What's your #1 favorite SMAW rod?

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Comments are really unnecessary.  If you must choose only one, what's your favorite rod? "Hey I didn't come to look and learn, I came to turn and burn.... If I can't light up, I'm gonna light out!"-JodyIdealarc 250 "Fatman"MM 252MM 211 "Little boy" Victor Torches
Reply:6011. If I'm welding SMAW, I'm welding dirty.
Reply:I'd say 90% of my stick welding is 7018, occasionally 7024I do use 6010, 6011 for tacking and plug welds.  Also for really rusty, pitted, galvanized,  painted, dirty steel I can't get at with a grinder or don't want to bother with like temp stuff."The reason we are here is that we are not all there"SA 200Idealarc TM 300 300MM 200MM 25130a SpoolgunPrecision Tig 375Invertec V350 ProSC-32 CS 12 Wire FeederOxweld/Purox O/AArcAirHypertherm Powermax 85LN25
Reply:6010 is my all round fave but like running 7024 on groove joints.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:I'm fond of the 7014, but the 7018 lately has been changing my mind...Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:7018. I love a tight vertical weave or slick smooth overhead stringers with the slag rolling off chasing the rod. If the temp is right....you can lay the rod down and let it weld itself. Oh man I love it. I make a fresh can of rods nervous when I walk by! Thanks for reading!
Reply:7018 is #1, followed by 7014 for  everything and anything a 6013 rod might be used for.  6013 sucks for me.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:excalibur 7018 and brick red 6010 are my fav
Reply:Originally Posted by SuperArc7018 is #1, followed by 7014 for  everything and anything a 6013 rod might be used for.  6013 sucks for me.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Yeah, I think it was a dude from the UK or something. His welds were like a machine.I saw a post about it over on AWS some years ago. Dude posted up his swag, the big swinging dicks of the pipeline countered with 6013 not being suitable for high pressure pipe, etc. I guess it is perfectly acceptable in the country he lives in anyways.Almost certain it was this dude.http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/s...ead.php?t=4452Big flame war ensues. Yeah, 6013 is a cake walk to run. It takes some skill to run 7018 & make it look that pretty.IMHO of course
Reply:Oh the guy, (Allen I think) is nothing short of inspiring! Funny how us Americans think we're the only ones on the planet that know how to do anything.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'm sure the cross country pipeline fraternity had plenty to say but anyone who can run 6013 on pipe with a lacing technique like that  has got my respect! incredible welding from northern ireland.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:It depends a lot on the machine u r running too as to which rod would be a favorite.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:7018 here. Then 6010.My favorite brand for 7018 is McKay, but I also love Esab Atom Arc. Hobart 418 ran nice but hard restrike because of heavy coating. I haven't used much Lincoln Excalibur, but the ones I have ran fine. I have 150 lbs of Lincoln Jet LH 78 MR, I am going to start using soon, I can let you know.As far as 6010, again, Mckay 6010PM ran great. And Lincoln Fleetweld 5P (red rod) runs great. Never ran enough 5P+, but want to really try it out."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:Excalibur 7018-1 and 5P+.A few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:I like 6013 but it spatters too much but makes a pretty weld. Still I love 7018 more than anything.
Reply:7014, it is more forgiving.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:7018 for me...
Reply:7014  (No matter how crappy your welding power source is; this rod runs fine as long as you have sufficient amps for the applicable rod diameter.  Burns equally well on AC or DC and possibly even better on AC which is nearly unheard of compared to all other rods that almost always burn a smidge better on DC.  Idiot rod that almost welds itself - LOL.  If all you have is an AC buzzbox then make sure to try some).
Reply:11018M. M is some kind of military spec. I still don't know what the spec is, but these rods run easier in all positions than any xx18 rod I've used. Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:7018MR is what I use most but I do love welding 308's and 309's. The gold weld and the flux jumping off is just too cool.
Reply:6011, 7018, then 6013 in order of favoritism.A few of my toys !LinuxMintManjaroMiller Roughneck 2E Lincoln WeldPak 100HTP MTS 160 Chicago Electric 80amp Inverter   Victor O/A
Reply:yeah, where's the stainless stick option? I always love it when that hot slag pops off and hits me on the lip! I used to love it when me and my older brother would go somewhere to test on stainless stick, I knew before long I would hear his coupon slam on the floor followed by a lot of cussing. F this sh!t!
Reply:Esab ok 48.00 7018 always, or elga p48 7018.I havent even tried anything else with normal steel, never heard that someone uses anything else with steel than 7018 rods.Esab ok 63.20 E316L-16 When welding stainless steel.
