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IMPORTANT !!!!! HERE's a message that I'm sure WELDER and I would both agree on... If you're doing something that's structurally critical... and you're a begining welder, STOP NOW. Get some instruction from someone who's qualified or hire it done. You DON'T do structural welding if you are a beginner. Ok, that said, now read the rest... MY opinion, based on the literature (WELDER may respectfully differ) is... 1) that for ordinary, vanilla flavored rebar,
in an 'ordinary' application, for low grade rebar, 60XX or 70XX as specified in the metals guide will be just fine. Remember this is where you are basically welding to hold the rebar in position for the pour. NON-Structural welds. 2) For any 'engineered' application, i.e. critical strength, or when using medium/high-grade rebar, he was right, use 80+ or 110+ PSI rod, welded DC as stated in the manual(s). In most circumstances like this, you won't have a choice... the engineer/inspector/ building codes are going to tell you exactly what rod to use and how to weld it.. (or even if you are going to be allowed to weld it without certification or inspection or both). A little background... Rebar (even the higher grades) is not very 'pure', (uniform) steel to begin with. On top of that, it's often rusty and dirty, and the welding position/conditions are less than perfect. In my opinion, one of the reasons they specify high strength rod is to compensate for the otherwise imperfect welding opportunity afforded by rebar. It's hard enough to get a proper weld on a shop bench, with clean metal and lots of experience to begin with. Making good structural welds on 'dirty' steel in difficult positions is not a place for the novice. If you really want to be a welder, you need to get some instruction. A local Junior College, Night School, or other programs are the best place to start. If you can't do that, find an experienced welder to help you learn. Yes, if you have to, you can learn from video and books, but in all of the above circumstances it takes practice, practice, practice to be good. 'nuf said. bbott
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