Welding on some really old structural steel

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I have a lot of mid 1930's vintage structural steel removed from an old building we were tearing down.  Have a lot of 8" channel along with some "I" beams and other odd stuff.  My question is this: what kind of rod should be used and can I get good quality welds on this old steel?  It was all hot riveted together in the building and I wonder about the composition of the steel.Old farm boy type welder/fabricator
Reply:Welding of structural started in the late thirties.  If you use E 7018 you have covered yourself.  Anything over 3/4 inch should be preheated.   The standard beams are likely out of production in the sizes you have but still useable.
Reply:Originally Posted by lotechmanWelding of structural started in the late thirties.
Reply:Yes I have a refererence to a 500 foot all welded bridge in Toronto.  1925!!!  ( Old Lincoln Text)Riveted construction was used for many years... even post WW2.
Reply:Thanks for the reply.  None is over 1/2'' thick in any cross section.  Just dawned on me that I should have asked Dad about this before he passed last year.  He was a foreman in a large fabrication yard in Portland Oregon before WWII and actually fabed a lot of rivited bridges and other stuff.  He also taught welding in night school to women replacing drafted men before he himself was drafted.  I do not know what I will do with this steel but I never let any get by me if I can get it home.  This was a sweet deal as the demolition crew was from out of town and it was not worth it for them to haul off.  I brought my one-ton and double axle flat bed trailer one day and they loaded both truck and trailer down.  I spent about 3 hours with a torch at home cutting off jagged ends and rivits and stuff cleaning the pile up.  Got almost 30 bucks at the scrap yard just off the cut-offs.  Have a lot of 18' 8" channel and comparable I beams.  Some smaller T shapes, pipe, etc.  Actually was a cat-walk/lighting/scenery/stage prop hanging platform over a theatrical stage.  Got several ladders and stairs that are out in the woods on deer stands now.  Got some large square rebar also.Old farm boy type welder/fabricator