Welding Rod brands DO make a difference: see this testimonial about a 140ST.

[bobwills]

Do you order the esabs or buy them from somewhere and also how much are they for 5lbs.

[jerky]

Esabs 7018 are complete garbage. They fingernail, run very irraticly and are just crap. The only thing i do lik about them though is the little gunpowder on the tip for an easy start. I reccommend air liquids blue shield 7018. Much nicer rod all around... As for 6010 all ive ever ran was lincon 5p+, and after hundreds of boxes burnt through, i have nothing bad to say about it.

[welderdude]

@ Jerkey. Here are some pictures of the esab rods I use. They dont have the black thing on the tip.

@ bobwills. I get them from my local welding store. they are about $3.50 a pound. The smallest can they stock is a 10 pound metal can.

[bobwills]

I always run the Hobart 7018s from like tractor supply. While back I got some hf 7018s 5 lbs for like $4 and its safe to say they suck. But the hobarts are always good on the everlast. Today ran some hard surface rods the powerarc. They ran great. I got some lincoln 5p 6010s i wanna try. Im sure they will run awesome to. What 6010s do everyone get. The 5p or 5p+?