6013 & 7018ac

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For years, I've been stubborn and have used the trusty 6011 farm rod. Well, after all the reading I've done here, I finally played with other rods. Both 6013 & 7018ac were ⅛", and welded @ 120 amps (220v) with my little antique Lincoln 225 cracker box. Pretty pleased with the results.I may be on to something. I've tried the 7018ac before, but thought they sucked. I'm thinking it may have been a bad box. I really liked this 7018.Home hobbiest:Build all sorts of BBQ pits & smokers (trailer & non)Lincoln 225 Cracker box (antique)O/P torchRedneck tools out the a$$.They get me by!
Reply:Both look good.....Once you get good with 7018,(and you are), that will be all you'll want to use....Nice beads.
Reply:Yeah, I've never produced nice beads this easily with a 6011! Guess I need to quit being so hard headed and not be afraid to try new things, lol. I'm still convinced that the 7018's I got a few years ago was a bad boxHome hobbiest:Build all sorts of BBQ pits & smokers (trailer & non)Lincoln 225 Cracker box (antique)O/P torchRedneck tools out the a$$.They get me by!
Reply:Originally Posted by JSmitty74Yeah, I've never produced nice beads this easily with a 6011! Guess I need to quit being so hard headed and not be afraid to try new things, lol. I'm still convinced that the 7018's I got a few years ago was a bad box
Reply:Both rods I bought today (6013 & 7018ac) are Lincoln rods. The 7018's I bought a couple years aga were Hobart from TSHome hobbiest:Build all sorts of BBQ pits & smokers (trailer & non)Lincoln 225 Cracker box (antique)O/P torchRedneck tools out the a$$.They get me by!
Reply:If your that good with AC, just wait till you get a DC inverter and Excalibur 7018....
Reply:I've had trouble with hobart rods before, I think it was a box of 7014. Man was it frustrating opening a new box and getting bird poo filled rods!I've always loved a good 1/8 7018 they are pretty mellow. no matter how you use them they tend to respond well. And its easy to keep an eye on your slag as your running the rod. If my slag puddle is cupping about 1/8-1/4" behind the rod I know my weld puddle is uniform! Lincoln makes good electrodes, that mostly what I use when I can get them, but I can tell you even a dirty oxidized 7018 welds better than a 6011 in my opinion, just gotta give it a bit more heat!Also a damp 7018 hates to be run on a/c so keep em dry!!Real welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:You could also try a 7014.. They are real nice when you really need to put some metal down. They run similar to a 7018 and lay a nice looking bead!Real welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:So I've been thinking of getting one of those ac/DC cracker box Lincoln's from Lowes, are those any good for DC work? Is DC far superior over AC?Home hobbiest:Build all sorts of BBQ pits & smokers (trailer & non)Lincoln 225 Cracker box (antique)O/P torchRedneck tools out the a$$.They get me by!
Reply:I recently bought a 10 lb box of 6011 Hobart rods, only to open the case and find a bunch of them clumped together, pic below. Home hobbiest:Build all sorts of BBQ pits & smokers (trailer & non)Lincoln 225 Cracker box (antique)O/P torchRedneck tools out the a$$.They get me by!
Reply:Originally Posted by JSmitty74So I've been thinking of getting one of those ac/DC cracker box Lincoln's from Lowes, are those any good for DC work? Is DC far superior over AC?
Reply:Not sure if I've ever used DC or not. My grandpa was a pipeline welder, and he taught me to weld when I was 9 years old. That was 30 years ago. Been welding ever since, so I'm sure I've used DCHome hobbiest:Build all sorts of BBQ pits & smokers (trailer & non)Lincoln 225 Cracker box (antique)O/P torchRedneck tools out the a$$.They get me by!
Reply:I wouldn't buy those 125/225 AC DC buzzboxes....125amps 20% duty cycle ain't enough to do much with a 1/8 7018.....
Reply:Well I'm running my current Lincoln 225 cracker box at 120 amp, and running it with no problem. But it's the old school box with upgraded wire going to the transformer. I've been told these older cracker boxes have way better transformer than the newer ones. Damn thing is heavier than the new ones too. I had a newer 225 about 8 years ago, and it struggled with 120+ ampsHome hobbiest:Build all sorts of BBQ pits & smokers (trailer & non)Lincoln 225 Cracker box (antique)O/P torchRedneck tools out the a$$.They get me by!