Reply:6010- I like deep penatrationLooks like I'm the only one to vote for 7024. A big flat weld with 7024 running nice and hot makes anybody who is vaguely competent with 7018 look like a welding hero. It's like welding with butter. Really nice butter.
Reply:I hear you, I like 7024 for flat work - I normally do not have any when I could use it though.  They fill big areas very nicely - just crank up the power and drag...Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:7018 hands down is my favorite
Reply:Originally Posted by ANVILComments are really unnecessary.  If you must choose only one, what's your favorite rod?
Reply:7018. Love me the low hydrogen!
Reply:6010 it's so versatile!!
Reply:I agree with 'rankrank1' - 7014 and besides all he said, 7014 has no storage issues.Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:Originally Posted by manning11018M. M is some kind of military spec. I still don't know what the spec is, but these rods run easier in all positions than any xx18 rod I've used. Attachment 309151
Reply:Originally Posted by Fat BastardHow about a question then if I'm not allowed comments.What are we welding?I don't pick the rod then decide what I'm going to weld. Unless I'm practicing. So what are we welding then I'll tell you what rod(s) I'll use.
Reply:Originally Posted by Rick VI agree with 'rankrank1' - 7014 and besides all he said, 7014 has no storage issues.
Reply:Originally Posted by Fat BastardHow about a question then if I'm not allowed comments.What are we welding?I don't pick the rod then decide what I'm going to weld. Unless I'm practicing. So what are we welding then I'll tell you what rod(s) I'll use.
Reply:Originally Posted by ANVILDon't read too deep into the question.  Everyone else simply figured it out and answered with the info that was presented with the original question.  What's your #1 favorite rod?  Again, don't read too deep.  It ain't that difficult my friend.
Reply:I'm one of those 220V AC "farm welders," so I'm afraid I have to split my vote between 6011 for dirty metal and 7018AC for clean(ed) metal.  I try to use 7018AC as much as possible. I don't weld to "X-ray code," so I don't get all worked up about storing the 7018AC. The red tube is just fine.-RuarkLincoln 3200HDHobart Stickmate LX235TWECO Fabricator 211i
Reply:7018 is my favorite rod, then 6013. jet rod (7024) is my least favorite but if im doing a ton of joints or something it is fast.Miller ab/p 330Hobart champ 16Miller 140Lincoln Power Mig 255Lincoln SA-250
Reply:I feel that 6010/11 takes the most skill and you can really watch the metal fusing together.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Originally Posted by j4407018 is my favorite rod, then 6013. jet rod (7024) is my least favorite but if im doing a ton of joints or something it is fast.
Reply:Originally Posted by ANVILDon't read too deep into the question.  Everyone else simply figured it out and answered with the info that was presented with the original question.  What's your #1 favorite rod?  Again, don't read too deep.  It ain't that difficult my friend.
Reply:The majority of what i do is 7018.  Thicker material gets 6011 and then 7018 cap.  Really thin stuff i still prefer my torch and good old fashioned rg45.  One of these days I'll get a tig setup and maybe that will change.Victor OAHobart Stickmate LX 235AC/160DC
Reply:9018-b3
Reply:Originally Posted by ANVILWow I'm surprised you don't like Jet.  When I was a young'an, my dad taught me welding with 7024.   He swore by it and used to to patch up our grain mills.   This was before mig welding was popular.   Soon, I got to fixing stuff with the jet rod.  Later I discovered 7014 and gelt that it would dig into the base metal just a tad better than 7024.For me, I think 6013 takes the most skill to prevent damn worm holes.  Next is 7018 vertical uphill.  That stuff can be a bitch for me sometimes.   Horizontal, no problem.
Reply:Originally Posted by Fat BastardThe question is incomplete. To answer it is to give an opinion on incomplete information so the answer is of no use. If the premise of this forum is to educate people on welding this is accomplishing the opposite. This perpetuates backward thinking of welding. Dont read too much into my answer; it is full of logic and that confuses most.
Reply:How do you 7018 lovers store your rods? I don't weld often enough to justify the expense of a rod oven. I heard that without a rod oven, there isn't much difference between 7018 and 7014, once it is wet.
Reply:For critical jobs, I open a fresh can. What I don't use goes into a Rod Guard with a silica gel pac.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:Originally Posted by Fat BastardHow about a question then if I'm not allowed comments.What are we welding?I don't pick the rod then decide what I'm going to weld. Unless I'm practicing. So what are we welding then I'll tell you what rod(s) I'll use.