Favorite STICK Electrode?

[pstnbly]

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.

I really like that 80tac, I get it from Graves and it's labeled 80actplus. I run it DCEN smooth and stable with a bead like a caulking gun. My favorite but it wasn't listed. Everyday welding, 7018 cap 6011 root.

 

[Farmall450]

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.

It is beautiful looking, found this video the other night.
weldingtipsandtricks.com

I've been subbed for years, good site.

 

[trackwelder]

If I could only pick one rod it would be 7018. Next would be Lincoln 6010.

 

[gmwelder86]

5p+ and pretty much any lo-hi. After a while you just stop worrying about the little differences and learn to over come them. Now if you can get a lohi rod that lights right up and instantly provides shielding for out of position work than I will be picky.

 

[e30bradley]

7018 then 6010. I haven't stick welded in a good 8 months or so.

 

[Farmall450]

7018 then 6010. I haven't stick welded in a good 8 months or so.

I don't have or really need a MIG so stick it is!

 

[sberry]

They both have their place. The small mig is really the workhorse in small shops but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I know you are in school and headed for engineering. A huge asset and then some is learning to be a proficient stick welder and to be able to burn a nut off with a torch. Good out of position stick welding cant be faked and is as obvious as daylight, same for torch cutting. A couple classes will usually help but this is super well worth it for a young guy involved in mechanical and really separates the men from boys for lack of better wording.
Its something there are a lot of people think they do better than they really do. Had a guy here the other day mentioned something about it then when he seen mine he realized it was different.

 

[Farmall450]

They both have their place. The small mig is really the workhorse in small shops but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I know you are in school and headed for engineering. A huge asset and then some is learning to be a proficient stick welder and to be able to burn a nut off with a torch. Good out of position stick welding cant be faked and is as obvious as daylight, same for torch cutting. A couple classes will usually help but this is super well worth it for a young guy involved in mechanical and really separates the men from boys for lack of better wording.
Its something there are a lot of people think they do better than they really do. Had a guy here the other day mentioned something about it then when he seen mine he realized it was different.

Thanks sberry, once we get the shop cleared out I need to practice some more welds...took a HS class last year but it was pretty basic, 1/2 machining 1/2 welding, the welds were mostly 6013 in a variety of positions.

Speaking of torches, I was looking into one of those oxy-propane rigs. My dad has 2 acetylene setups and they're nice, but it's pretty pricey to refill the acetylene...I have heard they burn through oxygen a lot faster but that's pretty cheap. That & I've never welded with a torch out of school, so I don't really mind losing that ability with propane.

I figured I'd get the toughcut smith set when I leave school.

 

[Farmall450]

Looking them up I see Miller seems to have bought out Smith oxy-fuel lines or something like that...no longer on Smith's website. I sure hope they didn't change the torch design I liked Smith the most out of them, harris, and victor.

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/oxy-fuel/product.php?model=M00262

 

[EOC_Jason]

I usually used 7018... But I rarely weld, and it's usually just as a temporary fix for something. I would like to learn proper welding but just never had the time. When I need something welded nice I just take it to a friend.

 

[sberry]

What moved us off of propane was a plasma. If we still did all our cutting with a torch would still be using it. I have an 80 cf 02 bottle on my pickup and use 20# lp tank for it still. Its compact and cheap. Craigs list etc is a boon for used bottles, used to have to pay full price and it really added to the cost of a setup.

 

[Yarz]

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

Oh really? That's good to know. I'm relatively new to stick, so I'm still learning little things like that. Thanks!

 

[wagzilla]

love my 6011 with a 7018 cap!!

 

[Farmall450]

What moved us off of propane was a plasma. If we still did all our cutting with a torch would still be using it. I have an 80 cf 02 bottle on my pickup and use 20# lp tank for it still. Its compact and cheap. Craigs list etc is a boon for used bottles, used to have to pay full price and it really added to the cost of a setup.

Don't you need a tank title to get refills on oxygen?

 

[dr_clyde]

If your welding supply makes you prove ownership of a cylinder, you need a new welding supply.

 

[Bobhdus]

If your welding supply makes you prove ownership of a cylinder, you need a new welding supply.

Yeah, I always just gave them mine and they gave me one already filled. No ownership proof required. I buy mine in craigslist. If you try to keep your original bottle, my supplier would take weeks to fill it. Plus, they will often check for when it's due for inspection...

 

[Farmall450]

Yeah, I always just gave them mine and they gave me one already filled. No ownership proof required. I buy mine in craigslist. If you try to keep your original bottle, my supplier would take weeks to fill it. Plus, they will often check for when it's due for inspection...

If your bottle is expired will they not exchange you a new (refilled) one?

 

[Bobhdus]

They will exchange them but you may need to pay a little extra for the inspection because it will cost the supplier labor to do it.

 

[dr_clyde]

I have never once had my welding salesman even mention a hydro test date, much less do anything about it. If you're going to be doing any real amount of welding, set up a proper account at the welding supply, and develop a relationship with a salesman, not just a counter jockey. It will pay dividends in both consumable savings and service.

This applies to just about anything in industry. For a little bit of effort, you get treated so much better than Joe Public.

