Thread: Chinese rods and other ramblings

40 odd years ago I worked as a welder (2nd class). In the shops I worked in we used CIG Ferrocraft rods almost exclusively, most forays into other brands, liquid Arc, Murex, etc, were unsuccesfull: slow striking, poor quality welds, etc.
Back then there were only AC stick welders and Oxy in the shops I worked in.
In the late 60s the boss introduced something called a CO2 welder, I'm assuming it was a MIG (can someone elucidate). A laborer working at the factory, with no welding experience, picked it up and did a beautifull weld, very close to what I was doing with a stick.
Having taught myself to weld during my lunch hours over a few years and working my way up to welder, I was shattered, I quit a week later and never worked as a welder again.
I am retired now, invalided 10 years ago at 49 (seems I didn't pick the right alternative vocation to welding), but have continued to weld in my own workshop ever since, building trailers, camper vans, go carts, ride ons, etc, for my own amusement.
I mostly use chinese rods and have found some are excellent and some absolute rubbish (presumably coathangers dipped in lime). I currently have a packet of Murex rods, somethings never change, they were rubbish 40 years ago and still are apparently (perhaps the not-so-good chinese manufacturers used these as a benchmark).
I have been reading about DC Inverter welders and am thinking of buying one; hopefully, they will improve my welding: non bendable body parts, decreasing eyesight and lack of practice have reduced my welding skills considerably since I quit the trade. Once, a long time ago, I could weld 16 gauge sheetmetal without blowing holes (I stitch now), o/head, vertical ups and downs, etc. Oh well at least I can blame it on those dam chinese rods and AC welders!!!