New to Son Marquette Model 60c welder

[rankrank1]

You can cut them in half. I use a bortaband. Rotate the rod to go through the flux first, then cut through the core wire. I then cut through the flux one inch down, so I don't lose too much flux when I clean off the end

Oh I use that trick too to cut the 1/16 diameters in half. It does help stiffen them up some, but I still do not like 1/16" diameter rods that well although sometimes you do need them. I simply use a good long handle pair of sharp dykes to cut them as well as to remove the flux where I want - no issues at all.

 

[CNC Dan]

Oh I use that trick too to cut the 1/16 diameters in half. It does help stiffen them up some, but I still do not like 1/16" diameter rods that well although sometimes you do need them. I simply use a good long handle pair of sharp dykes to cut them as well as to remove the flux where I want - no issues at all.

I tried cutting them that way, but I lost too much flux. But I was cutting small 7018.

 

[rankrank1]

I tried cutting them that way, but I lost too much flux. But I was cutting small 7018.

Probably just because of the 7018 factor. If you follow Shieldarc posts has mail ordered 7018 before and received 7018 that had almost no flux by the time the shipping company's knocked it all off. I think he refuses to mail order 7018 now because of that 7018 brittle flux.

Anyway, I do not just use any of my old worn out dykes. I have one top quality pair that is sharp and has long handles. I do rotate the rod first while squeezing only through the flux at my cut line and rotate all the way around so the flux is fully removed at my cut line the width of the dyke edge. Once my flux cut line is fully removed only then do I squeeze the rest of the way through the metal. Never lose any flux, but I have not tried it with 1/16" 7018 either.

I simply do not use much 7018 at all. Most of the stuff that I work on it is not necessary and I do not want the rod oven storage issues of it nor the cantankerous of it. If I feel 7018 is required for the repair, then I usually just buy a fresh can (and try to have someone more skilled than I do the welding). Or, in a pinch if I think I am welding some exotic alloy steel over regular mild steel then I have root passed with 6011 and then capped with E71T-11 wire feeder but that is very rare. Usually just root with 6011 and cap with 7014 is good enough for the junk I work on. 6011 almost always required as root since most of my stuff is rusty. While I do try to clean it up first, well you can only clean so much....

 

[CNC Dan]

My LWS doesn't carry 7014. I can get 7014 at the hardware store, but it's costly.
My LWS could order it for me, but only in 50lb cans. I just don't use that much to worry about it. So I use 7018 in place of 7014. And the hardware store has sizes under 1/8".
Those smaller sizes are easyer to use when cut in half.

 

[Arc weld]

Never seen 7018 smaller than 3/32". For 98% of projects 7018 doesn't need an oven. It just has to be kept dry. If you're building a pressure vessel, then it needs to be kept in an oven. I can't get excited about an AC welder. With low cost inverters available with 3 and 5 year warranties, why struggle with a buzz box? AC7018 makes it easier if you have an AC machine.