Another Bash...

[BrokenBiker]

i only suggested 7018 because its a good all around rod. you can weld anything from bridges to coffee tables. the reason some people have trouble striking it up is typically because their machine has a low ocv. 90+ it strikes up fine. below that and it can be a bit sticky (mainly on restarts)

i dont think his welder has 90OCV...

 

[Turbo]

Whilst I agree that 7018's are easier to use once you get the hang of starting them you need a high ocv and a welder that will run them.

I have a decent Thermal Arc inverter that has 90v ocv but it will not start 7018 rods. I think the hot start programming isn't set up for them.

It's harder to source 7018's in the Uk unless you are buying online. You'll find 6013 in hardware shops, agri merchants, etc across the country.

Better to learn on a good quality 6013 because they work on all welders. Oerlikon fincord is a good learners rod.

 

[Muggins the Mug]

or just learn to weld with 6013...its not nearly as difficult as people make out

And they are a bit easier to come by, especially locally.

 

[Muggins the Mug]

are you left handed by chance ??

I am.

 

[Muggins the Mug]

are you dragging the rod from left to right ,,, not trying to overhand from right to left , unless youve set up the test piece the wrong way round ,,, just looking at the freeze trails ,,,

If you invert the above image, that's how I welded it. That would make it left to right.

 

[Muggins the Mug]

or just learn to weld with 6013...its not nearly as difficult as people make out

I've only ever used 6013s, I think.

 

[BrokenBiker]

I've only ever used 6013s, I think.

more than likely. they are a good rod when you get to know them. vast majority of my stick welding is a 6013...ive played with 6010, 6011 and 7018, a few 7024 as well but 6013 is just the go to for general larking about in the shed

 

[addjunkie]

more than likely. they are a good rod when you get to know them. vast majority of my stick welding is a 6013...ive played with 6010, 6011 and 7018, a few 7024 as well but 6013 is just the go to for general larking about in the shed

I very rarely use anything other than 6013s, but the brand certainly makes a difference.

Once you get some bigger rods, try using your spare hand as a rod rest, obviously wear a thick glove, get your head in close, keep a nice short arc and run rod after rod. A non waggled steadied rod makes a far nicer weld!

 

[Muggins the Mug]

i only suggested 7018 because its a good all around rod. you can weld anything from bridges to coffee tables. the reason some people have trouble striking it up is typically because their machine has a low ocv. 90+ it strikes up fine. below that and it can be a bit sticky (mainly on restarts)

It's a shade under 80V.

 

[Muggins the Mug]

i dont think his welder has 90OCV...

It's a shade under 80V.

 

[Martin Hocking]

I know the rods have been indoors unopened but dry some out in the oven before you try again.

And as turbo says it’ll be easier to learn with bigger rods.

If you haven’t got anything thinner while you’re waiting for some bigger rods try running beads near the edge of the plate and you’ll get a bit more melt going on.

 

[Muggins the Mug]

I know the rods have been indoors unopened but dry some out in the oven before you try again.

And as turbo says it’ll be easier to learn with bigger rods.

If you haven’t got anything thinner while you’re waiting for some bigger rods try running beads near the edge of the plate and you’ll get a bit more melt going on.

I've got some 3.2mm 6013s coming shortly, as well as some welder's chalk.

 

[Mark 2]

I've got some 3.2mm 6013s coming shortly, as well as some welder's chalk.

The latter is a real game changer.

 

[Martin Hocking]

The other thing I would say is that as addjunkie has pointed out a short arc is vital to a decent weld.

The rod is constantly trying to lengthen the arc by melting, so building up the muscle memory to keep feeding in takes a bit of time but let’s you think about everything else once you’ve gained it.

The other thing that is a little counter intuitive is that if something is too hot human reaction is to pull away which is the opposite of what you want to do if your weld gets too hot.