What is the best electrode for tacking??

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I guess the title says it all. I have a few projects coming up and would like some input from you pros. I would like to have the correct rods when I'm ready. What I will be building with is square tube and angle. Probably .125" and .250" material.BrianMiller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DCEverlast 255 EXT with water coolerH.F. 170 Mig/Flux welderKent 3h.p. 9x42 milling machineHome Built 2"x72" variable speed 2 h.p. belt grinderHome built 9" variable speed 2 h.p. disc grinder
Reply:6010, and 6011 work great for tacking. But I have been on jobs where we were required to tack with 7018, because we were running self shielded wire.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I use 1-8" 7018 set at about 150 amps if I don't need a lot of tacks and am going to weld with 7018 or wire. If I'm tacking a lot of tacks 1-8" 6011 at 110-120 amps.
Reply:With AC/DC machine I would use 3/32 or 1/8" 6010 on DC . 3/32 is nice for tacking because of its size. Plus you don't have a big tack to go over. 1/8" would be handy if you have a poor cut with a gap. Rember that 6010 and 6011 are fast freeze rods which are great on gaps and rusty material too.
Reply:Thanks guys! I will have to get some 3/32" and 1/8" 6010 rods. I have some 1/8" 6011's but have not run 6010 yet.I think having to tack with 7018 rods would be a pain in the A$$! But I guess experience would change my thinking.Last edited by melsdad; 11-18-2014 at 07:04 PM.BrianMiller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DCEverlast 255 EXT with water coolerH.F. 170 Mig/Flux welderKent 3h.p. 9x42 milling machineHome Built 2"x72" variable speed 2 h.p. belt grinderHome built 9" variable speed 2 h.p. disc grinder
Reply:7018 is harder to tack with than 6010-11 but if welding over it with wire is easier. 6010-11 needs to be hit with a grinder to avoid inclusions with wire. Stick welding is usually not a problem with the exception of 6013 or 7014-24.
Reply:Tacking with 7018 is really no big deal! A guy gets pretty good with it after he burns a couple thousand pounds of it.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I always tack with what I'm welding the joint with which is almost always 7018. If you can't tack with 7018, you aren't much of a stick welder.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:We always tack with 7018, this way we can still bend the piece after moving due to how ductile 7018 is. 6010 us much more brittle and doesnt work nearly as well.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPTacking with 7018 is really no big deal! A guy gets pretty good with it after he burns a couple thousand pounds of it.
Reply:Originally Posted by snoeproeI always tack with what I'm welding the joint with which is almost always 7018. If you can't tack with 7018, you aren't much of a stick welder.
Reply:on mild steel i like 6010 running hot. second choice is lo-hi.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:Originally Posted by SlobThat's a lot of rod to burn through in what, three weeks since you started welding???? That's the basic reason for my earlier thread about 7018 restrike and how to make it easier.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPYour not buying the 3-weeks??????????