Welding Rods for beginners

[daugen]

PJ, we'll have fun together and make lots of sparks.
yeah, I have heard comments that outside of Unfriendly Politics, the most passionate TBN members are in the welding forum. Then I suppose it's whose truck is better in Transportation.
What I worry about is folks jumping out of Unfriendly Politics, with their hair on fire, and then try to discuss the pros and cons of welding rods. Everyone has to be careful about this and as a non contentious person I'm grateful that hasn't happened here. I'm all about having fun and learning new things. And you really do learn a lot here.
Bottom line is I don't think any of us are that skilled or that smart that we can't hear someone else out politely. Now if they are saying something utterly or dangerously wrong, well speak up.
But to call someone a fool or whatever, worse, a liberal..... well it really needs to stay in that forum and not leak out. A puddle does not care what the politics are of the guy on the other end of the stick.

 

[PJSprog]

Yeah, it didn't get political, just offended by opinion.

... and you know what they say about opinions ...

There are people here who have clearly been welding at a very high level for a very long time. I'm all ears (well, it's the internet, so technically all eyes).

 

[scdeerslayer]

I keep my 7018 in a gasketed sealed rod holder and call it good. I make an effort to not take out more 7018 rods than I will use right away and keep the container closed as much as possible

That's what I decided to do as well.

 

[scdeerslayer]

I've always used a band saw for cutting metal. A porta band for quick stuff that doesn't have to be precise or square, and a horizontal band saw for more precise cuts. Then clean the burs with a bench grinder. A chop saw is probably faster on the big stuff but when I experimented with a chop saw blade on a mitre saw there was a lot more burs to clean. With the horizontal band saw you can set it up to cut and let it cut while doing something else.

 

[k0ua]

I've always used a band saw for cutting metal. A porta band for quick stuff that doesn't have to be precise or square, and a horizontal band saw for more precise cuts. Then clean the burs with a bench grinder. A chop saw is probably faster on the big stuff but when I experimented with a chop saw blade on a mitre saw there was a lot more burs to clean. With the horizontal band saw you can set it up to cut and let it cut while doing something else.

Yep, a bandsaw is a good investment. I got one as soon as I could afford it. Much safer too, no sparks flying all over the shop.

 

[gsganzer]

Yep, a bandsaw is a good investment. I got one as soon as I could afford it. Much safer too, no sparks flying all over the shop.

I have a 14" abrasive wheel chop saw, a portaband, O/A torch and now a Makita cold saw. I bought the abrasive wheel chop saw I about 15 years ago. It's a nuisance and I always cringed using it. I'll sell it now that I bought the cold saw. With the new cold saws, an abrasive wheel chop saw is obsolete, unless you just need something cheap.

A horizontal bandsaw is nice, but I think I have enough options to work around it for now. A portaband and a cold saw works for most everything I have to fab.

 

[daugen]

cold saw? Like one using a diamond slotted blade like I just bought for my grinder?

what is a plasma cutter, a hot saw?

 

[daugen]

Ok, I'm pretty sure I have a grip on the numbers of the rods I need.
Now, some experience will come in, which rod manufacturers are consistently high quality?
Are there name brands all you experienced guys say sure, it's xyz?

I can buy by price for training, but when the game is on, what should I use?
What I really should also have asked is does it matter for a beginner like me?

 

[shadetree]

I'll leave that for the guys that know. It is really nice to be able to let your hair down (see I can remember back 40 years) and trust these guys to let you know what works for them. I thank all of you for letting me be a part of this great group even when I know nothing.

 

[gsganzer]

cold saw? Like one using a diamond slotted blade like I just bought for my grinder?

what is a plasma cutter, a hot saw?

There's another TBN thread discussing cold saws. Cold saw thread

They're also called multi-cut saws because they can cut multiple materials (wood, metal etc.) They run at a slower RPM then an abrasive saw and a more precise cut with less dressing (weld prep) required to clean the cut end.