Hobart 6013 rods

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I went to weld some 3/16" mild steel yesterday and I pulled out some 3/32 Hobart 6013 rods I had bought.  I also had a few of the same size rod I had gotten at Harbor Freight (HF) so I started using those first.  I was running DCEP.  The HF rod burned really nice and I got a great weld profile with minimal spatter and the slag either peeled up by itself or chipped off easily.  After burning through 2-3 rods, I grabbed a Hobart rod and the arc was all over the place and it spattered like crazy and as exected, the weld looked like crap.  It was night and day between the two rods.The coating composition must have been different between the two as the Hobart rods were brown and the HF were light grey but both were clearly marked as 6013.I'm ready to either return or chuck the Hobart rods. Anyone else had a problem with these?
Reply:I've used Hobart 6013 without problems.   I wouldn't make a quick judgement about Hobart in general, or Hobart's 6013, based on just the one experience.   Possibly they were old or had moisture?MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:They were fairly new (much newer than the HF rods) and in fact I had the few HF rods stored in the same container as the Hobart rods.  They were all stored in the original Hobart packaging and while the seal had been broken the cover was on tight.I've often heard that 6013 rods tend to run better with some moisture (ie., better than bone dry) and I was considering dunking one in water to see if things improved.I'll try to run a few more beads and post some pics for comparison.
Reply:I used the Hobarts 6013 1/8" on AC at school, they are good on DCEP. But on AC they just spatter like hell and burn quick. I did a pad with the Hobarts, then did with the Lincoln 6013 and they burned amazing. I recommend the Lincoln Fleetweld
Reply:IrishBrewer switch over to DCEN, and see if that improves the Hobart rods.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I have some 1/8" 6013 that I am 99.7% sure are Hobart brand and the flux on them is a gray color, not brown. I bought these rods maybe 2-3 months ago.StephenMillermatic 251Miller Syncrowave 200Miller 30A SpoolgunHypertherm Powermax 30Etc., etc., etc.............Cancer Sucks!
Reply:Hobarts have a cardboardish color. lincolns are grey
Reply:Yes, cardboardish describes the color pretty well.  I've also used the grey Lincolns and the HF 6013 rods look similar.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPIrishBrewer switch over to DCEN, and see if that improves the Hobart rods.