Stick rods

[Paulie73]

What’s the easiest rods to use and weld with ? I’ve got 6013 and 7018 in 2.5 and 3.2mm

 

[Bsmith]

You don't say what welder but 3.2s, 6013 to begin with, 7018s are about equal to 6013s to begin with if using a dc welder.

 

[Kram]

Larger rods can be harder particually as they are longer and need more amps. If you run the rod a bit on the hot side I find it easier, but on a larger rod that can overheat the work and blow holes. A smaller rod running hot will lack full weld strength but be much easier and less risk.

I like using 1.6mm rods with the amps turned up a bit. Also perfect for tack welding before swapping to a bigger rod.

 

[Richiew]

7018 in 3.2.

Fatter rods burn slower. You can monitor and control your arc length easier. You have more time to adjust.
The weld pool is so much easier to see in 7018.

The only downside of 7018 is that restarts are poor/much harder compared to 6013.

 

[Erie Fred]

Use & weld ?

What weld ? What material ?
What position ?

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

You don't say what welder but 3.2s, 6013 to begin with, 7018s are about equal to 6013s to begin with if using a dc welder.

With the profusion of wildly different Rutile (6013) rods available in Europe, my experience is that brand and product name matters a lot for those.

When I was having issues with out of position welds last year this forum recommended "Magmaweld ESR11" as a good all rounder, and my local welding shop recommended "Hilco Brown" for welds in the vertical-up position.

Both were streets ahead of the cheap SIP rods I had been using previously because they were what I had tucked away in a drawer.

 

[Paulie73]

You don't say what welder but 3.2s, 6013 to begin with, 7018s are about equal to 6013s to begin with if using a dc welder.

Yes arc welder ! My inverta mig also welds arc but I only use this for mig and arc for welding rods