1.6mm rods

[BrokenBiker]

might sound strange, but what are they for? I have never found a need to use them, even on the occasional thin applications, I either travel faster with a 2.5 or use a series of tacks, do the 1.6mm rods work well on thin metal?

 

[shenion]

I found 2mm 6013 rods easier to use over 1.6. They work down to 2mm metal but I have done 1mm lap welds with them. The 1.6's needed to run hot to keep the slag flowing; might as well use a bigger rod.

I have some 1.6mm 7014 rods; those are nicer to use. Still difficult on thin stuff.

 

[BrokenBiker]

I have about 6 1.6mm rods, have had them since I started welding 2 years ago, might burn them off and see what they do. have a batch of 2.0 too that I have never tried.

I am fairly ok at doing car body work with a sort of stitch method and 2.5mm rods run on their lower limit, so I might try the 2.0's next time I have to do some and the mig is out of gas

 

[dannyp]

some years ago the local tool shack had a load of diffrent size rods in teh bargain bucket so i got a pack of each size and tryed them.

i found the rods smaller than 2.0mm just ****** me off loads of flux and naff all weld. i found i chould weld thinner with a decent quality 2.5 mm

 

[dark030]

this rods is used for thin metal but to do nice welding normally i cut them in 2 because they balance very quik the best on for me is the 316l

 

[rich r]

I've repaired a few things around 2mm thick with 1.6mm rods. Not pretty welds, but good enough to allow a garden spade to live on for a few more years for example. The technique I use is to get the rod hot on something thicker, then drag at about 10 degrees off vertical to ensure the weld pool doesn't get too small. You've got to move quickly though to stop the flux swamping everything.

These days, you'd almost certainly use Mig rather than 1.6mm rods - unless of course you don't have a Mig welder (like me).

 

[dark030]

hi rich i almost use tig to make sculpture in stainless
the leave r less than 1 mm thiner

 

[sardine]

there is just not enough metal in 1.6's to get a decent weld, 2mm are much better, and do the same job.

When i started welding i saw 2 boxes of 1.6 for a couple of quid in Halfrauds bargain bin, i have never used them.

 

[TechnicAl]

All I can say is that you must have all had some bad 6013s

They are obviously made for a reason and that's thinner plate. They should run at 60 amps (ish). If they dont theres something wrong with them

 

[rich r]

I use about 55A for Aldi 1.6mm rods - and in the right circumstances I can weld fillets and butt welds with them almost as nicely as I can with 2.0mm or 2.5mm rods. But they're far less tolerant of moving too slowly or quickly or letting the arc get too long - and I probably went through about 10 rods just laying stringers before I got the technique right.

So I reckon that 1.6mm rods do have a purpose, but if you have access to Mig or Tig, you probably wouldn't use them. But if all you've got is a £30 buzzbox, they might just allow you to get the job done.

 

[Blammo]

You can use an RG45 1/16 as a filler while welding with another rod. Kinda like using your arc as a TIG. WARNING : This is only required when a complete moron cut the parts to be welded.....or really good liquor was a main part of the project.