Welding rods

[rrman61]

I've been using E 6011 rods with my Miller Dial-arc 250 Ac-Dc.Do these rods work better ac or dc?And can the leads be reversed as to polarity?I have been welding on ac but it's not working right.

 

[Hank ABAB]

E6011 electrodes are designed to be used on AC, but will work equally well on DC. They are the AC counterpart (version) of E6010.
These electrodes are not meant to be just gently "dragged" against your workpiece.

They need to be "whipped" back and forth.
You should take an introductory welding course if possible.

 

[old]

You can use them on either but me I have NEVER used those rod because to me there a rod that is used by those who do not weld well. I learned to weld from the road of hard knocks and a Navy Hull tech and a oil pipe line welder and both said not to use the 6011 but to use 7014 and 7018 and that is what I use and have been using for 40 plus years

 

[kcred]

If you can find a rod , (cornation 3330), spelling is wrong , but if you can strike a arc , this rod will make you look like a pro and be very strong.

 

[mjsnodgrass]

I've cut a lot of cast iron with E6011. soak them in water, straight dc polarity, and turn the welder up. they work great for cutting cast when you're in breakdown mode. few jobs I've been on required 6011 for root pass in large pipe, if I remember right. they have their place in the right situation.

 

[markct]

I can weld just fine and use them in some cases. There is no rod that does everything.

 

[Hayfarmer]

first of all I am a novice welder. I was told the 6011 was a good rod for welding in rusty or dirty conditions, that it would cut through the gunk better, not necessarily pretty welds. It seems to be pretty easy to use with the old AC "buzbox" welders. I have used 6013 and it makes a nicer looking weld but does not have the strength nor does it work well if you can't clean your surfaces.

 

[markct]

6011 and 6013 have exactly the same strength, 60,000psi

 

[denglish]

(quoted from post at 21:05:27 08/30/16) You can use them on either but me I have NEVER used those rod because to me there a rod that is used by those who do not weld well. I learned to weld from the road of hard knocks and a Navy Hull tech and a oil pipe line welder and both said not to use the 6011 but to use 7014 and 7018 and that is what I use and have been using for 40 plus years

I use 1/16" 6011 a lot with a cheap 115V buzz-box for sheet metal and for some 1/8" tubing and angle that I have a big stack of. They work well. Old - do you keep your 7018 and 7014 rods in an oven or do you find that just keeping them sealed up in a dry area is enough?

 

[old]

Very true but if I am going to weld I use the 70 thousand pound rod over the 60 thousand pound rod on every thing but a few small things. I.E the 7014 and 7018 have a high strength to them. So if I am going to buy rod I buy the 7014 and 7018

 

[rrman61]

I'm a pretty good welder,just needed to know if ac or dc was best for these rods.always had a dc machine(an old early sixties Hobart with a Wisconsin engine

 

[teddy52food]

They are good on AC & better on DC. I had a project in my better days where I welded 18 ga painted decking using 5/32 6011 rods on a DC Miller machine.

 

[teddy52food]

They are rated the same, but 6011 penetrates better and won't have the slag pockets of 6013.

 

[caterpillar guy]

I've used it both ways. Not sure it mattered if either AC or DC. I like the 7014 or the 7018 both work good on DC reverse polarity. I don't think I have changed that switch on the welder only about twice, since I bought it 17 years ago. Miller 265 not the bobcat, but the next one up with the Kubota diesel.

 

[Ted in NE-OH]

6011 is more sensitive to absorbing moisture which makes it more difficult to get a nice weld. Buy some new rod.

 

[markct]

Interesting, can't say I ever really had a problem with slags pockets on 6013 other than beginners running a very convex bead too fast with it. 6011 is a very controllable rod, especially with machine that makes a very crisp arc not just a buzz box. I think many beginners have a problem because it is less forgiving than rods that really flow and self level

 

[58 Deere]

I prefer the 7014 over the 1109. To eash his own

 

[MarkB_MI]

6011 is essentially an AC-capable version of 6010. Which is to say you can use it exactly as you would use 6010: DC electrode positive (DCEP), aka "reverse polarity". Using DCEP, 6010 and 6011 have incredible penetration, but are tricky to use. Being a fast-freeze rod, they'll tend to stick until you get the hang of it. You normally use a "whipping" motion when welding with these rods.

 

[MarkB_MI]

> a Navy Hull tech and a oil pipe line welder and both said not to use the 6011

I have a hard time believing an experienced welder would recommend against ever using 6011. 6010 and 6011 are probably the most versatile and useful electrodes available. And they are certainly not good choices for beginners. Sure they didn't say to not use 6013?

 

[MarkB_MI]

> 6011 is more sensitive to absorbing moisture which makes it more difficult to get a nice weld.

6010 and 6011 don't mind getting wet. In fact, some welders will drench them in water if they think the electrode is too dry.

 

[old]

Well don't know what to tell you other then the one guy who did pipe line welding also taught welding and he did not use much if any 6011 but he also taught that you clean the metal before welding as in grind it good and also grind a V into the areas your going to weld