Is there a difference in brands of rods?

[k0ua]

Is there a difference in brands of rods? Seems so, in a little not very scientific test this evening of general purpose rods.

Test 1:
Rods all 1/16 E6013 Polarity DCEP , Steel Clean 1/8 Amps 57

Harbor Freight: violent, lots of spatter, Noisy. Bead looked more or less ok when cleaned, not much slag, guess it threw most of it in the air!. Yes they will weld, but not a very pleasant rod to run. Flux seemed to want to flake off pretty easy around the tip.

Campbel Hausefeld: Better, not as much spatter, seem more controllable, not as noisey. Bead looked pretty good, easy slag removal.

Lincoln: Best. very quiet, low spatter, very controllable. more slag on top, but came off easy. Beads looked very good.


Test 2: 3/32 E6013 Polarity DCEP, Steel Clean 1/8 Amps 88

US Forge: Controlable arc, low spatter quiet, Nice bead medium slag, came off easy.

Lincoln: Controlable arc, very low spatter Quiet, Nice Bead, more slag, but came off very easy. Noticed the rods were much thicker than the US Forge rods, they have the same size wire inside, but the Lincoln has much more flux around the rod.

My Conclusion: Test 1,You get mostly what you pay for. The cheap Harbor Freight rods will weld, but I dont like them, the Campbel Hausefeld rods are better, but the Lincoln is the best in this class.
Test 2: 3/32 rods. the US Forge and the Lincoln rods seemed about the same to me. Lincoln formed a little more slag over the top of the weld, but it came off easily.
I think I will be buying Lincoln rods from now on.:thumbsup:

James K0UA

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Try Hobart or ESAB...very good rods.

 

[Skyco]

US Forge used to be my favorite rods...they made very pretty, strong welds. haven't been able to find any in years!

K0UA- are yours old stock or newly purchased? If they are again available I want to get some more:drool:

 

[k0ua]

US Forge used to be my favorite rods...they made very pretty, strong welds. haven't been able to find any in years!

K0UA- are yours old stock or new? If they are again available I want to get some more

Mine are old stock, but I think I saw them for sale on Amazon.com just the other day. just enter US Forge in google and see what you get.
James K0UA

 

[Skyco]

Cool! I just turned US Forge up in a google search...they were missing for years..must be back in some form. :thumbsup: Their "Problem Solver" rods were the ones I liked, as I recall they were a little expensive but sure welded good.

Electrodes

BTW I returned a spool of Harbor Freight MIG wire...it ran terrible..this was gas wire, so no core, guess the alloy was crap..anyway didn't like it and run all Hobart MIG wire now..

 

[yomax4]

Be careful of the " Wonder " Rods or what ever they are called at the time. I used to sell them. Super Missle Weld was a Wonder Rod that joined cast to steel, Steel to stainless etc. It was just 312 Stainless. It costed $25#. If you search, You can find the same thing for $6.00#. There are many others. Before you buy " Problem Solver Rods, Super Rods, Wonder Rods Etc.," Post here and save a ton of money. There are no Wonder Rods.:thumbsup:

 

[Jim in ICT]

Spend the money for a name brand and buy from a distributor that sells enough filler metals to keep fresh stock.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

US forge is still common around here from Agri Supply. They are good quality rods, especially for many types of repair and light fabrication. I think that they weld smooth as well.

I have burned many pounds of their 7014 and 6011.

Available at Agri Supply online as well. Good prices. Agri Supply - Search Results for welding rods

Don't ask me why the lead in address is mower blades...

 

[gauthier]

Course theres differences,just like if you was to buy anything else,,hobart and lincoln,esab,being three good brands[generally speaking],some prefer a 7018 one brand and a 6010 another brand...

 

[Skyco]

Before you buy " Problem Solver Rods, Super Rods, Wonder Rods Etc.," Post here and save a ton of money. There are no Wonder Rods.:thumbsup:

Ok so tell us what is equivalent to US Forge's Problem Solver rod. I've tried many rods from name brands. Nothing welded as pretty as those US Forge rods. Spill the beans..whats the same and costs less