Welding Tips and Tricks

what are the best rods "not limited to one rod" to keep on hand for most work?

What kind of work. If you are doing a lot of repair work on dirty metal-6011,6013 or clean metal more on the 7018 side. What do you want to weld and in what position would be beneficial to know.

Farmwelding wrote:What kind of work. If you are doing a lot of repair work on dirty metal-6011,6013 or clean metal more on the 7018 side. What do you want to weld and in what position would be beneficial to know.

For your list of 6011, 6013, I'd be inclined to add 7014 - or replace 6013 with it and just have two types.

Sizes 3/32", 1/8", 5/32" as desired.

Farmwelding wrote:What kind of work. If you are doing a lot of repair work on dirty metal-6011,6013 or clean metal more on the 7018 side. What do you want to weld and in what position would be beneficial to know.

general fab work,

For general fab work I'd recommend some 7014 or 7018 rods. They are common and are pretty good all around rods.

Farmwelding wrote:For general fab work I'd recommend some 7014 or 7018 rods. They are common and are pretty good all around rods.

+1

I'm a fan of 7014, and only $2 per pound here at the hardware store (L&M Fleet).

There's nothing wrong with 7014, but honestly even without a rod oven, I prefer 7018. I just like the way it runs better than 7014. To me, if you have a stock of 6010 (or 6011 if you prefer), and 7018, you will cover 99% of your needs. You might keep some 6013 around for working on thinner stuff if you don't have a MIG or a torch to weld with. Pretty much all I have around any more is Lincoln 5P+ 6010 and Lincoln Excalibur 7018

PS I only pay $1.32/lb (delivered) for both 5P+ and excalibur rods by shopping on line at the Laredo TX Home Depot. Thanks Oscar!

Louie's recipe for rod is about like mine. I have 6010 and 7018 for 90% . I have a little bit of 6013 I bought to try. And some SS 316 and 309 for specific projects.

I'm pretty easy to please. I keep 6011, 7014, and 7018 around in 3/32" and 1/8". I'll buy some Ni rod if I have some cast iron to weld, but I don't generally stock it.

Louie1961 wrote:There's nothing wrong with 7014, but honestly even without a rod oven, I prefer 7018. I just like the way it runs better than 7014. To me, if you have a stock of 6010 (or 6011 if you prefer), and 7018, you will cover 99% of your needs. You might keep some 6013 around for working on thinner stuff if you don't have a MIG or a torch to weld with. Pretty much all I have around any more is Lincoln 5P+ 6010 and Lincoln Excalibur 7018

PS I only pay $1.32/lb (delivered) for both 5P+ and excalibur rods by shopping on line at the Laredo TX Home Depot. Thanks Oscar!

You're welcome if only they also carried 3/32" 5P+ and 7018 Excalibur. Now THAT would rock!