Arc Welding 10mm mild to 10mm mild - rod size?

[ELL]

So, I want to get into welding thicker steel and making heavy duty welding benches. I have a 200a welder so this limits the rod size I can use
What rod size should I use for welding 10mm steel? Thanks.

 

[8ob]

You can run a 4mm rod on a 200 amp set.

Bob

 

[zzr1200]

Certainly a 4mm rod, you may even get away with 5mm depending on the quality of rod manufacturer (spec 6013) and your welders spec.

 

[Turbo]

4 or 5mm rods can take a bit of getting used to because they are quite long and heavy
Use your spare hand to hold the rod halfway up.
But you will probably find you produce a nicer weld compared to thinner rods.

 

[Bornfree]

I weld 30mm thick trailer drawbar eye's on using 4mm rods at around 160-170amp. Your 200amp welder will do 10mm with ease.

 

[zzr1200]

I weld 30mm thick trailer drawbar eye's on using 4mm rods at around 160-170amp. Your 200amp welder will do 10mm with ease.

Do you preheat?

Presume 7018 rods...

 

[8ob]

I weld 30mm thick trailer drawbar eye's on using 4mm rods at around 160-170amp. Your 200amp welder will do 10mm with ease.

This was single pass with a 4mm rod on that 200 amp Blackline mig/mma welder , turned up to max. That was a bit of 20mm plate, ultimately with thicker gear you are on multi passes.

Bob

 

[Bornfree]

Do you preheat?

Presume 7018 rods...

Yes preheat. 7018s if at the workshop 6013s if on site.

 

[Kram]

If I remember correctly on 10mm with a 200A welder, I would run two or three beads. V the joints and run a hot 2mm for good penetration followed by 3.2 or 4mm.

If you start with a single 3.2 or 4mm bead, it will look nice but penetration will be poor or non existant in the corner.

 

[Memmeddu]

You can use 3.2mm 7018 on the hot side of things like 140A no problems
4mm is an option but I'd really consider it only if I need higher deposition rate.
3.2 would be fine IMHO

 

[dan.taylor.1]

One of my favourite rods is a 4mm bohler fox ev50 7018. Just lovely to run, used with either my 250a newarc mig machine on mma mode, my thermal arc 175te or my jasic 200a acdc tig.

 

[Porkypine]

I'd just use 3.2's you'd be doing multi runs anyway, shirley...