Reply:A used thunderbolt AC/DC is a great welder and you can usually find them used for $200-$300 range. They have a good duty cycle and it's 150 amps DC / 230 amps AC.The real advantage is that with a DC buzz box, you can put a tig torch on it with a argon bottle for about $100 + argon bottle and presto... Basic tig welder! I have the setup I just suggested and after 15 years I just blew the first diode ever, and it's not had an easy life!I only run AC if I absolutely can't get it done with 150 amps and need more whoop a*#. DC is a nice smooth ride!Good luck and have fun with your new found best friend MR 7018!Real welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:here's a decent AC/DC stick machine that I think is a bit better than a new Lincoln cracker box, for the same money. I don't say that because this is a Miller machine, but the overall amps and duty cycle will be way higher. http://odessa.craigslist.org/tls/4642015498.htmlMiller Multimatic 255
Reply:Originally Posted by Louie1961here's a decent AC/DC stick machine that I think is a bit better than a new Lincoln cracker box, for the same money. I don't say that because this is a Miller machine, but the overall amps and duty cycle will be way higher. http://odessa.craigslist.org/tls/4642015498.html
Reply:But I'm pretty happy with my little antique cracker box, lolHome hobbiest:Build all sorts of BBQ pits & smokers (trailer & non)Lincoln 225 Cracker box (antique)O/P torchRedneck tools out the a$$.They get me by!
Reply:that's fine, but if you are going to Lowes to buy an AC/DC unit, this is a much better investment for the same amount of money. That's my only point.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:Oh OK, I gotcha. I might invest in a DC unit in the next few months thoughHome hobbiest:Build all sorts of BBQ pits & smokers (trailer & non)Lincoln 225 Cracker box (antique)O/P torchRedneck tools out the a$$.They get me by!
Reply:Originally Posted by JSmitty74Oh OK, I gotcha. I might invest in a DC unit in the next few months though
Reply:Thanks for the compliments. I would just like to do it, just to say I can. I'm pretty sure I've used DC, just don't remember when I did. I'm sure it's been 20 years, lol. But yeah, as you can see, I'm pretty content with my cracker boxHome hobbiest:Build all sorts of BBQ pits & smokers (trailer & non)Lincoln 225 Cracker box (antique)O/P torchRedneck tools out the a$$.They get me by!
Reply:I won't argue that AC is capable...I just have a lot of DC inverters and lots of 7018.I myself was raised on a buzz box.The first time I used DC I was shocked at how smooth and stable and that the slag peeled off in a big piece.Like I said earlier, if you are this good with AC, you will be better with DC..I'll never use AC again, unless I'm forced to by machine choice at other guys shops etc....John
Reply:The slag with this 7018 peeled off like a banana, it was beautiful. The 6013 didn't peel, but knocked right off with a wire wheel.Home hobbiest:Build all sorts of BBQ pits & smokers (trailer & non)Lincoln 225 Cracker box (antique)O/P torchRedneck tools out the a$$.They get me by!
Reply:Originally Posted by JSmitty74The slag with this 7018 peeled off like a banana, it was beautiful. The 6013 didn't peel, but knocked right off with a wire wheel.I will be here in the next few days when I conjoin my vertical chamber to my horizontal pit/firebox. I'll see how these 7018's do on the vertical welds then. I'll post pics ofcourseHome hobbiest:Build all sorts of BBQ pits & smokers (trailer & non)Lincoln 225 Cracker box (antique)O/P torchRedneck tools out the a$$.They get me by!
Reply:I'll add that I actually prefer AC with 6013. I rarely if ever use 6013 though. The only welders I have that will run AC now are my 70s vintage AC225 at home and my 3 Tig machines at work (Lincoln precision Tig 225 and 2 dynasty 200dx Tig runners)Teach Ag Mech - Mike At Home:Lincoln Electric AC225Miller Challenger 172Gas AxeWork:eclectic bunch of 90's vintage blue boxes
Reply:Go buy a nice grinder. You have the welding thang under control.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:You won't get a bead that looks like that with 6010 or 6011 as they are a high penetration electrode. You use a slight "whip and pause" motion with 6010 & 6011 where you do a slight oscillation with 7018 or straight drag with 6013. 7018 should be kept in a dry place away from moisture because they are a low hydrogen electrode. 6013 is a low penetration electrode designed for use on sheet metal back before they had tig or mig. You won't see it commonly used. Keep practicing and best of luck.-Hillbilly
Reply:So the 6013 should be ideal for building a couple of mufflers for my truck? Lol. I've been wanting to build some mufflers sort of like flow masters, but with a little bit of difference in the interior designHome hobbiest:Build all sorts of BBQ pits & smokers (trailer & non)Lincoln 225 Cracker box (antique)O/P torchRedneck tools out the a$$.They get me by!
