Which rods should I use for 1/8 to 1/4" mild steel sheet metal?

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Ill save you my life story lolTL; DRWhich rods should I use to weld mild steel sheet metal? The sizes I'll mostly be welding will be about 1/8-1/4 and occasionally about 3/4 of an inch.using the SA200, I'm told it can handle it.... welds gotta finish up presentable lol I know each rod welds differently.Have a minute to read a bit more in depth?Hi there. I tried looking this up but i cant really find anything that exactly answers my question.... My dad owns a few welding shops, but they basically use nothing but mig, so the welders there arent very sure. They specialize in making and installing dump bodies, but also do anything from extending 18 wheeler chassis to making horse trailers out of scratch. I worked there for about 2 years, but I want to get my own rig and hit the pipeline. Before I do that, I want to continue working for my old man using the very same rig I'll take out in the fields (sa200) I think making those dump bodies will be great practice, because I've had to weld in all positions to make those. Once I get it down pretty well I'll go and look to take my 6g. Here's what the finished product looks like... let me know what you guys think! Gracias
Reply:Buy some 3/32", 1/8", and 5/32" 7018....Prolly 10lb. cans of Excalibur.Just a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024
Reply:I think a good rod for that project would be 1/8” 6010, or 6011. Make all vertical welds down hill. Remember to back step, and skip around a lot, or you'll warp that sheet metal. 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:Learning to run 6010 down and 7018 up would be my suggestion if you want to move towards pipe. Be aware 6010 doesn't usually make a "pretty" weld like 7018 will. I've seen some real artists who can make 6010 look nice, but they are the exception and very skilled. Making 7018 look nice is easy in comparison. For what you want to do as far as truck bodies, 7018 will give you a much nicer finished result.7018 Excalibur would be my recommendation as far as rods as well. There are plenty of other good choices in 7018, but cheap box store 71018AC would not be any where on my list of rods to suggest. 3/32" would be my choice for 1/8" material, 1/8" rods for 1/4". You can certainly run 1/8" rods on 1/8" material, but you have to have some skill to do so but with the extra heat needed to run  that big a rod, it may give you problems with warpage.One thing you probably will not encounter doing what you do is a lot of open root joints. To do pipe you are going to need to learn to run open roots with 6010, in most cases down.  Welding parameters are going to depend on what they want where you go to try and work. I know all the guys working for the local gas company do nothing but 6010. They don't ever run 7018 talking to the guys who work there. It's going to vary depending on what sort of "pipe" job you get..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI think a good rod for that project would be 1/8” 6010, or 6011. Make all vertical welds down hill. Remember to back step, and skip around a lot, or you'll warp that sheet metal.
Reply:Originally Posted by texassThanks for the advice. Can I ask why downhill? I thought uphill welds were stronger.
Reply:Curious why mig wouldn't be preferred for something like that?12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
Reply:In the original post he says the shop does use mig for that. However he wants to learn stick to eventually do pipe work, hence why he wants to use stick..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Thanks Leadman! Downhill it is
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWIn the original post he says the shop does use mig for that. However he wants to learn stick to eventually do pipe work, hence why he wants to use stick.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWIn the original post he says the shop does use mig for that. However he wants to learn stick to eventually do pipe work, hence why he wants to use stick.