Are you BRAND loyal?

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Im needing to buy some rods, as Ive burned up the hand fulls that people have given me to learn with. The last batch were Lincoln fleet weld and they burned real nice for me. I used 6013 in 1/8 and 3/32 and 7018 in the 1/8. My question is do you al find that one brand of rod burns better or easyer than another? Im still learning so Im just sticking scrap togeather in all differant positions. TIA
Reply:my favorite is Lincoln Excalibur 7018sHobart Handler 140Lincoln AC/DC Arc WelderRand 100amp Tig/Arc WelderHobart XVS Hood customized by Water Magic ImagingSoutheastern Illinois College
Reply:I agree lincoln electric has been around for  years,and most people dont know but they put the most money into consumable technolgy testing they have high quality consumables but also a little more pricey than most i definatley recommend there products.Hobart mega arc 250 Airco dipstick160 air liquide cutting torches arc air gouger and so many more goodiesIf you cant dazzle them with brillants baffle them with bullsh$t
Reply:Lincoln!StephenMillermatic 251Miller Syncrowave 200Miller 30A SpoolgunHypertherm Powermax 30Etc., etc., etc.............Cancer Sucks!
Reply:I tend to favor Lincoln and Metrode consumables, along with a handful of select specialty companies.While they make a good consumable, it's the service that makes them desirable.  The Q lot system makes traceability incredibly easy, if I have a bad batch of consumable it's usually swapped out same or next day free of cost, and I've got access to most of their facilities and R&D departments as necessary.  When you're testing different combinations and ordering hundreds of thousands of pounds of consumable over the course of a project, that makes a big difference.  It makes an even bigger difference in the nuclear industry.Unfortunately with the way most purchasing departments operate, we end up with as much repackaged crap from Washington Alloys, etc, as we do with good consumable.  The only ones we have any real control over are some of the nickel alloys and duplex fillers that the suppliers can't get in short order, and the safety-related nuclear work where you have specific testing requirements.  While the Excalibur rod is very nice, we did have a lot of welders early on complain about it.  Most of it was in the machine settings and trying to tap start rather than scratch start, which will result in some starting porosity.  They all wanted Esab Atom Arc, but that rod hasn't been the same since they moved the manufacturing.Lincoln's Pipeliner flux core wire is expensive, but it is hands down the best running flux core wire I've ever seen.
Reply:I like lincoln rods too, but i also like hobart rods tooYa gotta spend money to make money!
Reply:Lincolns are okay, but around here the only place to get them is at home depot... Theyre insanely expensive, and come in a cardboard box. Hobart rods from tsc down the street are way cheaper, run just as good (if you ask me), and come in a plastic container.[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Major brands are all pretty good out of the box, what comes into play is how we store them and keep them moisture free. Also weld prep goes a long way for most rods and wires."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400
Reply:Washington Alloy!!! I cant stand anything else. Esab in a pinch.
Reply:I like the ones that I don't have to buy or that make me money. When I'm buying it's  Lincoln, or ESAB.
Reply:Originally Posted by jreynoldsweldingWashington Alloy!!! I cant stand anything else. Esab in a pinch.
Reply:Thanks guys, looks like Ill try the hobarts too and see how I like them.
Reply:I started with some lws "house"  brands, and didn't like. Then someone gave me some McKay and I been using it ever since. Unfortunately, since the economy tanked, my Praxair doesn't have as many shipments coming in. So it's harder to get and costs more to get the McKay since they don't stock it. I am going to have to start looking for some alternatives. They keep pushing their Prostar house brand, but I am never sure of who makes it and what model it is."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:As for low-hi back years ago I like Airco 7018 best.  Then something happened to Airco and i didn't like them anymore.  I heard later that Lincoln had bought them out.Now days I like Atom Arc best.  I've used them on a few xray pipe jobs (in refineries and compressor stations) and they do good.Lincoln low-hi I never did like.  They always seemed to have too much flux (slag) on them.  Good luck manLater
Reply:Originally Posted by SupeREALLY?  You never get the same thing twice, they don't manufacture anything.
Reply:5P+H4R Lincoln ONLY....Lincoln Power MIG 210 MP ( boat anchor )Lincoln Weld-Pac 100 HDHobart IronMan 230Cutmaster 42Jackson NexGenSumner Ultra ClampsDWM120
Reply:I prefer the Lincoln brand of rods in all flavors compared to other brands.  Just picked up some Hobart brand 6013 that I will try this weekend.  Wanted the Lincoln but they were out in the size I needed (5/64).  Will see how they do.  Around my area, Hobart rods in size and style tend to be more expensive than the same rod made by Lincoln, so I guess it depends on which area of the country you are in that dictates price.  By the way, I hate the Radnor brand of rod.A few of my toys !LinuxMintManjaroMiller Roughneck 2E Lincoln WeldPak 100HTP MTS 160 Chicago Electric 80amp Inverter   Victor O/A
Reply:Most of my lincoln electrode experience has been with 5P+. It is my fav 6010 rod.Never ran much lincoln low hy. I prefer Air liquid blueshield or ESAB OK55 low hy.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Lincoln,Hobart ect. a day will come when you realize they all burn the same.For basic welding?Don't over analize it!Turn up the heat,weld safely and have fun! Why is it everyone bosts of being a great welder......'till you put them to the test....then they blame it on the machine!    ArcheryTalk.com
Reply:Originally Posted by twisted1600Lincoln,Hobart ect. a day will come when you realize they all burn the same.For basic welding?Don't over analize it!Turn up the heat,weld safely and have fun!
Reply:+1 on Radnor rods suck.  Airgas in my area only sells Radnor now unless u buy Hobarts in the 50lb cans.  Have had good experience with Hobart and Lincoln.
Reply:Originally Posted by twisted1600Lincoln,Hobart ect. a day will come when you realize they all burn the same.For basic welding?Don't over analize it!Turn up the heat,weld safely and have fun!
Reply:Mr twisted1600 i do not agree all rods are not equal not by a long shot do your research  youll be suprised at the difference just saying no hard feelingsHobart mega arc 250 Airco dipstick160 air liquide cutting torches arc air gouger and so many more goodiesIf you cant dazzle them with brillants baffle them with bullsh$t
Reply:I don't think that all burn the same. With all the experience that all of you guys have you know how to compensate and adjust in the go. My thoughts anyways.As far as what I like is:Hobart 6011 6013 7024Lincoln 6010 7010Esab 7018All of these rods I feel have good characteristics. I'll use what ever is available but if I went to buy it those are what I'll buy.
Reply:I've found the Excalibur 7018 to be a pretty hard-starting rod, but otherwise not bad.  I used to burn several pounds of Atom Arc 7018 M  and 11018 M daily, that was some pretty sweet running stuff but was subject to arc blow if you weren't careful.  Running verticals and overheads was great though.