 

[Bobhdus]

I have never once had my welding salesman even mention a hydro test date, much less do anything about it. If you're going to be doing any real amount of welding, set up a proper account at the welding supply, and develop a relationship with a salesman, not just a counter jockey. It will pay dividends in both consumable savings and service.

This applies to just about anything in industry. For a little bit of effort, you get treated so much better than Joe Public.

I bought a few bottles on craigslist and a couple were out of date. My LWS salesman waived the fee but I thought it was worth mentioning... The bottles I bought were sold by one of their own drivers (from his personal collection) and it also was stamped with their competitors stamp. Believe me, and like you said, a good relationship with your local LWS can go a long ways!

 

[Farmall450]

I bought a few bottles on craigslist and a couple were out of date. My LWS salesman waived the fee but I thought it was worth mentioning... The bottles I bought were sold by one of their own drivers (from his personal collection) and it also was stamped with their competitors stamp. Believe me, and like you said, a good relationship with your local LWS can go a long ways!

That's the thing, I think Rockford is the closest "local" welding supply...or Jainsville, both are a cruise. I've seen on hear to avoid airgas like TSC trades, do you guys agree with that?

 

[sberry]

A lot of it depends on the store I think, I talked to an Airgas manager he seemed real reasonable.

 

[kf4zht]

I use praxair near my work and they will swap anything. Out of hydro, different company, change gases, etc. They just charge the price for the fill.

Tried to use a really local place to the house once. They would only do customer owned on the tiny tanks, wanted 5 references for a lease and the gas was 1.5x the price.

Lesson learned: if your welding shop ***** try others. They are heavily dependent on the manager/employees

 

[trainer]

I've got an old Lincoln AC-180-s. I've never found a 7018 ac rod that I like.
Mabe it's me, maybe it's my machine.
I keep 7014, 7024, 6011 and 6013 on hand. Each one has its place.

 

[sberry]

A lot of it is from old culture from salesman wanting to blow big accounts, it takes a different kind of work to do over the counter and the system isn't always as friendly as it could be.
I pulled in one a while back a bit before closing, the salesman was dicking off loading out a pickup for his next day and the dipshit should have took 30 seconds to put 2 and 2 together from the service truck and getting anything from the shelf stocker counterman was tedious.
The airgas bought it I think and they have a corporate store model but the mgr is on top of the slugs and he can step from his office to the front desk. He caught me eyeing up machines and first thing he said was I don't know fuk about welding but you are right for an upsell when I quizzed him about a model missing in the lineup.
He gave good advice, steered me to the right machine for me and was easy when I quizzed him about bottle exchange.

 

[Bobhdus]

We have several gas and Rod suppliers in my areas. Never used Praxiar but they sell the blue 80tac plus I mentioned earlier (stamped Messer). Matheson Gas (formerly Linweld) is the one I use the most. Been checking out some of the smaller ones lately but I like Matheson Gas...

 

[Farmall450]

We have several gas and Rod suppliers in my areas. Never used Praxiar but they sell the blue 80tac plus I mentioned earlier (stamped Messer). Matheson Gas (formerly Linweld) is the one I use the most. Been checking out some of the smaller ones lately but I like Matheson Gas...

I'll keep an eye out for them.

 

[gahrajmahal]

I need to weld black iron pipe fittings to hot rolled or cold rolled steel with my AC Lincoln tombstone. What do you think?

Thanks

 

[EOC_Jason]

Mmmm... Those fittings are probably cast...

 

[gahrajmahal]

yea EOC _Jason, they are cast iron, and Chinese too. I don't need to hold pressure, I want the connection to be structurally strong.

 

[saceone]

big time newbie to stick welding , cheap stickwelder (Lincoln AC225) and I was using 6011(or 13?) and it was decent..then a friend of mine who just finished his course to be an ironworker told me about 7018AC . it's night and day compared to the 6011/13. much harder to get started but it flows so nicely.

 

[carcajou]

Arctec 223 xc Awesome rod!

 

[ibedayank]

I need to weld black iron pipe fittings to hot rolled or cold rolled steel with my AC Lincoln tombstone. What do you think?

Thanks

high nickle rod... search castiron arcwelding rod preheat to prevent cracks

 

[rustyjames]

Black iron fittings are typically mild steel, not cast iron. That's if you're referring to pipe fittings.

 

[gahrajmahal]

Thanks, it's just regular black iron fittings from Lowes.

 

[Mike007]

big time newbie to stick welding , cheap stickwelder (Lincoln AC225) and I was using 6011(or 13?) and it was decent..then a friend of mine who just finished his course to be an ironworker told me about 7018AC . it's night and day compared to the 6011/13. much harder to get started but it flows so nicely.

7018AC does lay some real nice welds with a buzzbox.

 

[sberry]

The 7018 works pretty well for this, about as good as it gets without special treatment. Its the electrode most home brew types should be using on AC, turn it up and its hard to miss. Get it in 2 sizes, 3/32 and 1/8.
Its a little loose and you have to weave verts with the AC and takes a bit especially if you don't do it regular. It will run down on light sheet.