6011 issues

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1/8 Lincoln electrode I tried from 120 amps down to I believe 70 amps and and it burns real weird and ends up lighting the rod on fire. less amperage the more I can burn before it goes up. run 7018 and have zero problems same with 7014 and 6013 just 6011 doesn't burn right. tried using it vert uphill and the metal had a greenish tint around the edges about quarter inch around after a pass. it just did that once but that was my last pass as I was furious with the rods catching on fire. any clues as to why im new to welding and have no idea why it would overheat the electrode enough to catch on fire. also higher amperage itll snuff out or glow and I can usually catch it before its in flames. all this is with engine drive Lincoln 150 ac only machine
Reply:I routinely catch the tip on fire, though I don't have any Lincoln brand. The whole rod burning does happen on higher amp ranges when I make long, continuous beads. The flux coating on 6011 rod is a cellulose base, I guess that is like a paper pulp sort of??  If you long-arc those rods, they will light up like a Roman Candlle! Keep the electrode manipulations close to the joint to limit the heat buildup within the electrode. That, and just burn the rod until it is used up, no more flame.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Yeah like tangle said, I too had occasional fires on the end of 6011's.  I stayed at around 85-90 amps with the 6011 1/8" and 70A for the 3/32".  Those heat settings seemed to work the best for me.  I've never cared for the 6011's as  I feel that the 6010's arc-up much nicer for me.   However, the 6010's are a DC only rod as I'm sure you know. If the tip catches fire, try closing the arc gap a bit and keep burning it.  I think my tips would catch fire if I inadvertently long-arced the electrode.  By shortening the arc gap,  the "unwanted" flame will go away and you'll get the arc that you desire.  It just takes some practice. Sometimes the 6011's are like trying to start a Diesel engine on a cold day.  They don't run smoothly initially at times and ya just gotta warm them up before they burn nicely.  That goes especially for the Lincoln Fleetweld 180 pieces of $h!t I stopped using.  I switched to Forney's 6011's and had better luck before I completely converted over to 6010's exclusively, for the "dirty surfaced" needed electrodes.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:How old are the rods?I've read that the cellulosic rods need moisture to run right.  Opposite of 7018.  I've read some people sugesting soaking the rods in a pail of water for an hour and then letting them air dry.Try it with a few rods.
Reply:180 and 35's both suck.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:I think I may get away from Lincoln rods altogether. they aren't too consistent in my opinion I get some that light up on 65 amps and then out of the same box I wont get another one. Ive just been trying a bunch of different rod types and sizes and everyone rants about 6010s but I have an ac only machine...I cant wait another two weeks and my motor will be done for my other machine then I can do ac.dc and scratch start tig
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255How old are the rods?I've read that the cellulosic rods need moisture to run right.  Opposite of 7018.  I've read some people sugesting soaking the rods in a pail of water for an hour and then letting them air dry.Try it with a few rods.
Reply:Originally Posted by tanglediverI routinely catch the tip on fire, though I don't have any Lincoln brand. The whole rod burning does happen on higher amp ranges when I make long, continuous beads. The flux coating on 6011 rod is a cellulose base, I guess that is like a paper pulp sort of??  If you long-arc those rods, they will light up like a Roman Candlle! Keep the electrode manipulations close to the joint to limit the heat buildup within the electrode. That, and just burn the rod until it is used up, no more flame.
Reply:Lincoln makes welders, hats, pantie hose, gloves,jackets, welding rods, 4 or 5 different types of welders in each amp range, helmets, carts. The only thing left is cupcake pans and a flavor of cola and a Chinese drill and bit set.Damn shame Miller and Thermal Farce are no better. Fuggem.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)