An opinion on Chinese welding rods

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No, I'm not giving an opinion on them, I'm asking for one.They cost about half what the big name brands cost. That's a substantial saving.I've used them, but I'm not sure whether I have the experience to comment on how they stack up - the poor quality of some of my welds owes more to my lack of skill than my equipment.So what does everyone else think?And let's not get all xenophobic about how buying Chinese products is taking the bread out of the mouths of workers in the west etc etc.How hard is it to make a welding rod? Are the Chinese ones any good?Scott
Reply:Ive never used em..least not to my knowledge but especialy considering that China is importing most of their metal from around the world the biggest thing I would be concered with is in their packaging...i.e. dampness and damage and of course just actualy being what they say they are(probably just as many lower lvl domestic suppliers that fudge the numbers also)Now having said that....(insert rant against chinese here,imagine ur best Jeff Foxworthy voice)....Im sure they are no more partial to having buildings and vehicles collapsing on them then anyone else.So as long as its not some sorta scam wholesaler I'd imagine theyed be comparible.
Reply:Scott, I have some sample rods and the WIA product Guide for you I will also send you a few WIA Austarc 13S the ones I told you about, I think you will like them. I will post them over the weekend.As I said in the email last night I have used Chinese rods a bit one of the steel yards I used to make a lot of things for supplied me with their own rods, One day for no real reason I peeled off their label to reveal a Chinese label under it, They sell pallet loads of the things So who knows what has been welded with them.Simonhttp://members.optusnet.com.au/~abba/index.html
Reply:Thanks Simon!!!!!Ridgerunner:Now having said that....(insert rant against chinese here,imagine ur best Jeff Foxworthy voice)....Im sure they are no more partial to having buildings and vehicles collapsing on them then anyone else.So as long as its not some sorta scam wholesaler I'd imagine theyed be comparible.
Reply:scott,what kind of rods (alloy..size) are you using now?j/c...zap!
Reply:Hi Zapster,There's one pack of 2.5mm. Don't know much about them because everything else on the pack is in Chinese.Then I just bought some Satincraft 13 made by Cigweld. And some Speedex 12 made by Murex. They're both general purpose rods and both 2.5mm.The brands wouldn't be familiar, but they're 6013.One thing I didn't realise until I reda it here is that rods need to be looked after. I haven't been doing this. Of course, I'm not sure entirely how they should be looked after, but I suspect I treat them pretty badly.Scott
Reply:One thing I didn't realise until I reda it here is that rods need to be looked after. I haven't been doing this. Of course, I'm not sure entirely how they should be looked after, but I suspect I treat them pretty badly.Scottwell where i am now we dont do anything special as far as keeping rods in a heated enviorment or anything like that...we do have a cabinet that the rod is kept in..but no special treatment...i've been at this for too long now..some insist on keeping rods at a certian temp..no humidity..i say its just an old wives tale  just dont drench them in oil is all i have to type..and if they are a little "damp" because of the humidity in the air...they dry out real fast @200 amps ...zap!
Reply:Humidity isn't a problem where I am. We have the odd rainy spell, but I don't weld then anyway because I tend to weld outside.
Reply:Hey Zapster u can bake ur electrodes if you suspect theyre damp( hr or so in the oven over 110)if your better half can live with it!!!!!!!(warning our uses for the stove usual end up with nights on the couch if not outright divorce!) A small refigerator(unplugged)like a beer or college fridge is an ideal enviroment to keep your rods. any container that is airtight will work( including those nifty but pricey rod tubes at the welding supplier(just make sure there is a gasket with em)If using a fridge or other container put a samll pan of dessicant in there with em.If ya cant find anything at home depot or the like try a small gun shop or supplier.They usualy sell the stuff by the pound.
Reply:Scott,I posted the sample rods from my suppler in Victoria yesterday, I also put in some other rods I had for you to try. There is also a WIA and a nikko product guide for you.Simonhttp://members.optusnet.com.au/~abba/index.html
Reply:Onya Simon.
Reply:Got them, Simon. Many thanks!That's a great selection of rods. With the ones I have already, I've got 12 different types.I've got a drawer in my shed (shop) cleared out. I'll put dividers in - enough for each set of rods to have its own compartment. Then I'll test each type of rod according to the directions on the packet.There are a few little things I need to make up out of various thicknesses of steel, so at least the test pieces won't be wasted.I'll write on a card how each rod performs so I can work out the best combination of rod/material/machine/skill. Then I'll be all set.No more excuses for dodgy welds. Gulp.
Reply:Glad you got them Scott, You will have to let us know your opinion of them the nikko rods come from Indonesia. I also have some but I have not opened them yet.I have another sales Rep who said he will send some more for you to try. The E312-16 are for dissimilar steels IE. stainless to mild and so on the Nikko product guide has more info in it, They are about $100 for one kg.Simonhttp://members.optusnet.com.au/~abba/index.html
Reply:It'll be a while before I attempt sticking dissimilar metals together.I'm going to need something small fabricated out of 3mm stainless in a couple of weeks. It's a spillway for a water feature I'm putting in my courtyard. It's basically a 3mm piece of plate about 350mm by 120mm with a 15mm upturn on each of the 120mm sides. Either bent or welded on - I'm not sure if 3mm stainless bends easily?(Of course, my mate the architect is likely to come up with something more complicated.)I can make the reservoir behind the wall that collects the water out of scrap, but the bit that people see needs to be done in stainless and it needs to look better than I'd be able to make it look.When I get the drawing, I'll send it to you. And if you're interested in doing it I'll pay you before the job is done - I've seen your work. Naturally, I'll pay postage, too.Scott
Reply:Scott,I would be more than happy to have a look at you job for you, We are going to north Ryde one of these days (sis in laws).What will power your water feature, We have a round sandstone fountain and a half round one, the large round one we have made into a herb garden, but the half round one I would like to set up the half round one and incorporate it in a large bird aviary I am going to build soon, I am thinking a solar powered pump I set one up many years ago for a catholic monastery in Bowral where I worked.Simonhttp://members.optusnet.com.au/~abba/index.html
Reply:When I go to my sister-in-law's, Simon, after half an hour or so I'm usually looking for somewhere else to go. I'm probably about half an hour from North Ryde. You could come over and give me a mark out of ten for some of my welding projects.The water feature will be powered by a submersible electric pump. It's one I used in a previous house. Hope it still works.I've got the drawings and I'll fax them to you if you give me your fax number.It's basically a wide, high letterbox like opening set in a brick wall. The pond is a metre (bit over 3 feet) below. The pump takes the water from the pond up to a reservoir concealed behind the wall, and the water cascades through the opening of the letterbox like thing and falls in a wide sheet like a waterfall. It should look great. Or it could be a total disaster. I made up a full scale model out of gal sheet yesterday. Tonight I'll test it and see if it works - fingers crossed. The bottom of the thing - where the water flows - needs to be angled so the water gets up enough speed and falls away from the wall in a wide sheet as opposed to just dribbling sadly down the wall.I'll box up the model and send it to you.Scott
Reply:Hi ScottMy Fax number is (02) 63448290 All of my details are on our website If you ever need them.Simonhttp://members.optusnet.com.au/~abba/index.html
Reply:Just faxed it. That fax number is different from the fax number on your website?
Reply:Won't it be good when the Private Message system is back up and running!
Reply:Simon, someone keeps picking up the phone at 63448290.
Reply:Scott, That is because I gave you the Phone number not the fax number sorry i am always doing that.