clarke welding rods!!

[the artfull-codger]

didnt u give him a few of your stash that u have in the airing cupboard instead of him buying clarke krap

Wotch it B.S. I did actually give him some of my "airing cupboard stash" took pity on him, they really were crap rods wouldn't hold an ark .

 

[Kent]

I heard some one saying they had to learn how to weld with the flux smashed off the rods, I thought he was talking bulls manure.

Nobody can but I bet that's a mis-understanding from the word "smashed" alone from "smash strike?"

 

[Kent]

paint stirrers is all cheap rods are good for ya get what ya pay for iv boxes of aldi rods and other ****** ones people give me use them for hooks or stirring rods

The better rods make far better stirrers as the flux don't give up and contaminate the paint

 

[norlander]

knock flux off cheep rods, spot two together, bend ends into Y shape, toastin fork, we all had one each when I was an apprentice,toasted our sarnies on the shop built coke burning stove.
Come to think of it, do the same wi one rod shorter then t'other and you got a paint stirrer to go in yr drill, always use em with the drill on full chat-livens up boring painting jobs.

 

[Kent]

we have a little push bike made in the 70s in Zambia by one of the native workers on the copper mine. I shall have to ask the wife were it is and post a picture 'bout 6" high it is and made from welding rods! Wheels go round peddles and even got rubber on the tyres.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Cheap rods are fine...
For knocking the flux off, cleaning up on the wire grinding wheel, and being used as gas filler rods!

 

[sardine]

Vodex are best for stirring brews with though.

 

[ross1993]

i started with clarke rods and really struggled to make any progress , bought some better quality rods and it made all the difference

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I must say I was spoilt as an apprentice in the shipyard, nothing but fincord m or silvercord or supranox. First time I had a go with a cheap rod I was amazed at just how bad they can be. boc own aren't too bad, but the slightest sniff of moisture and you'd be better off using a piece of round bar as a rod, whereas I've had fincords sat in the rain for a few days when I've dropped one on site, picked it up for a laugh to try it and b*gger me if it didn't work!

 

[Rig Pig]

Has anyone any comments on machine mart ark welding rods? my son bought a box & he can weld but couldn't make anything of them so he brought them up to me for a go, I'm not a "time served " welder but have a pickhill bantam which I've had/used for nearly 40 yrs so not a novice but they would not hold an ark despite upping /lowering amperage etc, wonder if they're faulty,only for the latest stick welders or our technique or maybe just rubbish.

I bought some too, they are utterly useless.

 

[TechnicAl]

I must say I was spoilt as an apprentice in the shipyard, nothing but fincord m or silvercord or supranox. First time I had a go with a cheap rod I was amazed at just how bad they can be. boc own aren't too bad, but the slightest sniff of moisture and you'd be better off using a piece of round bar as a rod, whereas I've had fincords sat in the rain for a few days when I've dropped one on site, picked it up for a laugh to try it and b*gger me if it didn't work!

Fincords are unusual in a Shipyard.......were they used on the Hull?

 

[Tinbasherdan]

We used them on vent runs, lots and lots of galvo vent runs

 

[TechnicAl]

We used them on vent runs, lots and lots of galvo vent runs

Oh OK
Cumbria........I assume Vickers at Barrow
I used to visit a lot (about every other week once upon a time)...........have we had this conversation before

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I'm not sure we have? Yes BAe as it is now, although everyone still calls it vickers

 

[TechnicAl]

Did you know Ray Rushforth and Alan Aitchison.......I used to play golf with Ray at Ulverston

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Ah we may have had this convo after all. No I never worked for/with either of those

 

[Loansharc]

Just for the newbies like me, what's a decent brand of 6013 rods then?

 

[Paul.]

Just for the newbies like me, what's a decent brand of 6013 rods then?

Fincord M run quite nicely especially for beginners, Miltrodes are another one, everyone has their favourites so its a question with many answers, I quite like the BOC everyday electrodes for general work, reasonably priced and easy to use, welded this bracket up yesterday with one,

 

[Bill Edwards]

As said, preferences vary.
Generally speaking, I think the best advice might be to look for recognized welding brands - Murex (fantastic rods, my recommendation), Phoenix I have found to be good, ESAB, BOC etc - basically, known names.

 

[PTvor]

ESAB OK46.30 and Phoenix 6013. Both cheap enough to burn up in practice, consistent and good quality, so faults are more likely to be down to you than the rods, and actually good enough for almost anything you can do with a 6013. The 46.30s are rutile and the Phoenix are rutile-cellulose, so are a bit more fierce.

I'm sure there are others in the same category. Siftrodes seem OK. BOC I've never tried.

There have been loads of threads on here on this subject which you can find with the search.

If in doubt, ask on here. You don't want to be saddled with 5kg of rubbish.