7018-ac

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I just picked up a 1 lb box of 7018-AC rod just to test it out. Its thicker than my 6011 and 6013 rods I am used to using. I think its like 5/32? I had a HELL of a time to get it going! It woiuld just zap and stick. I strarted with 100 amps then cranked her up to 150 amps figuring that might help but it took me forever to get it to go.... I pooped in some 6013 and that is such an easy rod to weld with.. DO I just need to get used to this 7018 or what?
Reply:If you want to weld 7018 smoothly DC is almost a must...I tried standard 7018 with and AC machine, not the AC version, and got the same problem, 7018 is soo engineered for DC...Have you tried 7014? people say it works fine with ACMy Babies: HF Drill pressHF Pipe Bender3   4.5" Black and Decker angle grindersLincoln Electric PROMIG 175that´s it!
Reply:With many attempts, you can run 7018 AC.  It is a little harder, but can be done.  Time.......Is all it takes.  Do you NEED 7018 for your application?DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:A 7018 AC rod, in 5/32 size, needs at least 125-200 Amps to run. It can be successfully run if you have the correct amps, keep the arc short and at a right angle to the plate...if making flat joints. Hold at a 30 to 45 degree work angle when making horizontal fillets. Weld from bottom to top when making vertical welds.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Just to make sure, is your machine AC?  You didn't say, and that is the only 7018 that Home Depot sells, so I've run it many times on DC also when that was the only convenient place to get it.
Reply:I have run 7018 on AC many times. It needs to be cranked up. I ran it about 140-145 A for 1/8" rods vertical up. DC would only require about 110 to 115 A for vert up. My employer didn't buy "AC" only or "DC" only electrodes. Lincoln Jetweld LH-70 in a 50 lb box, usually.
Reply:An industrial  AC machine will pull a regular 7018 fine,  I have old lincoln I got years ago when an equipment plant shut down, and it will pull it fine.  The small buzz boxes do not have the grunt to pull a DC-7018 like it should be.  Back when I first started I learned with Murex 7018AC  but all I had was a 225 buzz box.  The ones I ran pulled very smooth and I never really had much problem with them sticking.  I would first turn your amperage up.  Its to low for a 5/32  I would say try the 160 amp range and see how it does.  ~JacksonI'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:It may be mainly a function of the thickness of the rod as Microzone pointed out. Try some thinner rod, or more amps.
Reply:I run 7018AC 1/8 rod on my 225AC Lincoln at 130 amps. If I was to use a 5/32 rod I would kickup the amps to 160-180 amps.Clarke 130EN C25Lincoln 225 AC Stick(1968)Smith O/A RigHF 4X6 Red BandsawBlack & Decker Pro Chopsaw16 Speed Drill PressSpeedglas XL HelmetHarbor Freight Stuff
Reply:Sounds more of a matter of it's the rod thickness "Its thicker than my 6011 and 6013 rods I am used to using". You dont say what size rod you are use to using.  For 5/32 rod you need to have it cranked up to at least 160 or more depending on you AC welder
Reply:My 6011 and 6018 are 1/8 i think. On the package of my 7018 it says 1/8 but they are bigger than the rod I have been using... I bought 7018-AC so its meant for my AC machine.
Reply:The flux coating on 7018 is much larger than that of 6011 and 6013. rod size is meaured by the actual filler rod size and not the diameter of the filler plus the flux. If it says 1/8 on the box, more than likely it is 1/8.CharlesThunderbolt AC/DCRed Flames BWELincoln sp-135t
Reply:70-18 has a heavier coating of flux, it has to . If you don't like 70-18 a c , try 70-14; it is all position. for flat butts or fillets, you can even try 70-24. Generally , i hate A C  , but, you don't get arc blow with it .[SIZE="5"Yardbird"
Reply:I havent found an AC 7018 that I was happy with, or even the reason to use it over conventional DC rod.   I primarily use Lincoln Excalibur in 1/8" and 5/32", but there are alittle better rods if you want to pay the money.  You guys can have that cheap AC stuff they sell at the corner store.Lots of toys.
Reply:I have some 1/8" rod marked 7018 AC. It runs very nicely on AC on my old Lincoln Idealarc. Maybe the 5/32" takes a lot more current.Miller Millermatic 252Miller Syncrowave 200Liincoln AC-DC 225Victor O-A Set
Reply:When all I had to work with was a Monkey Wards buzz box it ran 7018AC fine. Check your line voltage. We had 3 different welding plugs at one plant I worked at. 1 plug had 221 volts and 7018AC would run with Lincoln 225 while the other plugs were 208 volts and it was nearly impossible to get 7018AC rods to run off of those plugs.
Reply:MG makes an 80-T that runs great on AC.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.