What is this rod for?

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I found 10# of 1/8 rod at work.The rod is marked "NL-CI. The coating is black. I'm guessing this a nickle alloy rod for welding cast iron.No one at the shop knows where it came from or what it is for.We no longer have a stick welder at theshop,mig only(Ideal-Arc gone):I may  need to rescue rod  from the scrap barrel.Is it for cast iron?If not then what is it for?Can nickle alloys be used to weld stainless?Miller a/c-d/c Thunderbolt XLMillermatic 180 Purox O/ASmith Littletorch O/AHobart Champion Elite
Reply:You may have the numbers wrong, but with black flux it is a good bet it is 50% nickel or better. Any other markings on the can?If nothing else nickel rod flux can be removed for tig (not for stainless, but cast iron).Edit: if the non coated part of the rod is old it will not be blue but have a black/brown with gold tint look, and it doesn't hurt if the electrode is old.MattLast edited by Matt_Maguire; 07-08-2010 at 10:18 PM.
Reply:I'm looking at some cast iron rod I bought to repair broken cast iron garden furniture. (it turned out great). This label shows AWS A5.15 ENiFe-CI.Does your label look similar?Yours is probably past expiration date. Do you want to sell it cheap? Actually that is real expensive rod if it is nickel. Your 10 lb box might be worth well over $100 if you put it on ebay or Craigslist.
Reply:I'll look again today.I probably misread or misquoted the rod marking.Miller a/c-d/c Thunderbolt XLMillermatic 180 Purox O/ASmith Littletorch O/AHobart Champion Elite
Reply:You guys are right,I quoted markings  wrong.Rod says Ni-cI.Tube says ENiCI(Ni99)E=electrode,electric?Ni=nickle?CI=cast iron?California has rod marked  "ENiFe-CI"Fe=iron?Does cast iron have nickle in it?If not then why does cast iron welding rod have nickle in it ?Miller a/c-d/c Thunderbolt XLMillermatic 180 Purox O/ASmith Littletorch O/AHobart Champion Elite
Reply:Ni99 is 99% nickel wire composition. The reason it is used with cast iron is that it is very soft and ductile. As the iron parent material shrinks and grows the nickel filler will just stretch around and not crack at the filler/parent metal interface.Pretty cashy stuff you have there.Matt