atom arc/Excalibur or Jet weld for my new Trailblazer 325

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My local welding supply has these three in stock most the time but only have the atom arc in smaller tins.  I have not stick welded in about 15 years and then I did very little so just call me a noob.  My hesitation is the other two options are only in 50 pound cans around me.  Kind of wanted to get one and get used to it.  Is there a preference here between those three or is it simply flip a coin kind of deal.  My dad uses and swears by Hobart 7018 but that is not around me and my next spots are a long way away.  General fab around the homestead from rusty to clean.  Thanks!!
Reply:I have used Lincoln, Hobart, Inweld and Radnor 6010/6011/7018 and they are all really close performance wise. I do prefer Lincoln fleetweld 5p 6010 rods over any others. The Hobart 7018 rods from TSC have a real heavy slag that makes it hard to see but almost pops itself off once cool. For practice I would buy house brand rods and get a small tin of good quality fresh rods for critical projects.Picked up a 50lb open can of red 6010 for practice from the surplus store that were about 10yrs old and they welded pipe awesome!Sent from my SM-G920P using TapatalkTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Hello TDog78, just keep in mind that a rod that has a specific specification number, ie. AWS rod designation is considered the same in any code welding situation requiring that designation. Now that you've survived my first sentence, take the rest of this with an open mind please. Rod choice is definitely often a matter of personal choice and mainly just that. With what you have access to, try to run various types of rod and then make a choice based on what you find to work for you or your machine. When E7018 is considered, follow the storage requirements for any of this rod that will apply to code applications and if there is safety involved I would further stress proper storage. For incidental type welding that is generic with the E7018, storage practices are going to be less critical, however, the rod will generally run better if it is stored in a manner that will prevent it from picking up moisture. Good luck and best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Originally Posted by TDog78My local welding supply has these three in stock most the time but only have the atom arc in smaller tins.  I have not stick welded in about 15 years and then I did very little so just call me a noob.  My hesitation is the other two options are only in 50 pound cans around me.  Kind of wanted to get one and get used to it.  Is there a preference here between those three or is it simply flip a coin kind of deal.  My dad uses and swears by Hobart 7018 but that is not around me and my next spots are a long way away.  General fab around the homestead from rusty to clean.  Thanks!!
Reply:Originally Posted by WNY_TomB.Home Depot and Lowes as well as Tractor supply sells welding rod in 5 lbs boxes.
Reply:You can get Different brands of 7018 from Amazon
Reply:For home use I buy the 25lb boxes of Hobart 7018 from TSC (can probably be shipped to you) they work fine but there is a thick slag coating over the bead that has to be chipped off. At work we get Excalibur and it blows the Hobart rods out of the water it terms of slag removal because the slag peels up and off the bead as it cools. As far as welding on rusty steel while you should always get the metal as clean as possible, sometimes clean as possible still isn't very clean. For that 6011 works really well to dig through rust and paint but isn't quite as good for things that really take a beating.My "collection":Homemade Stick WelderVictor O/A TorchAC 225Ideal Arc 250HF 90 Amp Flux CoreHF Mig 170Solar 2020 Plasma CutterPower i-Mig 140EHarris O/A torchHF Dual Mig 131140STAlpha Tig 200x
Reply:I have both Excalibur and Atom Arc 7018 rods and can't tell much difference, both run well. Lincoln claims the flux is more flexible on their product, at least their you tube video shows that. SteveLincoln SA200 (1966 Redface)Lincoln IdealArc 250Steve1990 Miller Dialarc 2501993 Miller Maxstar 140 STR2015 Lincoln MP2101966 Lincoln SA200 Redface
Reply:Buy the Atom Arc in the smaller tins unless you have a ton of welding to do. Using a few pounds out of a 50lb can and hoping it stays in good shape for a year is just that...hoping. You still want to store it in a dry location but why buy 50lbs if it will take month's to use it. I'd be leery buying rods online and having them delivered. Might have half the rods with no flux left on them. Since Air Liquide bought Airgas, I wonder if they'll start selling Canadian made Blueshield 7018 in the US? If they do try it and chances are you'll like it better than anything else. Atom Arc is pretty nice to burn though.
Reply:Originally Posted by TDog78Yes....but Home Depot Lowes and TSC are all at least 1.5 hours from me
Reply:Originally Posted by SparkieI have both Excalibur and Atom Arc 7018 rods and can't tell much difference, both run well. Lincoln claims the flux is more flexible on their product, at least their you tube video shows that. SteveLincoln SA200 (1966 Redface)Lincoln IdealArc 250
Reply:Didn't say that at all. Just said that's their claim. Here is Lincoln's video where I got my information SteveLincoln SA200 (1966 Redface)Lincoln IdealArc 250Steve1990 Miller Dialarc 2501993 Miller Maxstar 140 STR2015 Lincoln MP2101966 Lincoln SA200 Redface
Reply:Atom Arc and Excalibur are both great rods."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manAtom Arc and Excalibur are both great rods.
Reply:Originally Posted by SparkieDidn't say that at all. Just said that's their claim. Here is Lincoln's video where I got my information SteveLincoln SA200 (1966 Redface)Lincoln IdealArc 250
Reply:Is there a problem ? I don't get the referenceSent from my iPad using TapatalkSteveLincoln IdealArc 250Lincoln SA200 1966 RedfaceSteve1990 Miller Dialarc 2501993 Miller Maxstar 140 STR2015 Lincoln MP2101966 Lincoln SA200 Redface
Reply:No, just a joke about the flux. Excaliburs chip pretty easily, thusly if the flux on them is more flexible, the flux on other rods must fall off by looking at them.
Reply:Ok. I get it now . I really can't tell much difference in either brand when welding, but I'm just a hobby welder at bestSteveLincoln SA200 (1966 Redface)Lincoln IdealArc 250Steve1990 Miller Dialarc 2501993 Miller Maxstar 140 STR2015 Lincoln MP2101966 Lincoln SA200 Redface
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Yea, they sure are... Atom Arc is great stuff..Got a good buddy who hooked me up with a shltload of it
Reply:No hurry man. None at all.Expert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:Atom arcs get my vote. I've ran thousands of pounds of it and it's my go to low hydrogen rod. I've tried the excaliburs a few times and for some reason just don't like them as much. Guess im stuck on the Esab rods.   The slag falls off on its own for me with them. It's all about personal preference anyway.
Reply:Atom arc all the way. Second would be lincoln but as far as Im concerned it would be a distant second.
Reply:My favorite lo-hy rod was Mckay. I don't think they make it under that name anymore. I believe all of the general rod is branded under Hobart now. According to the Hobart site, "Soft Arc 7018" & "7018 XLM" are now under Hobart. Those two used to be Mckay. Anyway, either of those were the nicest running I have tried."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"