welding rod question

[trooperjd]

Im gonna start welding together a box blind, and have used a wire feed welder for so long. Now I only have my A/C Lincoln "crackerbox" and will be welding 1 inch tubing in 14 gauge and 1/8". What would be the ideal rod for welding the light metal. I have 6011 and 7018, but was thinking 6013 may fit the bill w/out burning the 14 gauge to bad. Any ideas from our welding brothers on the green screen.

[dozer]

I would use a 3/32 6011 hands down

[temple droptine]

6011 will work just fine. Great penetration, and easy to work with. Should not burn thruogh 14g, unless your amps are too high.
cb

[trooperjd]

Hey thanks for the info, cause I dug through the shop and found 3/4 of a box of 6011 that are 3/32. Ill give it a shot thanks guys.

[SaltwaterSlick]

Set your amps at 75 and burn away. I was going to suggest Jet Weld rods but you already have rods.

[freak-nasty]

I would use a 3/32 7018 welding rod..the 6010 welding rods burn too hot for 14 gauge.

[coop]

I would use a 3/32 6011 hands down

X2

[sqiggy]

Just try both since you have them. One may burn better than the other on that cracker box.

[backinthegame]

I would use a 3/32 7018 welding rod..the 6010 welding rods burn too hot for 14 gauge.

X2 7018 would be perfect

[BIG IRON]

I would use a 3/32 7018 welding rod..the 6010 welding rods burn too hot for 14 gauge.

That is what I have used lately. I hanen't blown through yet.

[Draco]

The 6011 in 3/32 would work great. The 6010 is a DC rod so it wouldn't work with his machine. The 7018, while stronger, is harder to weld with if your not used to them.

[Tubby]

If you've never done much welding with the 7018, it's a whole different ball game than the others. You can't rush it, it takes time to burn.

the 7018 is perfect for structural steel but how old are the rods? Were they kept in an air-tight container? Has any of the flux begun to flake off? Do you have a rod oven? The smallest amount of moisture will wreck a low-hydrogen rod. If you're unsure, try running a bead with some scrap iron and see how it performs. If the rod isn't glowing in the dark and the flux doesn't turn to ash and fall of the rod when you strike an arc, they may be salvageable.

If they aren't any good anymore, the 6011 will serve your purpose better than the 6013. The 6013 does make a very nice weld but only under perfect conditions. They will trap slag a lot easier than the 6011. And you don't want slag inclusions inside the welds, it weakens the weld.

If I were in your shoes... Tack up with the 6011 and weld out with some good fresh 7018's. 3/32 on both. Keep your base metal clean and clean after each pass (if making more than one pass).

Have fun, wear proper safety equipment, hood with a good lens filter, fire extinguisher nearby and good luck!

[lil_armond]

3/32 7018 hands down, cleaner prettier weld, if you are not that great with a stick welder and use 6011 (White Wire) you will end up with a pretty ugly weld and probably end up not to strong not to mention the blow through.

Make sure you clean the mill scale off to help get a better weld with less pin holes.

[eliteweldingco]

Tubby what do you do for a living?
You seem to know your **** about welding.

[Tubby]

Tubby what do you do for a living?
You seem to know your **** about welding.

AWS CWI (American Welding Society - Certified Welding Inspector)
ASNT TC 1-A Level II certifications in RT, MT, PT, UT, VT
Welder Testing

a.k.a. pipeliner or x-ray hand