Welding Rods for beginners

[k0ua]

Yeah, but once mastered, 7018 is "good stuff". I figure an asian fellow "welded" your carryall. And from what I understand, some of those guys really like "birds nest soup". So I reckon he was just fixing lunch

That would not have been welded with a spool gun, just a regular MIG nozzle. I suspect it was the guys first day on the job. No, there didn't seem to be any inspector.

 

[lilranch2001]

I agree with James once mastered it is truly a miracle rod.
But then I only use Atom Arc 7018, so I cannot testify about the other brands.

And I love watching the slag curl back on a well laid bead!

As I have posted on these threads before it's the only rod I really go to, other than silicon bronze for certain applications

 

[sd455dan]

7018 is a good rod no doubt. But not everyone has pipefitter welding skills and not everyone needs pipefitter/structural weld quality.

7018 is more difficult to weld with for a beginner. And as a result, can frustrated some to the point they just give up with welding all together.

I have said it before and I'll say it again, a good weld with 7014 is better than a bad weld with 7018.

I have a 7014 story told to me by my FIL (retired millwright) he was having a round drum fillet welded to a flat surface.

Forget what he said this part was used for.
When the guy got done welding with 7014- in what was described as a ( really nice looking weld) they started to pick up the unit and the round piece lifted off and had absolutely no penetration on one of the 2 surfaces. The weld was ground down and re welded (same weldor) with 7018 and was solidly fused.
He said after that He allowed no 7014 to be used on equipment in the lumber mill.
and told me they pretty much used 6010 or 6011 root passes and capped with 7018 or just did all of the weld with 7018.

I wanted to try some 7014 out but as often as he brings projects or repairs over, He would notice the rod and think I didn't believe him. So for now no 7014 for me, unless I hide the sticks :laughing:

 

[Shield Arc]

sd455dan several years ago I did some fillet weld break tests. 7018 that never seen the inside of a rod oven broke with 18-blows from a 4-pound hammer. 7018 right out of the rod oven broke with 23-blows from a 4-pound hammer. 7014 broke with 10-blows from a 4-pound hammer.

 

[LD1]

sd455dan several years ago I did some fillet weld break tests. 7018 that never seen the inside of a rod oven broke with 18-blows from a 4-pound hammer. 7018 right out of the rod oven broke with 23-blows from a 4-pound hammer. 7014 broke with 10-blows from a 4-pound hammer.

And if I remember right, the one process that is cursed among many structural welders as no penetrating, and being a glue gun.....did the best on your tests.

 

[Shield Arc]

And if I remember right, the one process that is cursed among many structural welders as no penetrating, and being a glue gun.....did the best on your tests.

Yes, Lincoln L-56 Mig wire broke with 29-blows of a 4-pound hammer.

 

[PhysAssist]

I had to chuckle when I got my TSC carryall yesterday. It was looking pretty good until I turned it over.
Looks like someone went to lunch and didn't come back.
I'm going to take a power wire brush to remove the paint and put a few more welds in where they can't be seen.
Going to use 7014.
When all the stress is being put on one relatively small area, why wouldn't they weld it all?
I'm guessing the welding inspector went out for the same lunch.
Some of it is ok, just looks like they didn't finish

I'm in the middle of painting that mower deck and will post the final result. Sure looks nice from ten feet away.

Do what I do, back up to 20 feet away, and it'll look stellar! :laughing:

 

[mike69440]

I had to chuckle when I got my TSC carryall yesterday. It was looking pretty good until I turned it over.
Looks like someone went to lunch and didn't come back.
I'm going to take a power wire brush to remove the paint and put a few more welds in where they can't be seen.
Going to use 7014.
When all the stress is being put on one relatively small area, why wouldn't they weld it all?
I'm guessing the welding inspector went out for the same lunch.
Some of it is ok, just looks like they didn't finish

I'm in the middle of painting that mower deck and will post the final result. Sure looks nice from ten feet away.

That's why TSC can sell these things under $100 when on sale and made in USA.
I bet the manufacturer as at least 30 seconds of weld time in the manufacturing process.

I added weld and reinforcement to the L angles. Mine is good for over the 500 lb. rating now.