Hey! I just read your dillima and found myself in the same pickle ! So I tried the 7018 rods; since I had some on hand, and guess what. It worked first time out. You guys are always amazing me with what I can do. I had a hole to file in some cast, and I know it was cast because it had that granular look at the break. So I tried it, my old stick welder acted up a little to get things started so I bumped up the amps and bumped up the amps till I was at the limits and walla it worked. Once I had a good coating of 7018 I filled the rest with 6014 on top. When I ground it out you couldn't see it! Thanks fellas.