welding rods

[4wdtom]

Was in Runnings the other day for something and saw they had welding rods. Bought a 5 lbs. pack of 6013. Seem to weld OK but the slag is pitted and rough. As I said the weld under looks good, no sign of pitting but other 6013s and most other rods I have used leave the slag more or less smooth. Anyone any experience with the rods Runnings sells? I haven't used them for much more than a couple of short test welds so far so I don't know how I am going to like them, may go back to the welding shop in the future depending.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Which brand? Runnings sells two. I've used the Hobart electrodes and didn't like them.

 

[rustred]

my experience is thats the way 6013 is. , makes a rougher looking weld.

 

[Stephen Newell]

Was in Runnings the other day for something and saw they had welding rods. Bought a 5 lbs. pack of 6013. Seem to weld OK but the slag is pitted and rough. As I said the weld under looks good, no sign of pitting but other 6013s and most other rods I have used leave the slag more or less smooth. Anyone any experience with the rods Runnings sells? I haven't used them for much more than a couple of short test welds so far so I don't know how I am going to like them, may go back to the welding shop in the future depending.

I find every different brand seems to weld differently with Forney being the worst brand.

 

[4wdtom]

Which brand? Runnings sells two. I've used the Hobart electrodes and didn't like them.

KT industries, Select Weld, AC/DC, 1/8, 6013

 

[4wdtom]

my experience is thats the way 6013 is. , makes a rougher looking weld.

Don't think there is anything wrong with the bead, The two or three short ones, (about 1") I have run as an experiment and one small job all look fine. Just never saw such rough, pitted looking slag. Usually it is a smooth protective coating for the bead underneath.

 

[buickanddeere]

Dry them out

 

[4wdtom]

Dry them out

Will give it a a try, they were in a sealed package though. As I said they seemed to be OK just odd slag.

 

[M-MAN]

6013 is for new metal so I rarely used them. Always had a lot of spatter. Weld looked good once the slag was off.

 

[drsportster]

I avoid the "mild penatration " 6013 rods Not strong joints

 

[timcasbolt]

Will give it a a try, they were in a sealed package though. As I said they seemed to be OK just odd slag.

An hour at 300F and you'll be sure. A single layer on a cookie sheet works.

 

[4wdtom]

An hour at 300F and you'll be sure. A single layer on a cookie sheet works.

Will try it sometime soon. Thanks

 

[Jimylee in VA]

Get some 7014 rods. I think you will be happy with how they weld. Will give you a stronger joint, too.

 

[buickanddeere]

I avoid the "mild penatration " 6013 rods Not strong joints

Dial the current up a wee bit .

 

[caterpillar guy]

7014 is an easy rod to weld with. IT will crack on hard material like welding plow points or chisel plow shovels for things.IT will some times crack beside the bead or break there. On mild steel it will hols just fine. I've used a lot of it over the last 50 years or so. I also use 7018 for a lot of things. As for 6013 being a shallow penetration rod. I guess it depends on the amperage and the thickness of the steel. 6011 is a spattering rod with a lot of burn through if you don't turn the amperage down a lot compared to 7018 or 7014 . 6011 Is more of a root pass rod when veed out in deep vees. IT is supposed to be a fast freeze rod for vertical according to my welding supply place locally. I have never looked it up nor researched it Most of this is just from what I have observed in using them all. I did find if I put some 7018 in the oven for about a half hour at 250 they did weld better than cold out of the box. So probably had moisture or the heating helped sort of like preheating steel to weld it.

 

[moresmoke]

I have had poor luck with no name import rods, especially in 7018.

For all the comments on someone liking a particular rod number better, they all have different characteristics for different situations. 7018 is probably the best all around rod if you only want to have one type, but them what diameter do you buy? Also a variable that changes based on what you are welding.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

I have had poor luck with no name import rods, especially in 7018.

For all the comments on someone liking a particular rod number better, they all have different characteristics for different situations. 7018 is probably the best all around rod if you only want to have one type, but them what diameter do you buy? Also a variable that changes based on what you are welding.

I'm guessing it was 40 years ago, there used to be both Tractor Supply and Central Tractor in town. I bought some of that no name import rod at one of them. It was absolute junk. For the little bit of crude, dirty welding I do, Lincoln 6011 is the rod of choice.

 

[Dusty MI]

Get some 7014 rods. I think you will be happy with how they weld. Will give you a stronger joint, too.

I've always liked 7014 rods.
Dusty

 

[4wdtom]

Dial the current up a wee bit .

Yes, I seem to like the amps on the high side with the 6013s I usually run. I clean the metal if it is dirty or rusty and get nice beads that as far as I can remember have never failed.

 

[Texasmark]

I avoid the "mild penatration " 6013 rods Not strong joints

That's why I use them on things like purlins...for 2 reasons: They work good for that job and at 1/8" diameter it doesn't take much of a generator to run them when working remotely.