Arc welding electrodes

TechnicAl · Aug 23, 2015

mrfuzzy said:
Lincoln Arcweld E6013 rods (thats what stamped on the box) are rubbish...I don't know what skip they have been rescued from...but they are frankly horrid things to use...See pic below for what to avoid...
View attachment 70327
Esab 46.30 - £14 a box...a joy to use in comparison, easy to strike up and a consistent smooth arc and consistent quality also...

Fincord Ms are nice but very very expensive in comparison....

Are they really.
That range was my "invention" to combat cheap imports (around 1999 I think). Originally they were good rods sold cheaply minus the Approvals. Ive no idea of where they are made these days.

Accountants have taken over

sardine · Aug 23, 2015

I'm working through a box of Zodian universal, I like them, esab ok, or fincord M are all similar good quality . Its not worth bothering with non branded rods because the supplier changes depending on who cheapest.

Aren't vodex very expensive ?

Richard. · Aug 23, 2015

Appyasme said:
Just a thought Woz.There isn`t a lot that can go wrong with an electrode(any welding engineers will be cursing me know)You can break it down into two sections ,metal and flux. I have always been taught, from a QA point of view ,that the rod has to be baked for a certain amount of time and then put into a rod oven before use

You'd be surprised mate at just how different they are. Even if the metal and flux are of equal quality which quite often it's not, the cheap ones have a tendency to be out of centre in the flux surrounding them which causes all sorts of issues during welding. Better to stick to the brands that spend millions on quality control.

TechnicAl · Aug 23, 2015

mrfuzzy said:
College bought in pallets (and I mean pallets) of rods, everything from Siftrode, ESAB, Lincoln Arcweld and one other...

Siftrode, ESAB both gave decent results, ESAB being better...

Lincolns...lumpy weld deposits, poor penetration, difficult to start, slag a pain to remove..scrubbing it with a wire brush to remove the last of it (whereas the others would peel off and just need a very quick go over with a wirebrush).. and it wasn't just one box...as we were tearing through them (2 classes of 20, several evening classes etc..) Same joints and same settings with an ESAB 46.30...spot on perfect weld...I gave some ESAB rods to another guy who was struggling to finish before end of course...came to see me later...like night and day...first attempt with the ESAB rods...spot on...been trying for weeks with the lincoln rods and getting nowhere fast...so could be the beancounters have farmed it out or cut the quality right down...

I was surprised as I've welded with Lincoln rods in the past at varying price points and they have always been spot on and nice to use...but these were just....horrible...
Didn't even stick their name on the rod...just E6013...

What a shame. Id guess others have noted similar performance. Have you complained? Where did you get them?

Kent · Aug 23, 2015

I should throw away a damp part box of 6013 before I should bake them it's not cost effective if they are damp enough to matter 7018 a different matter.
For me esab. Murex. Lincoln or BOC own (used to be murex not sure now) there are other great rods but overpriced for general use of s 6013
Siftrode ain't bad in a 7018 for the money but never tried them in a 6013 weldqu sell th btw

cocker · Aug 23, 2015

mrfuzzy said:
Lincoln Arcweld E6013 rods (thats what stamped on the box) are rubbish...I don't know what skip they have been rescued from...but they are frankly horrid things to use...See pic below for what to avoid...
View attachment 70327
Esab 46.30 - £14 a box...a joy to use in comparison, easy to strike up and a consistent smooth arc and consistent quality also...

Fincord Ms are nice but very very expensive in comparison....

Them arcweld rods are absolutely the worst I have ever used

TechnicAl · Aug 24, 2015

cocker said:
Them arcweld rods are absolutely the worst I have ever used

Really
Thats bad
Have you told anyone (other than on here)

I hear Lincoln have a new person answering such comments

Kent · Aug 25, 2015

I haven't ever used an bad Lincoln stuff, cant see why they might put out an untested genuinely poor quality product like some non brands do. That said who knows nobody who ever made anything has never made a mistake

Tom Orrow L · Aug 25, 2015

cocker said:
Them arcweld rods are absolutely the worst I have ever used

They can't be worse than Super 6 rubbish can they?

justin · Aug 25, 2015

A lot of people on here like the esab ok rods I tried them in college when they ran out of murex white box, I hated them with a passion, fierce arc, seemed to run hotter. I suppose that could have been a duff batch.

Tom Orrow L · Aug 25, 2015

justin said:
A lot of people on here like the esab ok rods I tried them in college when they ran out of murex white box, I hated them with a passion, fierce arc, seemed to run hotter. I suppose that could have been a duff batch.

Mate, Thats exactly what I think. I went and bought a box of OK 46.30 3.2MM expecting them to knock my socks off after hearing so much buzz about them. I thought they had an incredibly fierce arc & they spattered quite a bit.
I thought it might be the wrong polarity but I've tried them on DC+ & DC- and they seem to run the same. Nothing compared to Bohler or Oerlikon rods IMO

Kent · Aug 25, 2015

mrfuzzy said:
Horses for courses, also depends on your amp settings as well....some rods need slightly less or more amperage to get the best out of them, Along with the arc length etc you use...some rods suit some welders better than others
I've got some Bohler Fox OHV rods and they're ok...but nothing special tbh...I think its because I generally prefer something with a fiercer arc to get decent penetration.

IIRC ESAB own murex's rods division now...

The group also own cig and many others they are not all the same product though in different boxes

cocker · Aug 25, 2015

TechnicAl said:
Really
Thats bad
Have you told anyone (other than on here)

I hear Lincoln have a new person answering such comments

Took the rods back , we use about 20/30kg a week .
Now useing lincoln omnia 46 , lovely they are .

TechnicAl · Aug 25, 2015

cocker said:
Took the rods back , we use about 20/30kg a week .
Now useing lincoln omnia 46 , lovely they are .

They used to be what Arcweld 6013 was. Obviously not any longer.

cocker · Aug 25, 2015

So the bean counters have swapped the arcweld rods for cheap nasty things ,
Renamed the old rods and mugged the punters

wheresmejumper · Aug 25, 2015

I think lincoln are trying to cater for all budgets these days,and its even more evident in their machines,unfortunately.
old + lincoln used to be a banker for quality.
new + lincoln needs an if

wheresmejumper · Aug 25, 2015

mrfuzzy said:
Have you seen the junk they are punting through home depot?
Merde isn't even the word for it...

Shame as I've used a proper "pro" grade lincoln mig and it was nice to use, even their old "tombstone" arc welder was a decent bit of kit

Theres a few cheap mig welders that look comical really considering the name.wolf have better styling and probably similar welding characteristics.
Their current invertec arc welders are worse than the old line up
the aspect line im not sure deliver what a flagship model should

TechnicAl · Aug 25, 2015

Apparently they now do AUTOGENOUS wires............
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-gb/consumables/autogenous-wires/Pages/autogenous-wires.aspx

Arc welding electrodes

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