Is there a difference in brands of rods?

[gauthier]

Them problem solver rods must be some good uns????,,what are they,,309...?

 

[travis potter]

I only use Lincoln. I may try the esab but hobart don.t run as smooth for me on light 16 ga metal.

 

[k0ua]

I ran out of my old stock US Forge 6011 tonite on a project, and opened a new package, WOW, lots of difference, the new ones ran so much smoother. Can you say rod oven! :laughing:
The new US Forge ran as good or better than the New Lincoln, made pretty good looking beads too.
James K0UA

 

[sjames]

what I have found that makes a bigger difference than rod, is what welder you are using. I recently got an XMT 350 and that runs every brand of stick I have better than any other welder ive ever used.

 

[tb525]

I ran out of my old stock US Forge 6011 tonite on a project, and opened a new package, WOW, lots of difference, the new ones ran so much smoother. Can you say rod oven!

You don't want to store your 6011 in a rod oven. The cellulose shielded electrodes, ie 6010, 6011 need about 5% moisture to run right.

 

[N8ghz]

I mostly favor DC rods...7018, and currently am using some from a local weld supply place nearby. I think they are Excaliber (?) in 3/32". They are OK. I also have about 25# of Hobart 1/8", which are also OK.

In the past...back when Airco existed...their 7018MR were my favorites. I hated Lincoln 7018. It welded OK, but my complaint with Lincoln 7018 was due to the damned coating. If you stick a rod and wiggle it loose, the coating would break off for a 1/4" to even more....so you had to burn off the bare metal on your ground block or whatever....the Airco did not do that. Also, if the tin can had been mis-handled (50#), there'd be a bunch of semi-ruined rods to deal with. The coating on the Airco was not as fragile. Lincoln 6010 (5p or P5 as we called it) being a different composition was OK.

I have no idea if the new Lincoln 7018 is any better, since I heard they took over Airco?

As to 6011,6012,6013,7014 or 7024 I have no brand preference...but everything runs better on DC!!!

 

[Kubota 2350]

I try to always buy Lincoln, or Hobart welding rods, stay away from Harbor Fright rods, seen them come out of the package rusted.

If you are near a Home Depot they have a good selection of Lincoln rods, and Tractor Supply carries the Hobart ones.

 

[k0ua]

Yeah, my "Harbor Fright" rods would make pretty good sparklers for 4th of July:laughing: You can weld with them but they sure are not very good. At least the ones I have.
James K0UA