Is 7018 too much for this.....

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I bought a 1989 Lincoln Pipeliner Classic 1 yesterday with 4000hrs. Today I went to TSC and bought some "Hobart" 7018 5/32" rods just to mess around with. Well that turned into making a small repair on a gate to the field where my horses are. I had some trouble striking an arc on my work (it was rusty but I grinded it down fairly well where I was welding), and when I did strike an arc it would burn through. So I turned the machine down to 90-120 and then it was really tough to strike an arc.  Is 7018  5/32" too much for 2"x1/4" pipe?BrettUSAF SSgt - Explosives ExpertHobart Handler 187Hobart Airforce 4001989 Lincoln SA-200 Classic I
Reply:Way too much. 3/32 is plenty on 2" because the pipe heats up so fast. 3/32 75-90 amps, 1/8 100-140. That is roughly what there ranges are, 5/32 takes a lot of amps to run and is too large for most of the applications you will find on your ranch or home projects.UA Local 598
Reply:Lincoln recommends 130-210 amps for their 5/32 7018. 130 amps is the high end for amps recommended for 1/4 steel.Ranger 250 GXTSmith Gas Axe
Reply:Thats good news! I was hoping there wasn't anything wrong with the Pipeliner. I'm going to school full time for welding now, I had GMAW/FCAW during the summer semester (final tomorrow). And in 2 weeks I start full time with SMAW, Blueprints, and OSHA safety courses (in addition to being active duty Air Force). I bought the Pipeliner to put on my truck and do general welding part time to see how it goes.Would it run much better with a 6011 rod?BrettUSAF SSgt - Explosives ExpertHobart Handler 187Hobart Airforce 4001989 Lincoln SA-200 Classic I
Reply:6011 will start on that rusty metal easier but still it's better to get rid of that rust. 6011 will require less amps and be more apt to blow holes. Either is acceptable choice. 90% of the stuff I weld is with 1/8 " 7018. Keeps my stock of 7018 fresh that way.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:It will run all stick rods well. You just need to match the right rods and amps to the right material.6011 would have been better if you had a smaller rod (3/32 or 1/8). Even 6011- 5/32 would have blown through just like the 7018. Gates are usually made of very thin wall tubing, and are very hard to weld with stick.You did get a good machine. I have a SA200 and love it.Thanks for your service.
Reply:Originally Posted by cajun welderIt will run all stick rods well. You just need to match the right rods and amps to the right material.6011 would have been better if you had a smaller rod (3/32 or 1/8). Even 6011- 5/32 would have blown through just like the 7018. Gates are usually made of very thin wall tubing, and are very hard to weld with stick.You did get a good machine. I have a SA200 and love it.Thanks for your service.
Reply:AMMO22 - Before restriking a used rod scratch off the glazed flux on rough steel or concrete; the glaze acts as a refractory.  I you don't scratch the glaze you will often shatter the virgin flux up the tip and further complicate a smooth initiation.   Opus