Where to get top quality mild steel TIG rod?

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In Richard Finch's book on basic welding, he recommends against using copper coated $3/pound tig rod on critical welds. He seems to highly recommend a rod called welco 122, which I cannot find.Right now I have ER70S-6 which is around $3/pound and copper coated. Finch claims this is a rod made from scrap recycled steel, creates brittle welds, and the copper burning makes harmful fumes.Where can I get a higher end non-copper coated rod? my local welding shop only sells copper coated ER70S-6 and ER70S-2.
Reply:I would think the uncoated ones are of lower quality.Non coated rods aka coat hangers...My lws carries both actually.  But the uncoated ones are generally only used for O/A welding in my experience.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Oops, the part number Finch recommends is Welco 1200, not 122.
Reply:I googled welco 1200.  The MSDS says it is  RG 60 rod.  That is a gas welding rod.  Was Finch talking about tig or O/A.
Reply:How critical is your weld?  ER70 S-6 fillers are used on boiler tubes and steam pipe on a regular basis, lots of heat and pressure, pretty critical.- If you can jump across it you can weld it!  - anonymous old boilermaker
Reply:You don't say what you want to weld, application is pretty important for an answer. I'll say this, someone had me jumping through those same hoops more than 10 years ago; looking for bare deoxidized TIG wire. If you're using TIG, the copper won't survive the arc anyway. If tapwelder is correct with Welco 1200 = RG-60, that is an O/A rod.ER70S is used for both MIG and TIG. Millions of welds have been made with copper coated wire. And depending on your humidity, corrosion on the filler is a bigger problem.Unless you're building the Space Shuttle. Last edited by Craig in Denver; 01-17-2009 at 09:21 PM.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Im welding brackets on hot rod frames. I guess that isnt a high enough stress area to bother with anything more "boutique" than the copper plated ER70S-6 from the welding shop. Ill stick with that!
Reply:Originally Posted by Chad sIm welding brackets on hot rod frames. I guess that isnt a high enough stress area to bother with anything more "boutique" than the copper plated ER70S-6 from the welding shop. Ill stick with that!