Reply:Well when no wire feeder is available then my preferred stick electrode choices for real thin sheet are in order:5/64" 6013 (just enough diameter to not flex all over the place usually a bit shorter than standard lengths helps with the flexing too). 1/16" 7014 (hate all 1/16" diameter rods but ease of 7014 makes this one tolerable.  7014 runs excellent on AC)1/16" 6013  (if I just have to run this one then I want DC.  Do not care for this diameter on AC because you going to be 50 amps and less).3/32" 6013  (is what is)3/32 6011 (use the fast freeze properties of the rod.  I am not always successful avoiding burn through but I can usually getter'done.  Will not be pretty though and the metal can not be real thin).Not sure the thickness you want to use on those mufflers but the stick process of welding is generally considered to be limited to 16 gauge (roughly 1/16") as the absolute thinnest one can weld with the stick process and even that takes a great deal of skill.  Metal thinner than 16 gauge is definitely the territory of mig and tig.Last edited by rankrank1; 09-07-2014 at 11:12 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by AKweldshopI wouldn't buy those 125/225 AC DC buzzboxes....125amps 20% duty cycle ain't enough to do much with a 1/8 7018.....
Reply:Lol, I love my little cracker box too. Sure has been good to me, but not vice versa, lolHome hobbiest:Build all sorts of BBQ pits & smokers (trailer & non)Lincoln 225 Cracker box (antique)O/P torchRedneck tools out the a$$.They get me by!
Reply:If you're doing in-position repetitive short welds, you'll never want to use DC again for that particular purpose.  7018AC, in-position (flat) has very good performance, and bulletproof restrike.  DC rods restrike like crap (Hobarts are a little better than Lincoln).  Yeah, the DC will restrike with a little finagling, but it's a time killer if you have a lot of welds to do.DC is the bomb for any out-of-position though.Dollar for dollar, the small AC/DC transformer crackerbox machines are the cheapest way to get into working with thicker metal.  90% of my stuff is done with one of these little machines, and I'm quite happy with them."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Smitty, your a good welder. You learned that by trying 6013 and 7018 rods you could get a better result.  AC is fine to weld with in some instances but not all cases. Why limit yourself to one type or rod and one current selection?  Get a machine that is up to your level of skill. I found a Lincoln IdealArc at a flea market for $130, took it home , cleaned and reprinted it. Now I have a great welder that is better than I am. I have the choice of AC, DC + or DC -   Think about it.  Here's my welderSent from my iPad using TapatalkSteveLincoln IdealArc 250Lincoln SA200 1966 RedfaceSteveMiller Dialarc 250 (1990)Miller Maxstar 140 STR (2003)Lincoln SA200 Redface Pipeliner (1966)Lincoln MP210 (2015)Victor and MECO torches
Reply:I'd prefer an ESAB Miniarc 161 LTS over the Lincoln if I were buying new.  Right around $400. for the stick kit.http://www.esabna.com/us/en/products...Code=819&tab=2"USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumI'd prefer an ESAB Miniarc 161 LTS over the Lincoln if I were buying new.  Right around $400. for the stick kit.http://www.esabna.com/us/en/products...Code=819&tab=2
Reply:Smitty,I like using DC over AC on most things.  I wouldn't buy another tapped machine, I like infinite amperage adjustment.  I had a Thunderbolt and now have a Dialarc and both are infinitely adjustable.That Dialarc AC/DC on craigs list is a good deal and if you want to get rid of it you should be able to get all your money back.  You can run it on a 50 amp circuit and probably never trip the breaker (you definitely won't trip the breaker welding at 120 amps).Just my thoughts on the matter...GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.