sticky filler rod?

[BrokenBiker]

i think i may already know the answer but, bought a tig, got some argon and some consumables...completey forgot to get filler rod

given my inability to be patient, it wasnt long before i had some 6013's in an intimate embrace with a flap disc...flux removed and they almost looked like tig rods.

now, i havent ever tried any real tig before apart from 1 fusion weld on some thin stainless well over 10 years ago. when i was adding filler today though it felt like the rod was sticking to the base metal on every dab.

setup was 150 amps, 2.5mm lanthanated tungsten, 2.5mm 6013 with flux removed, no4 cup (only one i had, ive ordered more) and 5lpm, welding on 6mm mild steel, adding filler to the leading edge of the puddle, not the arc.

im almost certain i dont have enough gas coverage with the small cup, but that will be fixed shortly. could this also account for the sticky filler or is it just down to the fact its a 6013 rod and not something like er70 dedicated tig filler?

or is it just normal for it to stick slightly? stick might be the wrong word, maybe tacky describes it better.

 

[Brad93]

i think i may already know the answer but, bought a tig, got some argon and some consumables...completey forgot to get filler rod

given my inability to be patient, it wasnt long before i had some 6013's in an intimate embrace with a flap disc...flux removed and they almost looked like tig rods.

now, i havent ever tried any real tig before apart from 1 fusion weld on some thin stainless well over 10 years ago. when i was adding filler today though it felt like the rod was sticking to the base metal on every dab.

setup was 150 amps, 2.5mm lanthanated tungsten, 2.5mm 6013 with flux removed, no4 cup (only one i had, ive ordered more) and 5lpm, welding on 6mm mild steel, adding filler to the leading edge of the puddle, not the arc.

im almost certain i dont have enough gas coverage with the small cup, but that will be fixed shortly. could this also account for the sticky filler or is it just down to the fact its a 6013 rod and not something like er70 dedicated tig filler?

or is it just normal for it to stick slightly? stick might be the wrong word, maybe tacky describes it better.

There's no deoxidisers in the core of a mma rod, it's all in the flux. This will
make the puddle sluggish and sticky as impurities are forming an oxide.

Tig rods are triple deoxidised.
Mig wire is double deoxidised.


gas coverage. 5lpm through a No. 4 should be fine. I certainly wouldn't go with any less.
6lpm for a number 6

 

[BrokenBiker]

There's no deoxidisers in the core of a mma rod, it's all in the flux.

Tig rods are triple deoxidised.
Mig wire is double deoxidised.

so its the fact im using a 6013? i kinda guessed that would be the problem. only padding beads at the moment and have some er70 on the way for when i actually want to weld stuff so will just carry on for now for practice value

 

[Munkul]

2.4mm filler in steel is always a bit sluggish unless you crank the amps up high, I'd say 160+ and you also get undercut a lot more. Much easier to use 1.6mm filler for most steel jobs.

 

[premmington]

There's no deoxidisers in the core of a mma rod, it's all in the flux. This will
make the puddle sluggish and sticky as impurities are forming an oxide.

Tig rods are triple deoxidised.
Mig wire is double deoxidised.


gas coverage. 5lpm through a No. 4 should be fine. I certainly wouldn't go with any less.
6lpm for a number 6

@Brad93 - you learn something new every day.

I in my dumbness just thought they were just deoxisised - did not realise there was differing levels of deox'ing - I have used 1.2mm A18 Mig wire for little light TIG jobs loads of times.

 

[addjunkie]

There's no deoxidisers in the core of a mma rod, it's all in the flux. This will
make the puddle sluggish and sticky as impurities are forming an oxide.

Tig rods are triple deoxidised.
Mig wire is double deoxidised.


gas coverage. 5lpm through a No. 4 should be fine. I certainly wouldn't go with any less.
6lpm for a number 6

So would this explain why gas welding rods are a bit sluggish to use too?

 

[Popcorn]

Gas rods have zinc in 'em as well

 

[Brad93]

So would this explain why gas welding rods are a bit sluggish to use too?

I'm not too clued up on gas rods. I know they're not pleasant to TIG with though.

@Popcorn suggests they have a bit of zinc, that certainly wouldn't do a tig arc any favours.

 

[Turbo]

You used to gas weld with non galvanised coat hangers. Not sure about tig.

 

[minimutly]

So how are tig rods identified? I believe I have a whole pack of 1.6 gas filler rods...

 

[Turbo]

So how are tig rods identified? I believe I have a whole pack of 1.6 gas filler rods...

I think they mostly identify as straight but you never know these days.

 

[Hitch]

So how are tig rods identified? I believe I have a whole pack of 1.6 gas filler rods...

A flat stamped on the end generally.
Like this...(this is a stainless one)