7018...er..um...A/C

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I must admit, I don't recall ever welding with a 7018AC.  I typically in the past used rods I have had left over from previous jobs.  I have used them on everything from cracker boxes all the way up to the best money can buy.I can't say one way or the other if one is better than the other all I can say is it seems there is a bias for the A/C.  It also seems many treat the 7018 as pariah when using it on A/C.  I don't have a problem of using 7018 on A/C and neither do many other welders I know.  Why is it that so many push the 7018A/C?
Reply:They make Ac and Dc 7018 rod for a reason not just for fun search consumables and read upAnother day in paradise You only have to be smarter than the metal".   WeldiniMaking an honest living is nothing more than stealing from someone who can afford it and everyone feels good when it's over .      Weldini
Reply:Originally Posted by Heavy Metal ServiceThey make Ac and Dc 7018 rod for a reason not just for fun search consumables and read up
Reply:They make ac specific rod it has different flux easyer start smoother weld  not as sensitive to arc length  has arc stabilizersAnother day in paradise You only have to be smarter than the metal".   WeldiniMaking an honest living is nothing more than stealing from someone who can afford it and everyone feels good when it's over .      Weldini
Reply:Almost forgot made for the buzzers wish I learned with that rod instead of the old open cardboard box of 7018 dc rodAnother day in paradise You only have to be smarter than the metal".   WeldiniMaking an honest living is nothing more than stealing from someone who can afford it and everyone feels good when it's over .      Weldini
Reply:I like using them AC rods on DC, go figure!?!? City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:At one time All I had was a Wilson Bumble Bee 300 amp AC only welder.  Big crank on top and an unlimited supply of 3/32 8018 in sealed 10 pound cans.  Turn the welder up so the rod would start with out sticking and it was way too hot.   Set it to weld like it should and it was a total b*tch to start the arc.  I welded for about 3 years with that.Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:The type of rods called 7018AC are specially designed to work well on AC welders with low open-circuit voltage (i.e. "buzz boxes").Regular 7018s will work on AC but not as well as on DC, and some rods are better than others in this regard- I have tried some 7018s that were almost impossible to start on AC.If you have an AC welder, try some and you'll see!JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:John,Not to sound rude, but I have welded several hundred pounds of 7018 on AC welders from AC engine drives to buzz boxes to top end rigs.  I have also run thousands of pounds of 7018 on DC.  I do know the difference in the two current settings.I guess my real question is why all the hate on a regular 7018 when run on AC?  Is the 7018AC so much better?  I suppose I will just have to buy some and see?
Reply:I tried to run some regular 7018 DC rods on my Dads old AC engine machine, real tuff (for me anyway).  Went to the LWS and they gave me a few MUREX AC rods to try and they ran great. It was a one time small job and I never investigated any further, but there was for sure a difference in how the machine handled the two.GeezerPower Mig 255C185 TIGBlue 175 MIGRanger 8 Kohler 20HP1974 5K Lincoln/Wisconsin Powered (Cherry)Victor/Harris O/AK 487 Spool Gun
Reply:Originally Posted by Scott YoungI guess my real question is why all the hate on a regular 7018 when run on AC?  Is the 7018AC so much better?  I suppose I will just have to buy some and see?
Reply:Copied and pasted off of http://products.esabna.com/EN/home/f...rc_7018ac_7018"Atom Arc 7018-AC is a product specifically designed to have optimum arc characteristics when used with AC power sources having an open circuit voltage of 75 to 80V. Compared to standard Atom Arc 7018 operating on AC, this electrode will have easier arc starting and restrike, a smoother arc and lower spatter. It is usable on a wide range of steels."
Reply:Good point about ease of restrike, I often use them for tacking, including with DC welders, for that reason.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:Was common problem for old low OCV machines like back in the days of the 180-AC machines.  Hence the name Fleetweld 180Newer machines have more OCV.My Lincoln 225-AC has no trouble running Excaliber 7018,  I haven't sensed much difference with 7018-AC except with re-strike.Gordie -- "I believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
Reply:In our shop, running 7018 vs. 7018AC isn't much of a difference that I've experienced.  It may be that I was always taught to hit the tip of any 7018 rod with a file, prior to restrikes.  The tip gets covered in slag, unlike 6010 or 6011.  Try a rought file and you'll see that 7018 restrikes are pretty easy in my opinion.  Oh, make sure you've got the right amperage for the size rod too, that always helps.  Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:Never use the same rod twice......then no re strike problems. AC/DC either way. A young green pipe welder asked an old salt one day...How can I make the weld on the bottom of the pipe look like the top.......The old salt replied....Screw up the top......
Reply:I just tap the rod on clean concrete to knock the "cup" of flux off or roll the tip of my glove against it.Of course if it's critical or the company's buying, then "new electrode every time".
Reply:Okay, I finally ran some, and yes, I see the difference.  I guess I always thought it was simply a marketing gimick. "Here LOOK this is a 7018, and you can use it with your AC cracker box!!!"  but in reality, how many are welding with a cracker box that are truly in need of properties of the 7018?  Has the 7018AC been vetted like the regular 7018?I suppose, I was looking at it all wrong.  They did run nice.