Stick Welding Advice

[Parm]

is a 3.2 6013 stick electrode a good general purpose electrode?

Want to get a new packet and keep for general purpose stuff on 3mm upwards.

The last lot I had were 2.4 mm

 

[Bill Edwards]

Yes, 2.5mm is also a very common size which you may want to get yourself for the thinner stuff (not essential but it makes life easier).

Whatever you do, buy decent (known brands) rods. The cost is not much higher and is always worth it. Good brands are Phoenix (now GYS), Murex, that kind of thing.
Bad ones (they do sometimes do good ones, it depends on the supplier of the batch you buy so it'e down to luck) include Super6, Parweld, anything from Machine Mart I think.

 

[BrokenBiker]

i always stock up on a pack of each 2.5 and 3.2mm rods...both very handy and will weld from 2mm right up to stupidly thick stuff really...

when i say 2mm, i am going from experience with my inverter set at about 50 amps on DCEN, not sure if the same could be said for a buzz box but i get on alright with 2mm...

as above, avoid super6...i find parweld rods are a bit hit and miss, some of them run lovely, others seem to run quite hot on the same settings and burn faster. i like fincord M personally

 

[Kent]

Yes but for 3 mm material should rather use a 2.5 mm, happy to do 5 mm with one also
What sort of set have you? small buzz boxes will struggle as your dialing 100 - 130 range

 

[Parm]

Cheers folks, I will have a look at the Local welding supplies when there next.

Reason I ask is that the 2.5's didn't leave a nice thick bead like ive seen on the web

 

[Parm]

Yes but for 3 mm material should rather use a 2.5 mm, happy to do 5 mm with one also
What sort of set have you? small buzz boxes will struggle as your dialing 100 - 130 range

I've got a top weld 160 that was given to me, don't know how old it is. Also got an Itallian stick welder. It was also given to me, looks quite good but never had a go with it

 

[BrokenBiker]

I've got a top weld 160 that was given to me, don't know how old it is. Also got an Itallian stick welder. It was also given to me, looks quite good but never had a go with it

i use more 2.5 than 3.2 with my 160 amp stick welder, as with kent i will go up to 5mm on a 2.5mm rod before moving to a thicker rod, unless i need maximum penetration/fusion etc..

 

[Bill Edwards]

The topweld I believe is a buzzbox. They aren't very highly regarded on here but I am actually quite happy with the way they weld and can produce decent results with them. The only big issue for for most jobs - and it is a big issue - is the appalling duty cycle - I've had them overheat at around six rods before, but for very small bits they're fine and very robust.

 

[BrokenBiker]

The topweld I believe is a buzzbox. They aren't very highly regarded on here but I am actually quite happy with the way they weld and can produce decent results with them. The only big issue for for most jobs - and it is a big issue - is the appalling duty cycle - I've had them overheat at around six rods before, but for very small bits they're fine and very robust.

sounds like my fathers buzz box...before i bought my current inverter we needed to weld some support frames up for a bodged lean to, we ended up with 3 fans pointing at the welder to get more than 3-4 rods out of it at a time

 

[brightspark]

The topweld I believe is a buzzbox. They aren't very highly regarded on here but I am actually quite happy with the way they weld and can produce decent results with them. The only big issue for for most jobs - and it is a big issue - is the appalling duty cycle - I've had them overheat at around six rods before, but for very small bits they're fine and very robust.

there decent welders and portable most jobs can be done with a couple of rods and fit other stuff in between while welder cools down .if I need more il use the oilcooled and it can run rods 24 seven

 

[Kent]

Of course you font want more reinforcement than is actually required on a bead

If you put a big bead onto some 3 mm it will also have a dirty big HAZ

A set rated 160 amp should burn a 3.2

Why not get a box of each?

 

[Parm]

The topweld I believe is a buzzbox. They aren't very highly regarded on here but I am actually quite happy with the way they weld and can produce decent results with them. The only big issue for for most jobs - and it is a big issue - is the appalling duty cycle - I've had them overheat at around six rods before, but for very small bits they're fine and very robust.

So I gather, but it was free and I can't complain. As a hobbist ive not had a project so far where ive needed to burn that many rods in one go, I think the most ive done is two or three

 

[Parm]

Of course you font want more reinforcement than is actually required on a bead

If you put a big bead onto some 3 mm it will also have a dirty big HAZ

A set rated 160 amp should burn a 3.2

Why not get a box of each?

I was just wondering if one size was better than the other

 

[BrokenBiker]

I was just wondering if one size was better than the other

both have their purposes. i wouldnt want to weld 3mm with a 3.2mm rod unless it was all i had, and id travel as fast as possible to keep the heat down

 

[Bill Edwards]

sounds like my fathers buzz box...before i bought my current inverter we needed to weld some support frames up for a bodged lean to, we ended up with 3 fans pointing at the welder to get more than 3-4 rods out of it at a time

And this particular one is fan cooled as well...

there decent welders and portable most jobs can be done with a couple of rods and fit other stuff in between while welder cools down .if I need more il use the oilcooled and it can run rods 24 seven

I like small buzz boxes because they can be carried with one hand (oil cooled is a two man lift), run off a dirty generator and stored in a damp shed. Not something I'm so happy doing with an inverter!

So I gather, but it was free and I can't complain. As a hobbist ive not had a project so far where ive needed to burn that many rods in one go, I think the most ive done is two or three

Then it's probably going to be perfectly good enough for you, and as I say I find they weld OK.

 

[BrokenBiker]

I like small buzz boxes because they can be carried with one hand (oil cooled is a two man lift), run off a dirty generator and stored in a damp shed. Not something I'm so happy doing with an inverter!.

my inverter lives in a drawer under the tele in the living room...im struggling to find somewhere to store the inverter mig that will soon be on its way to me though...its going to be too big for my remaining spare drawer and ive no cupboards that are empty enough...

 

[Kent]

I was just wondering if one size was better than the other

Entirely yes depending lol

Seriously depends on application a Fiesta is just the job for popping down the shops but rubbish for pulling a caravan

Upwards of 5 mm a 3.2 is generally more suited but that don't mean you can't do more than 5 with a 2.5 mm.

For instance I prefer a 2.5 for joining 16 and 20 mm round on estate fence. Or a 2.5 fast freeze on heavy plate routes

 

[Parm]

The only issue I have is that it can be a bit difficult to fire the rods up sometimes, but as you say they are virtually bomb proof for hobby use

 

[brightspark]

2.5 is a good all round size for most stuff

 

[BrokenBiker]

The only issue I have is that it can be a bit difficult to fire the rods up sometimes, but as you say they are virtually bomb proof for hobby use

what condition are the leads in? my father buzz box was a 'mare to strike with, i replaced the cables with the next size up and a new HD earth clamp and rod holder and it strikes as easy as my inverter now