Ok, my mig took a dump on me, last time I buy a chinese made welder! I don't have the funds to replace it right now, darn the luck, but there may be hope... My good old trusty Lincoln 225 has been sitting alone in the corner, neglected. Now, I know this old beast can handle the penetration, and my welds are good enough quality (repairs made to a friend's farm equipment 7 years ago are still holding...) that I'm not afraid to show them off, I'm just curious what rods y'all would use if the only option available to you was the old tried and true stick welder? I don't wanna have to take this to someone else, lol....I made it this far on my own :lol:
7018 is one of the best all round rods you can have. If I had a stick welder I'd all ways keep some 7018 on hand. If you are looking for a specific rod for your application I would just head on down to the local welding supply store. Try to find the most mom and pop one, they are usually owned and run by retired welders. Hope you win the lottery or something to get yourself a new mig.
First...Many of us have learned about that Chinese **** the hard way...I bought a chop saw (at a swap) that made THREE cuts and fizzled out...who do I call for service, Fu Man Chu? I replaced it with a used CTD industrial saw that I bought on ebay for $50.00...my grandkids with be making sparks with this one long after I've turned into worm food... Second, I always used 6013 rods...built tons of stuff over the years including several race cars...whatever you use, make sure you keep the rods nice and dry...buy an inexpensive storage tube from your local supply house... Good luck...and it will be fun to be welding with that old stick welder again...kinda like a time warp thing...
thanks y'all! I think I can convince dad's friend that owns the shop here to sell me a box or two tomorrow on their day off...no more work than I have left, that should be more than enough, with some left over... lol, as for the lotto, thanks again. AR keeps shooting it down though, and with my luck, if I were to win one...it'd be like the one people read about in H.S. where the "winners" were stoned to death.... If I ever did come into that much money, There'd be a round or two bought for everyone here.
It's NOT bad luck when the china **** falls apart - it's INEVITABLE! Don't buy that ****!!! ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver" Pardon my driving; I'm reloading.
I actually remembered the numbers 6011 and 6013... does your welder do DC or only AC? I seem to recall that 6013 is a rod you can run with AC. I could actually run a pretty good bead with a stick at one time, but once you use a wire feed, it's hard to go back.....
I welded most of my early dragster frames with 7018. BTW, chinieese tools arn't for workin', they are for SELLING! Sparky
I run a mobile welding truck part time with a big Miller welder. I pretty much use 6013 on most stuff. 7018 is good, but for ideal results, they have to be kept in a dry place until used. Most guys either have an oven or an old refrigerator with an strong bulb in it to keep them fresh. I use 7018 on something where excellent strength is required like a trailer hitch. I use 6011 for stuff like fencing. The penetration is better, but the welds definitely uglier. Mind you, I'm talking about welding 1/4 to 3/8 wall material.
First, is your Lincoln an AC or AC/DC.......make sure you buy the right rods.... 6013- good all purpose rod, great for general use, all position (even though they like to "run" on anything but flat) if I use them, I always try to weld flat.....will cut through rust pretty good, VERY easy to start and maintain and arc, weld bead will look like you are a pro when done 6011- known as a trash rod, will weld through rust, paint, some water (don't try), little harder to start and maintain an arc, weld bead isn't usually as pretty unless you're good, they are an all position rod, but they do it a bit better than a 6013, considered "faster freezing" 6010- bout the same as 6011 7018- probably the best rod in my ipinion, I know they make them for AD or DC but I've never tried them in my AC only machine... arc is easy to maintain, excellent flux, not as good for rust or paint, looks purdy when done (not as much as 6013) FYI 6013 60= tensil strength 60k lbs of strength per square inch 1= all position 3= flux content I love my mig, but when the going gets tough, the tough use a stick!
For all around use I keep 7014, especially on AC machines. It is especially nice in the smaller sizes for light metal. 7018 is good rod for bigger projects where you are burning lots of rod but it is hard to get the hang of starting a used rod. 6013 is good, 6011 (dirt farmer rod) is good for burning through old paint and crud if you can't grind first, or are just too lazy to, but only for single p*** welds. If you have to make multiple p***es with 6011, you will have to grind the slag out or it will end up an ugly mess full of slag pockets. If you are running a/c get the 7014, you'll liked it. 1/8 is a little big for some stuff, I like the 3/32 for all around light shop welding. Works good on d/c too.
If you are going to use 7018 , don't use the ac/dc rod. Buy the ac only rod and you'll get good results.
sorry i didn't get back to this, been busy today. My old 225 is an AC only welder...I guess I should have put the whole name on here, 225 AC, lol....my friends and I just used to call it the deuce and a quarter... I bought it at a yard sale YEARS ago for a grand total of $25...it paid for itself long ago. If it ever goes down permanently, It's gonna be made into a piece of furniture. thanks again, y'all!
convert it to a tig!!! i don't know all the details on how to do it but someone on here has to. you can alsao go to these sites. they are welding site and someone there can tell you what you need to do. http://www.shopfloortalk.com/forums/index.php http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/ later jim
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