Welding rod choice.

[harveyp6]

I've been learning to stick weld using E6013 rods. I find them easy to strike an arc, and can get a reasonable looking weld using them, but they don't seem to get much weld penetration.
I had a quick Google, (and I know how dangerous that can be), and found advice to try E6011.
Any thoughts from the collective mind?

 

[Mark 2]

No reason not to. Get some 7018 whilst you are shopping.

 

[Dcal]

6011 will dig deeper but the won't look as "nice"
They will be perfectly fine though.

As @Mark 2 says try some 7018s, harder to restrike but a better rod overall (in my opinion) and a lot easier to get.

If you need deeper penetration, prep the joint.

 

[Barking Mat]

7018's need a DC welding machine I believe. (I could be wrong, and often am.)

I've never had a problem with 6013 penetration, are you veeing the joints?

 

[BrokenBiker]

use a bigger rod? ive never had an issue with 6013's penetrating 'enough'

 

[zzr1200]

You can use 7018 on A/C but you need a high open voltage (80+volt, check rods spec as per manufacturer), usually an oil cooled welder, not a buzz box, you also really need a rod oven as well to dry them out ideally.

Straight out of a sealed vac packet is OK, but leave open for a night and they should be dried out or stored in the correct conditions...

 

[harveyp6]

I have bevelled the joints, but maybe not enough.
The welder I've been using is an R-Tech 180 and I have no idea whether the stick function is AC or DC.
The 6013 rods were 3.2mm.
The metal was about 5mm thick.
And I was at about 130-140 amps if I've worked out the scale correctly.

Thanks for the input so far.

 

[BrokenBiker]

a 3.2mm rod should be penetrating plenty on 5mm plate, got any pics of the welds or any that you have cut open to show the penetration?

6013 isnt a deep penetrating rod, but a 3.2 should be more than enough on 5mm

 

[harveyp6]

I'll try to get some pics, but my competence with that kind of technology is even worse than with my welding.......

 

[zzr1200]

It'll be a DC welder you could try Electrode -ve for slightly deeper penetration depending on the rods spec, most rods are DC +ve.

Rule of Thumb:- 40 amps per 1mm of diameter of welding rod for mma, 3.2mm >140 amps could be pushed to 150/160 amps possibly.

 

[Erie Fred]

6011 will allow you to see the penetration.
6013 is more of what I refer to a "Heat Penetration", as it is melting down in,
but you cannot see it.

Consider using a 6011 root, and a 6013 cover pass..

 

[harveyp6]

It'll be a DC welder you could try Electrode -ve for slightly deeper penetration depending on the rods spec, most rods are DC +ve.

Knowing that it's a DC welder is a help, but as for changing it, that's beyond my skill level, especially as it's a borrowed machine.
I was just thinking of buying a different rod, which is the same as the 6013, but with a bit more weld penetration.

 

[harveyp6]

6011 will allow you to see the penetration.
6013 is more of what I refer to a "Heat Penetration", as it is melting down in,
but you cannot see it.

Consider using a 6011 root, and a 6013 cover pass..

That's another method I hadn't thought of .

Most of this is all new to me.

 

[zzr1200]

Knowing that it's a DC welder is a help, but as for changing it, that's beyond my skill level, especially as it's a borrowed machine.
I was just thinking of buying a different rod, which is the same as the 6013, but with a bit more weld penetration.

You just swap the earth and electrode holder leads around on the front of the machine...so the electrodes plugged into the -ve.

Come to think of it now, which socket have you had it in?..

The -ve or +ve????.....

 

[harveyp6]

You just swap the earth and electrode holder leads around on the front of the machine...so the electrodes plugged into the -ve.

Come to think of it now, which socket have you had it in?..

The -ve or +ve????.....

It's a combined mig and stick machine and from what I remember (I can't get eyes on it at the moment) , it just has the one plug for the rod holder, unless you mean swap that with the combined earth.
I'll try to remember to have a look tomorrow.

 

[BrokenBiker]

It's a combined mig and stick machine and from what I remember (I can't get eyes on it at the moment) , it just has the one plug for the rod holder, unless you mean swap that with the combined earth.
I'll try to remember to have a look tomorrow.

if its a mig with euro torch and mma stinger, you should also have a removable earth in most cases, so just swap the stinger for the earth.

 

[Porkypine]

6013 with earth + positive, is what I use for pretty much everything. ( & I generally use 2.5 rods and multi run )