Arc rods

[Gingle]

Hi as a DIY arc welder,IV learnt by buying and trying different rods ,and it pays to buy a good arc rod.So the rod IV found that's good and easy to use, strikes well and so easy to use is Esab rods.Yes it does pay to buy the best .It makes arc welding more joyable.6013.rods

 

[Wozzaaah]

One of the nicest I ever used was a no-name "white box" pack of 6013 from a local agricultural store, turned out they were made by Oerlikon.

 

[brightspark]

One of the nicest I ever used was a no-name "white box" pack of 6013 from a local agricultural store, turned out they were made by Oerlikon.
oerlikon fincord m are real nice all round rods if you cant strike and weld with them you never will weld

 

[premmington]

I struggle to find nice 6013 rods.

Slag just runs everywhere - with any I use.

Suggestions...?

 

[finyuk2005]

Used Lincoln Pantafix 6013 rods at the shipyard i worked at, they are the best i have used,
Couldnt figure out why i struggled with vertical and overheads at collage but not at work, turned out the Lincoln 6013 at collage where the cheap ones, and not a patch on the Pantafix ones!
the difference between good and bad 6013's can be night and day, but even reasonably cheap 7018's seem to always run ok!

 

[Barking Mat]

Over here in Frogland, we mainly use GYS, as that's what's available locally, the 3.2 and 4.0 mm are loads better than the 2.5 but 6013 is all that's available, never seen any 7018's.

 

[DeBangis]

Yes. We always use E6013 100%. Made by Evastar.

 

[Prajna]

I find Bohler Fox ETI very nice to use.

 

[Trevorleach]

The 3.2mm 6013 from toolstaion are a very nice rod, under 20 quid Iirc.

 

[jo1010]

I once used some from Aldi discounters because they were cheap - they were barely usable

 

[Hood]

One of the nicest I ever used was a no-name "white box" pack of 6013 from a local agricultural store, turned out they were made by Oerlikon.

Used to get no name white boxed rods, they had a blue/green flux and were superb, not seen them for years.
Got some rods today and they seem nice, Arctrode with Wilkinson Star name on the box, made in China but much better than any I have used recently.

 

[finyuk2005]

I find the issue with the white box- no name rods are that i guess they use the cheapest supplier at the time, so sometimes they are really good, and other times they are terrible!

 

[Hood]

I find the issue with the white box- no name rods are that i guess they use the cheapest supplier at the time, so sometimes they are really good, and other times they are terrible!

Haven't been able to get them for years but when they were available I had been getting them for at least 10 years and the quality was consistent. Suddenly they stopped being stocked, no idea why, maybe full of harmful substances or something

 

[finyuk2005]

Haven't been able to get them for years but when they were available I had been getting them for at least 10 years and the quality was consistent. Suddenly they stopped being stocked, no idea why, maybe full of harmful substances or something

all the best stuff is!

 

[Erie Fred]

Has anyone tried taking the common 6013 rod and dipping them in something to maybe help ?
Sodium silicate (water glass) IIRC is a component of 6011.
Hang them up to dry overnight.

 

[leadpig]

I hated 6013 till I tried bohler ohv and esab.
Certainly not cheap, but worth it for my blood preasure lol