7018

[flash of light]

bought a new pack of 7018 with iron power for welding a digging spade , but man ar they difficult to use. sticking like theres no flux on the rod and when i do get a arc going it goes out. im using a old ac 170 fan welder which has no amp dial. anyone got some good tips

 

[squazy84]

perhaps these rods need to be different polarity, i know we had this problem, this lot will know for sure, in our case we had to use a different welder, my tig

 

[Paul.]

Some 7018's wont run on cheaper ac welders, a lot of these only have a ocv of about 50 volts, most low hydrogen electrodes need 80 volts AC to strike up, the info on the pack should tell you,
You would probably be better to get some 6013's, or alternatively see if you can find someone with a dc inverter set, which should run them without problems

 

[shenion]

There are 7018-AC rods designed for lower OCV buzz boxes. Some makers use a different suffix.

As TIG Paul said, 6013's would be easier.

 

[keith19]

As TIG Paul says; but if you know of anyone with an old oil-cooled Oxford or similar try them on that, at the 80 volt setting.

 

[flash of light]

my brother has a lincon inverter 160 so maybe i should try them on monday when i see him next, o and they ar the sif brand. thanks

 

[awemawson]

Used to have to use 7018 for root passes on my welding course and had all the same issues you are getting. Even bought a pack to practise with at home on my Oxford oil cooled and still couldn't get bthem running nicely. However I now have a Cebora inverter that runs the same rod beautifully.

I remember the instructor yelling at me for screwing up a root run AGAIN - then he 'showed me how' and had the same problem !!!!!

 

[flash of light]

this is the old arc welder ive been using, its blue under the grinding dust and has never cut out from welding rod after rod

 

[Paul.]

Thats in good condition compared to the one I used to carry around before inverters were invented, and as I said its, 46 to 50 volts open circuit, and 22 to 27 volts arc voltage, check your electrode packet, I bet it says 80 volts minimum ocv.

 

[flash of light]

looked at packet also googled it cant find minimum ocv, can only see amps settings and how it performs well in all positions (like my wife).

 

[Drains]

Flash, they should run fine on a DC inverter, but they'll never work on that Turbo weld - as said above, not a high enough OCV.

 

[flash of light]

thanks all for advice. ive been waiting for years for the old turbo weld to have a melt down, so i can buy myself a new inverter , it does make a nasty vibrating sound some times. i live in hope

 

[casement]

I favor used, cheap, large, powerful transformer machines for 7018 and stick welding in general. Cheap on this side of the pond and no expensive electronics to die. They last for decades.

What's the UK equivalent of an Idealarc or Dialarc?

 

[zzr1200]

Oxford, Olympic, Quasi Arc, Max-Arc are all industrial oil cooled welders, plus there are more names that I can't think off at the moment.

 

[Dogbreath23]

have you tried warming the rods up first?

 

[flash of light]

ive not tryed warming rods, but thay have come from 1 hour old sealed pack. and had a look at brothers lincon inverter and on the back it says 48v. but have not try it out yet

 

[Paul.]

If its DC output the 48volt ocv will be fine, inverters are usually lower ocv than ac transformers

 

[PTvor]

I thought OCV was only important with AC welding current, because the arc goes out 100 (or 120 in the US) times a second. Inverters have usually got a hot start feature and the measured OCV can be quite small, the electronics uses it to detect when the electrode makes contact then throws everything at it for a fraction of a second to establish the arc.

I doubt you'll have any problems with the Lincoln inverter.

 

[TechnicAl]

I thought OCV was only important with AC welding current, because the arc goes out 100 (or 120 in the US) times a second. Inverters have usually got a hot start feature and the measured OCV can be quite small, the electronics uses it to detect when the electrode makes contact then throws everything at it for a fraction of a second to establish the arc.

I doubt you'll have any problems with the Lincoln inverter.

Thats right.

to be honest DC is much better for running rods

Inverters do tend to have problems with cellulosics. Im not sure why and some have an "ARC Force" regulator which appears to increase the ac voltage (but Im not 100% certain as what it actually does electrically)

 

[flash of light]

tryed that lincon inverter out today with the 7018s, much much better although the arc did go out a few times. a little bit like using cast rods, as you lay one down it feels like the slags mixing with the pool, but after chipping the weld, it seems to turn out much better than u think its going to. and the slag never seems to curl up like a scorpions tail, much rather use a good quality mild rod. next stage is to see how long the welds hold up. thanks for all the help.