machine use at least a 220 MIG machine but since you asked about rods. I would use either a 6010 or 7018. I use multiple passes and start with a 6010 and the fill cap with 7018. Just.remember 7018 is not q downhill rod

 

[EMB5530]

Just my opinion but 7018 cleans a little hard and if you have not welded in some time I would go w/ 6011 just b/c it will lay down easier if you are not good at getting a good strike and weld going every time and it will also clean easier for a 2nd pass especially if you are overheading and not used to it there should surely be several passes. But if you are worried about strength and think that laying down a clean bead is no problem for ya, 7018 does lay down nice and have more toughness.

My experience comes from my miller bobcat 250
Like I say though this is my opinion and I am not sure I have ever used two pipeling welders that have operated the exact same. Final AdviseBuy small tubes of each type 6011 or 6013 and 7018 maybe even diffrent sizes 3/16, 1/8 and I also find 1/16 very useful for pain in the butt spots that you might burn through

hope this was helpfull
Eric

 

[drizler]

6011:thumbsup: Simple to use, strikes fairly easy and sticks quickly. Cheap too and not very moisture sensative. I have some that still works and it's so old some of the coating is beginning to fall off. Last time I got some Tractor Supply had Hobart brand 5lbs / $17.00

 

[flusher]

Hi all, its been years since I used a arc welder, got a miller 250 gas welder and have to weld a trailer for a boat on site, I have no problems doing horizontal butt welds bit I will be doing 50% vertical and 30% overhead, my queston what rods are recomended and thaughts on ac or dc including the rod selection

thanks in advance

I'd try 7014 drag rods which can be used in any position. They're less sensitive to moisture than 7018 and easier to use. I use DC positive and 100-130 amps with 1/8" rod depending on thickness of the material.

 

[laurencen]

more info, the boat is a 32 foot cruiser, had no trailer and the previous owner put it on a mobile home trailer, my plan is to cut both front and back off, use the original hitch spliced on the front and fabricate the cross members, this is not for pulling the boat around daily more to the lake each year and allow me to have the boat sitting at my home to work on rather than the marina.

The Bobcat 250 works fine, I did cut the front off and tack the hitch in place, was trying 7014 but on AC 5/32 rods, they were not working well vertical due to size, the web of the I beam is 3/16.

I will get some 1/8 rods and give it a try on DC, assume the electrode is the positive.

Laurence

 

[laurencen]

How do I inseert pictures in a reply? it would show what I am doing