Lincoln Excalibur rod

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How many of you hate this rod .....i have used this rod on many occasions and had problems with porosity on the starts on numerous occasions.I will start the arc well above the weld to drag it back down to the start of the weld zone let it heat up but still problems....i am not the only one with these problems....caused problems on the last weld test i took...on jobs where we need quality welds they all ways want to use Excalibur rod but end up but end up switching to a different rod due to porosity issues....My question is ...is this rod that much cheaper... that they try to pinch penny's?these  guys should know by now it is fine fore some things but not high pressure xray welds when we change rod usually they go to atom arc the problems go away....sorry for the rant ...and yes the rod has been stored properly in a oven or comes new out of unopened cansAfter the arc has died the weld remains
Reply:I find it needs at least ten more amps than other rod.  Once I got used to it, I learned to love it especially out of position.Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:It doesnt restart worth a damn either.It doesnt like running out of the optimum rod angle, like welding superheats and you have to brother in law at some extreme push. Had it throw porosity on me there too. I agree that atom arc is one of the best.
Reply:I hate it, re strikes are a joke. Give me Hobart 418 from a SEALED!!!!! tin and I am happy.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Never had any trouble with it myself. It can be a little picky about laying it down. Seems about like any othe rod it takes a little getting used to.Miller Pro 30068 SA 20064 SAF 300305 G Lincoln gasserMiller 210
Reply:Originally Posted by TozziWeldingI hate it, re strikes are a joke. Give me Hobart 418 from a SEALED!!!!! tin and I am happy.
Reply:i started using that new esab rod its been pretty good
Reply:i used to use nothing but 418 but lately i have had all of the problems you are having with the Excalibur. i switched over to Excalibur and my problems went away. easy start, restrike and slag removal. i agree with David R that it does like to run a little hotter.225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw
Reply:Try lincoln excalibur 7018-1  the dash 1 makes all the difference.  Its a little slower on the fast freezing, and much better at restrikes.  Plus when working on 588 steel its the go to rod. Nothing will weld better on all weathering steelLincoln 300 Vantage 2008300 Commander 1999SA250 1999SA200 1968Miller Syncrowave 200XMT350MPA/S-52E/xr-15Xtreme 12vs Millermatic 251 w/30A  Millermatic 251 Dialarc 250 Hypertherm 1250 GEKA & Bantom Ironwokers
Reply:You got it on he money there David. One thing I do with the 7018 is if I break arc I stop. Then I break the tip of in my free hand. By that I mean I break off the very end of the electrode after it cools a little. It makes a big difference in restrikes.Miller Pro 30068 SA 20064 SAF 300305 G Lincoln gasserMiller 210
Reply:Atom Arc / Esab 7018 for those in the uphill ASME world, IMO.  Fast puddle freeze and coating on the rod is less brittle than the Excalibur.  I've wasted far less Atom arc rods after a "stick" than Excalibur.
Reply:Personally, Excalibur is my favorite 7018. Gotta run it warm out of the oven. On restrikes, you have to make sure you hit it first on ungrounded metal to expose bare wire, then it restrikes OK.
Reply:Tank outfits like to use it so it must be a little cheaper. Boiler outfits wont touch it
Reply:Originally Posted by metalmagpieOn restrikes, you have to make sure you hit it first on ungrounded metal to expose bare wire, then it restrikes OK.
Reply:i really like using UTP 7018 its less expensive than lincoln and burns way beter in my opinionLincoln Pro Core 125Lincolin sp 100Miller Big 40Lincoln Idealarc SP250miller matic 212http://www.facebook.com/hdwelding?sk=wallwww.hdweldingbeds.com
Reply:Never used UTP lohi they make a good stainless rod,Avista also has good stainlessI think lincoln made the best machine for running 7018 (sa200) but not the best 7018 itself (excaliber)
Reply:I prefer the Excaliber, but the last few years unless I'm working on something that's going to use up a bunch of rod, I just go to Tractor Supply or Atwoods and buy the Hobart 7018 in the 10 pound packages.  I've been happy with the Hobart rod, and had good results...However, I ran quite a bit of Excaliber 5/32" 7018 today, fresh out of a new box I hadn't opened, and I remember now how much I liked the Excaliber.  I agree with David R, it does like to be ran a little hotter... But when you get it dialed in, it runs SWEET...
Reply:Run it a bit on the hot side and 'bury' the tip in.For a restrike, scrape or file or chip off a tip of the flux/slag until the metal of the rod is exposed and it relights OK.  Don't get the metal of the rod exposed and it is a b!#ch to relight.  Maybe with something with a pretty high OCV it might relight better, but my machine don't have that.  The Tractor Supply Hobart 7018 by me is -not-  in a "sealed" container, just the plastic 'box'.  With the fine print on the label stating that it is supposed to be rebaked before use.  No thanks.Sealed tin of Excaliber.  Was actually less expensive than most of the other 'common' rods (5P, etc, etc).  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:If you ever get a chance, try McKay 7018 XLM or SoftArc. Their electrodes are my favorite, but harder to find in stock and you'll pay a premium.I recently bought 150lbs of Lincoln Jet LH78 MR 1/8" for only $1.00/lb. I haven't tried it yet. Anybody have any comments on it? I think that was the one Tozzi used to make some real pretty pipe welds in one thread."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:I`ve used them all in my 40+ years and the Hobart 418 wins hands down. I repeatedly went back and always gave the different brands another chance when someone told me how good it runs. For me a close second was Lincolns LH-78. Excalibur, I never could see what all the hype was about,Atom Arc in its day was good,but now this rod [Esab] suffered in quality, big time.
Reply:Excalibur 7018-1 and ESAB Atom-Arc Acclaim are my faves, haven't tried the Hobart so I can't comment. Never liked the Jet-LH 78 MR myself, not nearly as smooth as the Excalibur IMHO.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:my favorite rod is the new boilermaker 7018 rod from hobart  but a close second is atom arc acclaim and regular old atom arc 7018Aaron Olsonmiller dynasty 200dx