What kind of Rods to weld with a 110 welder

DaMadman · Feb 15, 2005

( Here is a site with some basic welding rod info and a chart for size vs amps. )

Most informative site, Thanks a lot for the link. I like to know the basic info so I can make a informed decision when I look at something.

Thanks again, now I know what the #'s on the rods mean I can maybe pick and choose a few different ones to play with

BB_TX · Feb 15, 2005

Anyone who has seen my welding probably would not call me a welder. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif But at least I can stick 2 pieces of metal together and make it reasonably presentable. I have bought rods at Home Depot. They had 6010, 6011, and 7018 in 3/32 and 1/8. Maybe some others.

DaMadman · Feb 15, 2005

Kewl, there is a home depot on my way home. I am going to stop at a little private owned Hardware store and check and see what they have too.

Like I said right now I am basically just trying to learn the technique.

I had someone weld something for me last weekend and he did a quickie job and I broke the weld in less than an hour,
I remembered my Grandfather had the 110 welder and asked if I could use it and he said sure, anytime I wanted it to take it so so I figre a few rods and some practice I will learn to weld my own stuff. If I get half good at it I might even run a 220 line out to the garage and guy a 220 welder sometime down the road.

I figure if I learn on a 110 welder the 220 will be easy as pie.

Thanks for all the infor it really helped a lot.

Now I want to leave work early and go home and practice welding something,

Don't think the boss would liek that though

bobodu · Feb 15, 2005

I bought a 220 volt "welder" from Homier for $40 and it will weld...about half a stick before it overheats.Now for $40...I ain't complaining...but for $50 I have seen buzzboxes at garage sales.By all means "play" around with it,but be aware that you'll most likely never get much use for it unless you are making barn spike sculptures.Keeps a nice new portrait of President Grant in your wallet and keep your ears open. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

kennyd · Feb 15, 2005

( I wish they had one of those Tractor Supply stores near me... )

Where in MD are you?

DaMadman · Feb 16, 2005

well this is what I did with it last night

DaMadman · Feb 16, 2005

DaMadman · Feb 16, 2005

cut it all back apart and going to reweld tonight with some 7018 rods. I hope (if they work) the 1/16th and 5/64 6011 and 6013 rods held it together but looked like crap. So I am going to retry it with some 3/32 7018 tonight

BB_TX · Feb 16, 2005

I am going out on a limb here, and nothing personal intended I assure you. I am guessing it is the experience of the welder and not the rod. The result of what I get with a given rod and the result of an accomplished welder with the same rod is vastly different. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I am slowly getting better though. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Tried to find a local voc ed welding class but haven't found one yet.
I am just guessing here and a real welder can correct me if I am wrong. But I think on that heavy material, the larger the rod the better the result.

DaMadman · Feb 16, 2005

yep the larger rod did make a stronger weld but there just wasn't enough current there to keep it burning, So I used the 6013 5/64 rod to make the weld and the 1/16 6011 rod to fill in. Tonight I am going to try a 6013 rod that is in between the size I had and the 1/16th 6011 rod ( gunna try 3/32 6013) and also want to try a 3/32 7018 rod because from what I have read the 7018 is stronger and will penetrate a bit more.

I am sure the majority of the issues I have had are operator error, but that is all in the fun of learning.

I do know for sure that those 1/16 6011 rods burn up really quick and didn't penetrate hardly at all.

Well I guess I will see how it goes tonight.

Let me ask this though, if anyone can tell me.

If I burn a 1/16th 6011 rod at 90 amp, it burns up really quick and I got no penetration, as a general rule if I lowered the amp and can still get the rod to burn good will the penetration be better at low amps or higher amperage??
I would think slower burning (lower amps) would give better penetration but that could just be too logical to be true.

Can anyone tell me?