Blue Demon 7018?

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Anyone with exprience using Blue Demon 7018 rods?    The rods I’ve used to date are either Hobart or Lincoln.   I’m stocking up on rods for my upcoming welding classes, so I can practice at home.   Any difference in the amperage or the way they burn from other brands I’ve mentioned?Miller Multimatic 215Miller Spoolmate 150Primeweld cut 60 Plasma CutterMilwaukee Chop SawBauer Portaband Saw w/Swag TableDewalt, Milwaukee, Porter Cable 4.5” grindersMag Drill/Annular CuttersArcUnion J-20 Portable Rod OvenVevor pipe stands
Reply:I have or had a 5lb pack of 3/32".  I haven't ran them in a while, but from what I remember the slag was just a little bit harder to remove compared to say Lincoln Excalibur.   I'll double check when I get home later today.  I meant to do a comparison between those and the other brand 7018s I have, but I never got around to it.

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Reply:I grabbed some hobart 7018 for a quick finish of a job I did.  Had some trouble removing slag.  IF this helps.
Reply:When buying a lot of E7018 I purchased whatever was best price. I like Hobart but most it was to high of price. I did find using different in E7018 rods They all work a little different from brand to brand. Today I use Blue Demon E71T-11 fluxcore and I like wire.But even Fluxcore I found a little different from brand to brand. Some here only use Lincoln rods but they work by hour. All my work was QUOTE so I was always looking for best price for greater profit.  If not doing a lot of rod burning get the rod you enjoy.  Dave

Originally Posted by metalmelter2021

Anyone with exprience using Blue Demon 7018 rods?    The rods I’ve used to date are either Hobart or Lincoln.   I’m stocking up on rods for my upcoming welding classes, so I can practice at home.   Any difference in the amperage or the way they burn from other brands I’ve mentioned?
Reply:I bought 500lbs of them a couple years back, they are a good rod. Slag doesn't like to come off as Oscar said. But I can buy Lincoln rods that are just as good but substantially cheaper. Even by the hour contractors watch cost. I use 7018 with a H4R designation. Blue Demon, Esab Atom Arc and Lincoln is all I run. Lincoln is my preferred and go to because of quality and cost.Lincolns Buy America Campaign is the cheapest and best quality money can buy.Lincoln 330MPXLincoln Power Mig 256Lincoln LN-25X Wire FeederMagnum PRO 250LX GT Spool GunLincoln AC/DC 225¼ Ton of Torches OFC-A OFG-AAir Carbon Arc Gouging CAC-AEverlast 62i Plasma CutterIngersoll Rand T-30 14hpInstagram: #Freebird Welds
Reply:

Originally Posted by smithdoor

Some here only use Lincoln rods but they work by hour.Dave
Reply:What rods does the school you're going to use? There can be differences between brands so it might be a good idea to use the same rods the school uses. I don't know about where you're at but the tech. schools here use the best rods on the market which are also the most common. Not the cheapest but what the large majority of shops use because of the high operator appeal. Unfortunately I don't think Blueshield rods are available in the US. Esab Atom Arc or OK55 (if you can get them) are pretty nice to run and clean up. Lincoln and Hobart aren't too popular except in the box stores. Welding supplies usually have better prices too because they sell a lot more.
Reply:

Originally Posted by Welder Dave

What rods does the school you're going to use? There can be differences between brands so it might be a good idea to use the same rods the school uses. I don't know about where you're at but the tech. schools here use the best rods on the market which are also the most common. Not the cheapest but what the large majority of shops use because of the high operator appeal. Unfortunately I don't think Blueshield rods are available in the US. Esab Atom Arc or OK55 (if you can get them) are pretty nice to run and clean up. Lincoln and Hobart aren't too popular except in the box stores. Welding supplies usually have better prices too because they sell a lot more.
Reply:Call them up and ask or go by there.
Reply:

Originally Posted by Freebirdwelds

By the hour people like to save money too, money saved is money earned. And then you have the obligation to avoid liability and give the client a good quality product for the money they are paying you. I'm not charging what I charge and then pull out Hobart or Harbor Freight rod. I might as well slap my clients across the face and fuk their wives.
Reply:

