Parweld rods

[BrokenBiker]

just noticed on my box of 2.5mm parweld 6013 rods that it says 40-70 amps ac or dcen...I thought 2.5mm rods had a current range of about 60-100 amps.

The box of 3.2's have no current info on them at all.

Could this be why I was blowing holes with it earlier if these rods are meant be run between 40-70 and I had them set at 80-90?

I can't remember having problems with 2.5's blowing holes in the material I was welding earlier with my other xti 160 or with my fathers cheap buzz box but I was using fincord rods back then.

Have looked at the parweld site but can't find current info for either diameter rod on there so a bit confused at the moment.

I am going to try these 2.5's at 50amps tomorrow and see how they do

 

[HughF]

Badly is my experience... 6013 on the low end of the amp scale = worm tracks...

 

[BrokenBiker]

I agree with you, but as these rods say in the box 40-70 amps maybe they need to be run lower for some reason

 

[wheresmejumper]

Ignore the box and see what works for you

 

[HughF]

Exactly, they probably picked those numbers out of their a**e

 

[BrokenBiker]

It did feel quite hot at 80 amps and then still hot at 70 but I put that down to the fact that I have been doing all my welding with either gasless mig or a battered 100amp buzz box that's older than me and this welder has arc force so I thought maybe that was it and I needed practice with it again.

I've just cut some practice material but it's started rainy before I could hammer it flat on the wall out the front (who needs and anvil?) and the Mrs has gone to work so I'm lookin after the boy until she gets back anyway

 

[BrokenBiker]

Got it sorted. On 3-4mm steel these 2.5's run best at 70 amps and just reach full penetration.

The 3.2's on some 6mm seem to run well at 100-110 amps but I haven't got enough 6mm to do any serious welds with.

Just had a quick 5 mins and was fairly happy with the results.

This is the 3mm steel, 2.5mm rod 70amps dcen

(The top weld is 60amps and nearly penetrated fully)

And this is the back

Ignore the crater at the end, I was only trying to get the settings in on this one (didnt clean it either but the arc force does a good job of blasting all the crap out of the way)

 

[super noob]

I've just been welding some 5mm plate with a 3/32nd rod and 1/16th gap. Used 93A for that and got a lovely slag peeler the whole length with 6013. Those are ESAB though

 

[BrokenBiker]

i want to get my 2 burners and BBQ done and then i will be moving on to various test joints with root gaps etc. just ordered 10kg of 2.5mm rods and 5kg of 3.2 as i quite like these parweld rods now i have got used to them... my father popped over to have a go with the welder and brought some fincords and they are definitely different to run and i found i needed a few more amps for them but not much difference in the finished product

 

[super noob]

These rods are about 20 years old! Just been stored open box at the back of the shop, I'm quite impressed by how well they ran!

But at the price point noooooo