Favorite STICK Electrode?

[Farmall450]

I'm old school; I like stick welding and I like AC 6011.

 

[lilredex]

7014

 

[dr_clyde]

My favorite electrode is the right one for the job lol.

Seriously though, I love the smell of Fleetweld 5P 6010 burning in a root pass, and I love how nice Excalibur 308L flows out on thick stainless.

 

[Buckgnarly]

6011....for all the crappy welding that my Millermatic 210 cannot handle!

 

[McFarmer]

6013 for clean metal, 6010 for old stuff.

 

[Farmall450]

6011....for all the crappy welding that my Millermatic 210 cannot handle!

I like how it doesn't require spotless prep...just hammer it with the grinder and go. Added a poll too!

 

[Mike007]

For me, it's hard to explain, but I get a satisfaction from stick welding I don't get with MIG. And I find stick easier with my poor eye sight. I generally use 7018 if I'm fabricating with clean steel.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I like how it doesn't require spotless prep...just hammer it with the grinder and go. Added a poll too!

****, I don't even do that sometimes! I just fixed my brushhog a few weeks back with zero prep! There are times that are either no prep or really thick steel that you cannot beat stick!

 

[Farmall450]

****, I don't even do that sometimes! I just fixed my brushhog a few weeks back with zero prep! There are times that are either no prep or really thick steel that you cannot beat stick!

I had to re-weld some snow plows last weekend, a few new chain links (the ones you can thread open) were coated (zinc?), didn't even hit them with the grinder, just ground a spot for my ground clamp and went. Turned out kinda trashy...I was a bit out of practice. That and that link heated up fast!

 

[Bobhdus]

My all time fav is lincoln 7018 Excaliber. Been playing with some blue flux coated 80-TAC (made by messmer?). It can be bent without damaging the flux and doesn't have moisture sensitivity. It's deep penetrating, all position, welds a lot like 6011 but smoother and the flux just falls right off.

 

[Farmall450]

7014

How come?
When I think 7014 I think Slag & Fairly Low Penetration

 

[RedneckWelder]

I almost exclusively use two rods. Lincoln 6010 5P and Lincoln 7018 Excalibur.

 

[sberry]

depends, we used to use 6010 but I got a Maxstar and it likes 11 better.

 

[Farmall450]

depends, we used to use 6010 but I got a Maxstar and it likes 11 better.

Quite the difference for two similar rods.

 

[dr_clyde]

The maxstar is a DC machine, so it's weird that it likes 6011 better. 6011 is essentially an AC version of 6010.

 

[zkling]

Quite the difference for two similar rods.

IIRC (my stick welding is mostly CI any more), 6011 has a few additives for arc stabalization which combined with the inverter smooth arc of the maxstar probably show up in end performance.

What are you going to school for farmall?

 

[sberry]

They had some issues with 10 on the max, there are a bit more stabalizers in 11 and it will long arc with it. There is a low ocv feature built in. The second pic is 7018, the first is 1/4 plate, square open ****, 1/8 6011

 

[sberry]

Old machine I tested. Can ever run 7018 down on light sheet.

 

[Farmall450]

IIRC (my stick welding is mostly CI any more), 6011 has a few additives for arc stabalization which combined with the inverter smooth arc of the maxstar probably show up in end performance.

What are you going to school for farmall?

I'm only a Jr. in HS now, so general ed I guess, but I took a welding/machining semester long course last year...kinda regret taking autos over welding this year, as I already know most of the autos stuff this far.

I plan on going into engineering though in the long haul.

The maxstar is a DC machine, so it's weird that it likes 6011 better. 6011 is essentially an AC version of 6010.

I thought so as well.

 

[shawnspeed]

I like the deep penetrating 6010 for general fab around the farm...and making wood boilers with a 7018 cap...all my machines are DC so no 6011..

 

[sberry]

Actually 11 is used a lot on DC

 

[Mr.N]

First pass 6010 then 7018

Weekend warrior welder

 

[lilredex]

How come?
When I think 7014 I think Slag & Fairly Low Penetration

I only have a Miller 135 and a Lincoln AC225 and I don't weld a lot these days, so a 7014 rod suits most of my jobs....nothing is really structural. It lays on smoothly and cleans up easily. I first ran across them as surplus at Princess Auto, disguised in U.S. Forge packaging, and loved the way they performed. They are also a good beginner's rod.

An older discussion is here.

http://www.shopfloortalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10103

 

[jeepinerdeep]

My pappy was a pipeliner in his early days, so he was pretty strict about it when he taught me. We started with 5P, then 5P+. If you could manage not to booger that on vertical down, he'd let you have some 7018. If it didn't say Lincoln on it, he didn't have it on the rig.

Back then I thought stick was out of style. But as the years go by, I have found it handy for dirty work, heavy steel, stainless and NiRod. If you really have to deposit some rod, 7024 is neat.

I still have a 10 lb tube of hardcoat that he gave me when he retired. I may die with it.

 

[1953mercury]

E-7018 works well for me, only use dc on 400amp miller rig. Mike

 

[Ruger_556]

I like the deep penetrating 6010 for general fab around the farm...and making wood boilers with a 7018 cap...all my machines are DC so no 6011..

6011 is AC or DC and not AC only as some here indicated. It welds much nicer on DC has been my experience...

I voted 6011, awesome rod for repair welding. 7018 has its place too but I'm not quite as fond of it. I learned with 6011 so maybe that's why?

 

[Chuck122]

6010 5p on the root

 

[MoonRise]

like the man said in Reply#3,

The right rod for the job at hand.

Generally Lincoln stuff. 5P+ or Excaliber.

 

[Dugan]

most of what ive been doing, 7014 and 7018.

7014 looks so nice hahahha.

 

[OxJaw]

I really like 7018, it makes great looking welds and flows well plus you can weld just about anything with it. Root pass was generally 6010 until they quit stocking it at work. Now they have 6011, I liked the 6010 much better.

 

[sberry]

2nd one is 1/4 open ****, no bevel,,, overhead 6011 3rd, overhead fillet and 4 th 7018 overhead fillet.

 

[joe49]

Lincoln 7018 Excalibur and 5P 6010 second, for mild steel work, or what is called for by the job.

 

[Yarz]

I voted 6011 only because it doesn't have the special storage needs of 7018. If it weren't for that, 7018 would have gotten my vote. It's so pretty.

 

[joe49]

I voted 6011 only because it doesn't have the special storage needs of 7018. If it weren't for that, 7018 would have gotten my vote. It's so pretty.

As long as you are not welding pressure vessels, or submarines in your
garage, you will be OK with 7018.

 

[1967lemans]

11018 Excalibur!

 

[sirweldalot]

7018 or also called l/h. And 7024 or also called jet-rod.

 

[BlindViper]

I like 7014 lately

 

[Farmall450]

6011 is AC or DC and not AC only as some here indicated. It welds much nicer on DC has been my experience...

I voted 6011, awesome rod for repair welding. 7018 has its place too but I'm not quite as fond of it. I learned with 6011 so maybe that's why?

I'm the exact same way...6011 is also less labor intensive to store/run.

 

[Von Psycho]

If I could only have 1 rod it would be 6011 for general repair work,
years ago I used 7024 at work it left a beautiful looking weld and
the slag would follow along lifting all the way.

 

[joe49]

11018 Excalibur!

You welding crane booms or get some free?