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I was welding today with 1/8" 7018 on 1/2" steel. TA 161S at 125 amps. On some beads, I could clearly see a puddle different from the slag. On others, it was all arc and a giant trailing puddle that was hard to read. I adjusted my helmet shade and it made no difference. I changed the amps, no difference. I thought it was my eyesight or perhaps my focus.Then I realized I had to rods mixed in the same can. The Excaliber ran nice with a clear puddle. The 7018 Home Depot AC rod ran like $hit. There was no definable puddle.Has anyone had the same experience?TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:The lincoln excaliber rod is a far superior rod than any AC home depot rod. Without question.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:You must not do very much stick if you finally just noticed that there is a difference. Atomic arc by ESAB is another good rod.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jay OYou must not do very much stick if you finally just noticed that there is a difference. Atomic arc by ESAB is another good rod.
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255That is correct.Maybe the 7018AC rod behaves differently on AC. I'm definitely buying another can of Excalibur.
Reply:What are other rods that are comparable to Excalibur? Beside what's stated above, I have read that Atom Arc rods are great. I see that Lincoln makes a Jetweld and a MR/HR(?) rod. How do these compare and what's a good price per pound of rod?TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Lincoln makes around 8 e 7018 rods all different
Reply:Hmm, I've never compared them side by side before. Have to give that a try. I do use the 7018AC sometimes when I have to do a lot of tacking or short welds, because it re-strikes easier than the Excalibur.The only other Lincoln 7018 I have tried is the Jet LH 78 MR, which I didn't like at all. Seemed to run rough and the flux burned off unevenly.The new Atom Arc Acclaim is nice too. Much better than the old Atom Arc, IMHO.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:Well, I tried the two today and had the same observation. The slag on the 7018AC is much heavier and largely obscures the puddle. I did notice that the flux coating on the 7018AC is quite a bit thicker than on the Excalibur. This may explain the larger volume of slag.It also seems that the arc of the 7018AC is softer and less forceful than the Excalibur's. I am guessing that most of these differences are due to the arc stabilizers added to make the rod burn smoothly an AC.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:Originally Posted by Silicon-basedWell, I tried the two today and had the same observation. The slag on the 7018AC is much heavier and largely obscures the puddle. I did notice that the flux coating on the 7018AC is quite a bit thicker than on the Excalibur. This may explain the larger volume of slag.It also seems that the arc of the 7018AC is softer and less forceful than the Excalibur's. I am guessing that most of these differences are due to the arc stabilizers added to make the rod burn smoothly an AC.John
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255Thanks for taking the time out to do the experiment. I think that the 7018AC rod will make it tough for someone to learn stick. I'm gonna need to buy some more rod and burn away.The most confusing part was trying to figure out why I could and couldn't see the puddle. I stated thinking it was like those 3D picture you have to change your focus on and I just wasn't seeing it.Gotta try vertical up again with a good rod. The 7018AC was just a runny mess uphill. I guess it's just a hobby guy cheesy Home Depot Cheapo like everything else they sell.
Reply:Originally Posted by copeRods with an AC designation are by design for use on AC machines. I have an AC machine and an AC/DC, but when I buy 7018, it will be the Excalibur.
Reply:Also note that 7018 rods in anything other than a factory-sealed can have gotten at least some exposure to atmospheric humidity.The paper or plastic containers/packages that the 7018AC is sold at in places like the big-box stores are NOT 'sealed'.7018 runs differently it it is not fresh-out-of-the-can or fresh-out-of-the-rod-oven.The Lincoln 7018AC can run on AC, or DC(+).Lincoln Excalibur 7018 MR is listed as DC(+) (preferred), or AC.Excalibur 7018-1 MR is a different rod from the previous two I listed. It is listed as DC(+) or AC polarity.Then you can get into all the Lincoln Excalibur low-hydrogen low-alloy rods. 7018-A1 MR, and then all the 8018 and 9018 variants and so-on.Right from the Lincoln consumables catalog:Storing Low Hydrogen ElectrodesLow hydrogen electrodes must be dry to performproperly. Unopened hermetically sealed containersprovide excellent protection in good storageconditions. Opened cans or electrodes should bestored in a cabinet at 120°-150°C (250°-300°F).
