Many rods with a "dash" and a letter or numeral next to then have specific material characteristics. It's a designation for things like a percentage molybdenum, chromium, Nickle or many other material. Very Rarely are you going to use 8018 or 11018 unless you are going to weld "High yield" steels. There is a "clause" when welding on different ships in the Navy and USCG with 8018-C1 or 9018 to use these rods due to to Impact resisitance from ice and other things like rocks in barges etc... When your doing things like backhoe blades and resurfacing teeth you need to look up the correct applicable rod for that as well. For general around the farm/house stuff, Fifelaker is on point. Some will disargee but "I" am a fan of 6010 because it is a deep penetrating rod and in the marine world it is used extensively. It is not the greatest choice on A/C but works well and it'll definetly challenge your skill set!
Great find. No one ever knows how much they need a welder until they get one. While all rods can get destroyed by moisture I thought 7018 was the big one and the only one that experts say required storage in an “oven”? Maybe set me straight on that. I just started a few years ago, self taught, not very good at all but I havent broken a weld yet, my beads are too ugly to break. I like the 7018. Easiest to use IMO. There’s no way I’m good enough to see the difference with dry or wet flux LOL Not to steal the thread but right now I have the need to tack some cast iron to mild steel. Just tack, not a full bead designed to take lots of load. Who’d like to suggest a rod for that?
You want a Ci Nickle rod. Any welding supply has them, TSC has them also. Yes, all welding rods that are flux coated can be destroyed by moisture. If the flux is still on them, you can put them in your house oven for about 15 min at 250º and it'll dry them considerably for use.
WeldrDave, I looked up your new welder on tsc. It says "wire feed". I've seen spools, I assume that's what it is referring to. Are there different spools of wires like there are rods?
FYI , this is best when it is done while your wife is out for the day , kind of like washing parts for for the saw you are rebuilding in the dish-washer.
Yes Sir! There are also, Spool guns for different machines. This little machine takes a spool inside and it's fed through the sleeve to the tip.
