randallnMo
Member
Based upon the general concensus on this forum that the 7018 rod is the "best" rod to use, I bought a box of them. I was welding a carryall frame and using bright shiny metal. I have a Lincoln AC welder and had the heat on 120. I was really looking forward to using the 7018's as opposed to my old standby 6013's. Gosh, I must have been doing something wrong as those things gave me fits! They were constantly sticking...it was a nightmare getting an arc striked. They would quit right in the middle of a bead and I could not get an arc started back again. They were constantly sticking. I was welding regular 1/4 inch metal. I made sure my ground cable was grounded good. I'd switch back to my 6013 rod and it would weld beautifully. I'm sure it must have been me or something, but those things about made me lose my religion. I tried different heat settings......nothing worked. I'm not a professioonal welder, but I don't have too much stuff fall apart either after I weld it. Anybody got any answers? Based upon yesterdays experience, I'll never use those 7018's again. The slag the 7018 left was a pain to chip loose also. It was hard and looked like dried on white paint/chalk. NOrmally, the slag left from my 6013 peels right up like a banana peeling. I"m at a loss.
Each time the rod would "stick", it would peel about 1/2-1" of the coating off the rod. Could the rods have been old or defective? They were Hobart 7018 1/8 inch rods.
Each time the rod would "stick", it would peel about 1/2-1" of the coating off the rod. Could the rods have been old or defective? They were Hobart 7018 1/8 inch rods.