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255 Gotta try vertical up again with a good rod. The 7018AC was just a runny mess uphill. I guess it's just a hobby guy cheesy Home Depot Cheapo like everything else they sell.
Reply:Originally Posted by MoonRiseAlso note that 7018 rods in anything other than a factory-sealed can have gotten at least some exposure to atmospheric humidity.The paper or plastic containers/packages that the 7018AC is sold at in places like the big-box stores are NOT 'sealed'.7018 runs differently it it is not fresh-out-of-the-can or fresh-out-of-the-rod-oven.The Lincoln 7018AC can run on AC, or DC(+).Lincoln Excalibur 7018 MR is listed as DC(+) (preferred), or AC.Excalibur 7018-1 MR is a different rod from the previous two I listed. It is listed as DC(+) or AC polarity.Then you can get into all the Lincoln Excalibur low-hydrogen low-alloy rods. 7018-A1 MR, and then all the 8018 and 9018 variants and so-on.Right from the Lincoln consumables catalog:Redrying Lincoln's low-hydrogen elctrodes that have not been directly exposed to water and have been exposed to air for less than one week is specified as 1 hour at 700-800F and then storage as above 250-300F.Further quote from the Lincoln catalog:Different rods, different atmospheric exposure, yeah they will probably run differently.
Reply:Originally Posted by copeAll the above is why I question whether hobby weldors should be using 7018 at all. They likely have no way to properly store the rods, and once contaminated, the rods are not the same.
Reply:Originally Posted by copeAll the above is why I question whether hobby weldors should be using 7018 at all. They likely have no way to properly store the rods, and once contaminated, the rods are not the same.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPBut still a very good rod.Check out post #8 in this thread. http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=179351
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255But if that's understood-as it was when my Welder friend came to help me change the bucket on my tractor, then a new can can be purchased for critical projects with the understanding that the rods will be crap if not stored right.I purchased the HD rods so I had some 7018 around for routine repairs. I wonder why Lincoln even sells 7018 in less than optimal packaging. I'm sure it's cheaper that way, but Lincoln is a solid company. If the rods that much worse when purchase in a package that's not vacuum sealed, why would they ever do it to save a few bucks?
Reply:I think you'd be surprised how seldom you see rod ovens on heavy civil construction sites where there is nothing but 7018 on site.Dont pay any attention to meIm just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by copeLook at the quotes from Lincoln in post #14. I never said 7018 is not a good rod, but once it is opened, it must be dried and stored at high temp to retain it's properties. Failing to do so can lead to poor welds, making it a poor choice. If you need Lo-Hy rods, you either buy a small enough quantity to use quickly, or invest in a rod oven. Most hobbyist weldors cannot justify the cost of an oven.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI think you'd be surprised how seldom you see rod ovens on heavy civil construction sites where there is nothing but 7018 on site.
Reply:you hear people prefer the atom arc/esab over lincoln excalibur 7018......then they try the Excaliber 7018-1..........dash 1 makes allllll the difference in the world thermal arc 252i - millermatic 350P - miller XMT, cp300ts, 30a 22a feeders, buttload of other millers, handfull of lincolns, couple of esabs - Hypertherm 1250 G3
Reply:With all due respect, I think that some folks here are over-estimating the importance of perfectly dry rods for the average user. An experienced welder can tell the difference between rods fresh from the can and rods that have been exposed to the atmosphere, but the difference is not huge. (Obviously, if they have been stored so poorly that they are rusty or covered with white crud, then they are scrap.)The 7018AC rods sold by big-box stores are not intended for critical applications, but they will still make stronger welds than 6013 or 7014 rods. It is not practical for the hobbyist or occasional user to own and operate a rod oven, or to lose sleep worrying about not doing so.I weld for a living, but I do not own a rod oven. When I have a job that requires perfectly dry rods, I open up a fresh can. What I don't use that day goes into a Rod Guard canister with a fresh pack of silica gel. That will keep them better than a cardboard box without running an oven 365 days a year.Suspect rods can be dried in a heat-treating furnace or ceramic kiln. A self-cleaning oven on the cleaning cycle will also work. (The wife may disagree.) JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps |
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发表于 2021-8-31 22:59:19