favourite stick rod

[Dargo]

i ware a good welding jacket, sleeves are the leather ones with straps to tighten around the wrists if needed, body is the green fire retardent material, high back collar, I wear long gauntlett cutt gloves and always denim pants with the pantlaegs over my boots ( cowboy boots.. not lace-ups )

many times I wear an apron, if it's convienient and I'm standing or welding at a bench.

if laying down.. not so much.

soundguy

I seem to only get requests to weld overhead jobs that are impossible to clean. :-(

 

[Soundguy]

that's way cheap...

 

[LD1]

I know. It just surprised me to hear that. Seeing as jody on weldingtipsandtricks likes them so much. Oh well these lincoln rods were cheep enough. $29 for 11# at princess auto.

You may like them on your machine. I wasnt speaking in general, just my own personal experience.

Everyone always talks about the superiority of a 7018 weld. So I decided to give them a try (this was a few years back.)

On our machine (which is an old craftsman that is about the size of a mini-fridge) using a FRESH pack of 7018AC 1/8", had almost no luck. Anything under 100A wanted to stick the rod. Anything over would sustain a decient arc, but only for about 1/2 the rod. The the last half was just glowing cherry red and wadded up like a wet noodle:confused2: This was on 110-120A.

And even that 1/2 rod worth of weld, wasnt as good or as strong as a 7014 on our machine.

But you may like them.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Welding accident


Welding accident - YouTube

 

[Soundguy]

i guess that's like setting on the 'loose' end of the branch that you are sawing off?

soundguy

 

[LD1]

definatally a cutting accident, NOT welding

 

[Brushhill dave]

Don't throw out that 7018 yet, the new stuff isn't that bad!

 

[Brushhill dave]

Also it's best to start 1/8 7018 at about 125 amps. General rule of thumb is to divide the top number by the bottom and that's your starting amps, seems alot of guy here having sticking problems are running waaaay to cold!

 

[k0ua]

Deerman, I have heard it said that 7018AC work well on DC. so don't throw them out if they don't work well on your AC machine.. I can't back that up, but I have heard it.

James K0UA

 

[JB4310]

using a FRESH pack of 7018AC 1/8", had almost no luck. Anything under 100A wanted to stick the rod. Anything over would sustain a decient arc, but only for about 1/2 the rod. The the last half was just glowing cherry red and wadded up like a wet noodle:confused2: This was on 110-120A.

Also it's best to start 1/8 7018 at about 125 amps. General rule of thumb is to divide the top number by the bottom and that's your starting amps, seems alot of guy here having sticking problems are running waaaay to cold!

Yes I agree, LD1 is to low on the amps for 1/8" rod, it's just shorting but not arcing properly, that's why the rod is getting red. I start around 130-140 amps on DC for 1/4"+ stock, go even higher for thicker materials. Get nice deep penetration and sometimes the slag self releases and just lifts off by itself, that's a nice feeling for an amateur welder.

LD1, crank up the amps a little more or try a smaller rod.

Deerman, I have heard it said that 7018AC work well on DC. so don't throw them out if they don't work well on your AC machine.. I can't back that up, but I have heard it.

James K0UA

I've used all types of rod with my old AC Thunderbolt, even 7018 that was not ac specific. wasn't easy to work with, and looked like heck, but stilled worked.

JB