7018 electrode troubles

admin

Hi guys first post here! anyway,I'm having some really bad luck with some 3.2mm (I think that's 1/8? I don't know I'm an Aussie  ) 7018 electrodes made by cigwled, which is basically the only brand available in Aus ( http://www.cigweld.com.au/product/diy/weldskill-lh/ ). I've got an old AC 140a stick welder made by Einhell and it's called the "Euromaster CEN150ec". The problem is; that it seems I'm running too cold and the rod will stick like mad, BUT the welder is pumped all the way up to 140amps which after some research seems to be the perfect amperage for these electrodes. The material I'm welding is 3mm-4mm thick mild steel. I have done everything I know that could be the problem: cleaned the material, kept the rods hot, checked ground surfaces, made sure the rod is clean of that slag it has. I knew it would be hard to get started but I didn't know it would be this difficult!  So, if anyone could help that would be great!
Reply:hello and welcome.Not all 7018 rods run well on AC. The problem is that AC switches back and forth from DC+ to DC- and back. Every time the arc crosses zero it wants to go out. Some 7018 rods contain additives to the flux to help maintain the arc as the polarity switches back and forth. Others don't and really need to be run on DC only. 140 amps is a bit hot for welding material roughly the same thickness as those rods personally. I usually have most of my students run 1/8" 7018 at about 125 amps and set it up so they drag the flux of the rod on the plate. I've done 1/8" plate with 1/8" rods, but it's not the easiest thing in the world to do. Usually you need to keep a very tight arc to keep from burning thru, and when you do so, you increase the chance you will stick the rod. Also to keep from burning thru, you often have to turn down the amps, and this will also increase the chances of rods sticking. You may or may not find holding the rod off the plate a bit more may help. Rods run "hotter" when you increase the arc length though and may cause you to burn thru easier...No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I know 140 amps is on the hotter spectrum of the rod but thats the thing: if I lower the amperage it just sticks even worse. I'm guessing the rods (even though they say they can run on AC/DC) run so much better on DC?
Reply:You need the 7018 ac rods to run on your ac only buzzbox welder.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:I was reading about this and I was thinking that was the problem. I will try it but it is hard to find AC specific 7018 rods here in Perth Australia. Might need to get some shipped in.
Reply:Here. Lincoln in Padstow. NSW. Damn that was hard1300 728 720Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:http://www.lincolnelectric.com.au/contact_us/page12Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:haha yer yer I know what you mean. I didn't say I can't find them in Aus it's locally which is the problem. Btw thatnks for that link didn't know lincoln had an office in Australia
Reply:I will try it but it is hard to find AC specific 7018 rods here in Perth Australia.
Reply:Originally Posted by Welder427haha yer yer I know what you mean. I didn't say I can't find them in Aus it's locally which is the problem. Btw thatnks for that link didn't know lincoln had an office in Australia
Reply:hahaha yep for some. Btw Burpee I only just realised that that lincoln website had a store locator and boy oh boy do I have ALOT on lincoln suppliers in my area   Thanks!