Are all welding rods the same?

[Glenn]

Are all welding rods the same?

For the sake of discussion, let us take 6013 rod. If you pruchase it from Lincoln, Miller, Hobart, Wal-mart, Lowes, Home Depot, or Harbor Freight are you getting the same rod or just a rod that meets the minimum specs for the 6013 label.

The real question is, do they act different when each is run on the same welder, at the same settings, on the same metal? Could the weldor tell the difference and pick out which brand was which?

[Thomas Dean]

Well, yes and no, yes spec wise, no quality/ease of use. Yes, you can definitely tell the difference in the different brands. For instance, my personnal preference for a low-hydrogen rod (7018) is the Lincoln Excalabor in the 3/32 or 1/8 size. BUT if I need to burn a 5/32 or 3/16 I prefere the Atom Arc. The AA run smoother than the lincoln excalaber, IMO. Time and space won't allow me to list all of the preferences in the different brands and types of rods. YMMV, and for the most part, it is a user preference. They must meet the min. spec. requirements set forth by the AWS.

[Hillbillysmith]

TD is correct. No matter the manufacturer, the rods that have AWS specifications such as; E6010, 6011, 6013, 7014, 7018, 7024, etc etc, are produced to the minimum specs allowed by AWS. But it is the manufacturer that also decides what other chemicals to put into the fluxes such as; ammount of iron powder, arc stabilizers, cellulose bases, etc. However, in debate of what TD has stated, they DO run/act differently with the same machine, amperage, material thickness/type, current, electrode size, temp of base material, etc. I can contest to this b/c I weld every day with Lincoln's E6010 5P and E6010 5P+ rods. Both 1/8 inch rod. The 5P rod runs a much forceful and wilder arc than the 5P+ b/c of the amount/type of arc stabilizers in them. The 5P+ has more, therefore the arc isn't as wild. It especially holds true with low hydrogen rods (E7018, E8018, etc.) b/c of the need to be used in such a proficient manner in industry to pass x-ray testing. I know that there are people here that have more knowledge of welding than I, but i do to a school for this and have done extensive studies on subjects such as this.

[irnsrgn]

I used mostly hobart electrodes, I wouldn't give a nickel for a train car load of lincoln electrodes. On jobs where I was welding and there were other welders working, they would see the quality and appearance of my welding and ask to use some of my rod. superintendents were not happy when the help requested them to get some of the rod I was using. Its all a matter of personal preference and user friendlyness. I did use some atom arc and liked it. Lincoln did buy out one of the other mfg's a few years ago and closed the plant and sold off the equip within a week as I recall.

The other determining factor is the machine used, the DC ones with dual controls, seperate voltage and Amps dials are more versatile as you can use high amperage and low open circuit voltage or low amperage and high open circuit voltage to obtain the same heat, but with completely different arc characteristics.

I am not going to part with my 1950 Lincoln SA200 welder tho.

[jjh]

I use the cheapest I can get, but love Fincord M s they just give a beautiful weld I've heard 'em called idiot sticks as even an idiot can weld with 'em!

[aametalmaster]

I had a preference years ago for rods but after working 30 years in different shops for the cheapest xxxxxxxx on earth you learn to run what they buy. So anymore i can run them all. Now its my turn to buy the rods for my shop. Ebay is my number 1 shopping place. The same with mig wire. Anything that is .030 S-7 i buy, i don't care where its made i can use it in my machine...Bob

[clw1985]

well, from my experience every one is completely correct with the fact that if you buy a 6913 or any other rod from any manufacturer has to meet the specs to be that rod, some rods though are touchy....if ur a newbie welder and ur like hey that xxxx is rusty but this 7018 isnt doin the job lets use a 6010....you'l find out real quick not all of 'em are the same, if u use 7018's if ur welding on anything that is going to be pushing 70 thousand lbs or im picky in my case any load put em in a rod oven...not a fridge with bulb that doesnt work ill probably catch xxxx for it but its the truth use a 7024 if u dont want to purchase a rod oven or worry about it. 7018 absorb hydrogen and it being a low hydrogen rod it can and will cause cracks in stressed welds if contaminated.

[Covforge]

all rods are required to meet standards but like everyone said each manufacturers rod act differently. You can even see a big difference in labels from the same maker, such as Lincoln. Cheep lincoln rods are a waste usually, excaliber burn great usually.
Just my Idea
Travis