Stick Electrode Guide

[I_Love_Plasma]

Good point Geezer.

I have questions relating to stick welding electrodes:

1> What is your favorite online supplier of rods?

2> 7018's take on moisture fast, if I pack my rods into a container filled with rice, could this be a poor man's way of slowing this down? (Rice is very absorbing. We put it in salt shakers all the time and it works good.)

3> Moisture is the main thing that degrades electrodes, hence the need for re-baking, correct?

4> What is your favorite local supplier?

[geezer]

Good point Geezer.

I have questions relating to stick welding electrodes:

1> What is your favorite online supplier of rods?

2> 7018's take on moisture fast, if I pack my rods into a container filled with rice, could this be a poor man's way of slowing this down? (Rice is very absorbing. We put it in salt shakers all the time and it works good.)

3> Moisture is the main thing that degrades electrodes, hence the need for re-baking, correct?

4> What is your favorite local supplier?

I don't have a favorite supplier, I give them all a chance to stick it to/in me,I keep all my rods in containers and only cook up the 7014 and 7018 ones on the fry pan or the overpriced and utterly expensive variable heat rod heater I bought . I only have about 100 - 120 lbs of different rods on hand at any one time, so storage is not a problem.

you are right mositure is the killer on 70 series rods, keep the containers closed and preheat before use if possible.

[I_Love_Plasma]

I know it has been asked before on this forum, although at this time I am unable to find the thread with the info in it. What is a good temperature to bake them at? Also, how hot is too hot? Is 175-180F* too hot?

[bobwills]

Hobart makes them too. And yeah a regular ol 7018 will work on either. Ive used regular ones alot on ac but the ones made for ac run so much better. They got much less spatter and just run smoother. Anyone ever run the 7018ac rods on dc though. I had to the other day. They run fine just kinda seem to have a funny smell while your burning them it seems

[SeanMurphy265]

I run the 7018ac on my power arc 200 and 140st. I like how they run, and they do not seem to be as sensitive to moisture as 7018. I got on a project back in the summer and my 7018 were old and I struggled getting the rods to run, I probably stuck 5lbs of rods. I switched to 7018ac and they ran like a champ. I'm not sure but I wondered if the 7018ac run better on inverter power.

[SeanMurphy265]

Unless you can get free shipping it would be hard to get a good price online for welding rods. I have an Amazon Prime membership and I get free 2 day shipping, but I have found better deals at the LWS. I found rods at the LWS for half of what the chain tool and farm stores sell their rods. I can't remember the name, but I have several boxes of rods it's a blue plastic box that I picked up at Nexair for $7.00 for a 5lb box and $14.00 for a $10.00 box. I just picked up a 10lb box of 7014 Uweld 3/32 rods for $14.00 and change. I find better deals on rods and wire when I go to an actual welding store. I have had bad luck with some of the rods I picked up from Tractor Supply, but I think it had more to do with how long they were sitting on the shelf. I have had better luck with LWS rods most likely because they are constantly selling them. I have also had good luck with Forney 7014 and 7018ac rods from the local hardware stores.

[I_Love_Plasma]

Dave,
Thank you, that's pretty sizzlin warm for some of those 70 low hydrogen rods! 800F* sheesh.

Sean,
Thank you for that info. I just bought rods from my local Ace Hardware at 3 bucks a pound :'( $30 for 10LB. So 14 dollars sounds REALLY good to me. I was thinking about buying some more from my local Thiesens store, buy now that you mention that it is cheaper to buy from the LWS....I'm going to call my Praxair. I will post my findings with an "edit" to this post... Can't remember what it cost per pound at T.S.Co. but it was substantially more than Ace.

I'm crushed, my prices are double and then some over you prices. Thiesen's Farm and Auto is the best price at about $25/10LB. Praxair is $41/10LB. LWS is a hair cheaper than Praxair. Good grief, do you step on the guy's foot until he gives you half off? I mean that's dirt cheap.

Thanks,
ILP

[bobwills]

Every everlast welder is inverter based.