What rod/amps to use?

Canada_CT230 · Jan 2, 2012

I'll pickup some 3/32 6013 tomorrow and try it at 60A with the layed over electrode.

rankrank1 · Jan 2, 2012

Sorta covered this in post #14 your other welding thread when we discussed good rods to have handy:

6013: 1/16" diameter and 5/64" diameter works wonders on thin metal and either will burn at you 60 amp min. welder setting and be close to ideal for the 5/64" size but may be be a tad hot for 1/16" but workable. 3/32" is useful too but is bigger in diameter so it will be more likely than either 1/16 or 5/64 to burn through on the thin stuff.

5/64" 6013 will not be easy to find but it is avaialble from Lincoln and I like it much more than 1/16 (1/16 = 4/64) as it is not as flimsy and the sweet spot for it will be closer to your 60 amp min welder setting. I often cut 1/16" rods in half to combat their flimsiness.

If you do not any luck with any of the 6013 sizes then 7014 is also available in 1/16" diameter. The good news is that 7014 always likes higher amp setting per diameter than most other rod types so your 60-65 amps would likely be ideal for 7014 1/16" where it is a tad bit too hot for say 6013 1/16" min setting. That said, While I do love 7014 and use it bigger diameters, I have not tried it much on really thin stuff as the 6013 has always worked for me.

Only buy the small 1/2 pound or 1 pound sample packs until you find what works well with your welder.

lostcause · Jan 3, 2012

a lot of times techniques can be used to help overcome too much current. when it wants to make holes from too much heat in one spot i'll use an exaggerated c/u shaped weave. what i mean is that i make my weave in the shape of the letter c or u, with the puddle being at the peak of the curve and the open ends being along each edge of material.

i'll bring the electrode a long ways out of the puddle on the top & bottom of my weave so that the puddle cools slightly. as i see the puddle start to cool off i'll reverse direction and come back through the middle of the puddle. i find this helps avoid a lot of burn thorough.

i've used this successfully with 1/8" metal and 1/8" 6011 rod at around 60a, so it shouldn't be too much different from your hoops. travel speed is the key here. don't linger too long in the puddle.

Soundguy · Jan 3, 2012

i weld stufflike that ( and other sheet metals.. ) using 1/16 or 5/64 on a small ac welder with a 30/70a setting.

soundguy

Canada_CT230 · Jan 7, 2012

OK...made some headway today.

I talked to an old co-worker (welder) on the phone the other day and got some good tips to try. I never though about the rod changing the way it works after getting hot.

I also looked carefully at the low side on my AC box. Apparently it goes down to 30A. How accurate the adjustment lever is anyone's guess.

The welds on the barrel hoops was a lot better but still kind of erratic and one burn thru hole. I might give up on thin material like that. I can't find any 1/16" rod around here.

I tried the 6013 - 3/32" rod on some 1/8" scrap pieces at about 60A and got a nice bead with the nice swirl pattern. I think this setting would be nice to do small sculpture pieces.

More practice in the future but having an open air shop is not the best in Canada at this time of year.

Soundguy · Jan 7, 2012

6013 is much less penetration and better looking than 6011.. etc.

soundguy

deereman75 · Jan 7, 2012

You can get 1/16 rods at canadian tire, but they cost a lot. I got 1# of them there, and it was about $14, what I could get 5# of 3/32 rods for. They are over priced like that everywhere. I dont like the 1/16 rods much, both due to cost and how they weld for me. I would not buy them again.

Soundguy · Jan 7, 2012

have you tried 5/64?

Canada_CT230 · Jan 7, 2012

Maybe at your CT...but my CT is useless. You are lucky in this town if the stores have what the sales flyer have advertised. I always laugh when a biz goes under here. They always claim no business but in reality how can you sell something when you don't have it?

Anyways...I digress.