Originally Posted by 12V71

Really? I used to like the Hobart 7018 that made the light brown slag with the cream colored streaks for heavy equipment work. Haven't run any for a few years but I don't remember real problems removing slag. It seemed to be really good for uphill and overhead, using higher than normal settings. And it all stayed together.  That's just my experience. Used a lot of Excaliber for uphill pipe work and like the way it runs but hate the fragile coating. Seems like 5-10% of the box is junk when you open it.
Reply:This is some of the best rod and wire I have ever run. I wish it was all I ever used. But take a look at the prices.............

https://rockmountwelding.com/product...=arc-rods-smawhttps://rockmountwelding.com/product...ng-wear-platesLincoln 330MPXLincoln Power Mig 256Lincoln LN-25X Wire FeederMagnum PRO 250LX GT Spool GunLincoln AC/DC 225¼ Ton of Torches OFC-A OFG-AAir Carbon Arc Gouging CAC-AEverlast 62i Plasma CutterIngersoll Rand T-30 14hpInstagram: #Freebird Welds
Reply:I should not did a blanket Statement sorry.Dave

Originally Posted by Freebirdwelds

By the hour people like to save money too, money saved is money earned. And then you have the obligation to avoid liability and give the client a good quality product for the money they are paying you. I'm not charging what I charge and then pull out Hobart or Harbor Freight rod. I might as well slap my clients across the face and fuk their wives.
Reply:LOL I'd rather see someone pull out hobart than blue demon, but that could just be me.
Reply:

Originally Posted by SlowBlues

LOL I'd rather see someone pull out hobart than blue demon, but that could just be me.
Reply:I found my 5lb box of Blue Demon 7018s, but I actually had both the Blue Demon and the Lincoln Excalibur in the rod oven already.






All in all, the Blue Demon's slag was just a little bit harder to chip away, but not by any significant margin.The Lincoln Excalibur that I ran 2nd got a little weird at the end where I got some large spatter BB's, but I don't think it was arc blow seeing as how I was only running 95A.  I probably extended the arc a little bit and didn't realize it, since the beginning ran great.The puddle is a teensy weensy bit less discernible with the Blue Demon, but not by a lot.  Still a good clear distinction between the slag and puddle, but the Excalibur had a visibly better puddle.  With maybe 3-5 more amps, the Blue Demon's would have probably helped.If you're just going to stock up on rod for practicing, don't pay more than $3/lb.  Check your LWS to see what they have, otherwise look on Ebay.  I bought some Mundaka 3/32" 7018s and they run just like the Blue Demon's, but much cheaper.  You can get 44lbs of 3/32" E7018s for $97 shipped.  That's $2.20/lb.  For practice or non-critical work, they're the ticket, unless you want to pay more, lol.

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Reply:

Originally Posted by Oscar

I found my 5lb box of Blue Demon 7018s, but I actually had both the Blue Demon and the Lincoln Excalibur in the rod oven already.






All in all, the Blue Demon's slag was just a little bit harder to chip away, but not by any significant margin.The Lincoln Excalibur that I ran 2nd got a little weird at the end where I got some large spatter BB's, but I don't think it was arc blow seeing as how I was only running 95A.  I probably extended the arc a little bit and didn't realize it, since the beginning ran great.The puddle is a teensy weensy bit less discernible with the Blue Demon, but not by a lot.  Still a good clear distinction between the slag and puddle, but the Excalibur had a visibly better puddle.  With maybe 3-5 more amps, the Blue Demon's would have probably helped.If you're just going to stock up on rod for practicing, don't pay more than $3/lb.  Check your LWS to see what they have, otherwise look on Ebay.  I bought some Mundaka 3/32" 7018s and they run just like the Blue Demon's, but much cheaper.  You can get 44lbs of 3/32" E7018s for $97 shipped.  That's $2.20/lb.  For practice or non-critical work, they're the ticket, unless you want to pay more, lol.