Thread: El cheapo welding rods

Hi Charleville,
Well theres the rub!
The cheapies (who ever sells them ) typically are often not marked with the appropriate code to identify the application eg 6012,6013 - metric 4012,4013.

This makes it a guessing game when one needs to know what to use for that vertical down run in a difficult pace.

Yes! I know most of time it does not matter as most of us are flat welders,but on the odd occasion it can mean success or failure.
Grahame

Some of the cheap stuff is absolute crap.
Stick with the supercheap stuff, its a reasonable quality

Have tried a lot of welding rods over the years and keep going back to CIG SatinCraft13 rods. Tried the cheap stuff and found them to be bloody useless, tried those WeldAll too, have re-named them WeldNothing. The best rod I have ever used but cant get anymore were Strata 555, I have a few left and only use them when welding thin steel.

D D

A friend has a furniture importing business. He was getting metalwork shipped in from China a few years back. The welds were failing at an astonishing rate. He ceased importing from the manufacturer, however he visited the factory in question when on an unrelated visit to China.

He told me that there was a guy who's only job was to untie old wire coat hangers. He would squat down in the dirt all day with a pair of old pliers. After he starightened them, he would dip them in lime, and then pass on for use to the welders to use as electrodes.

Originally Posted by Fossil

He told me that there was a guy who's only job was to untie old wire coat hangers. He would squat down in the dirt all day with a pair of old pliers. After he starightened them, he would dip them in lime, and then pass on for use to the welders to use as electrodes.

I am not doubting your story when I say that that is the best story that I have heard all day. I shall share it widely. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins

The cheapies (who ever sells them ) typically are often not marked with the appropriate code to identify the application eg 6012,6013 - metric 4012,4013.

This makes it a guessing game when one needs to know what to use for that vertical down run in a difficult pace.

Yes! I know most of time it does not matter as most of us are flat welders,but on the odd occasion it can mean success or failure.

Ah Grahame, you are showing off your knowledge now! There is obviously a lot more science to welding rods than I thought. Once again, many thanks for this insight.

You are correct insofar as I try to be a flat welder as often as I can be and even then the welds are obviously made by someone who was in that half of the class that made the top half possible; or alternatively, thinks that bulk metal in a weld makes up for quality of weld. (Thank goodness for angle grinders. )


Thanks for all the advice, fellas. Much appreciated.


Thriftiness is an interesting trait to have. When I really want something, it does not matter what it costs but on the other hand, I hate spending more for consumables than I have to.

Originally Posted by Charleville

Thriftiness is an interesting trait to have. When I really want something, it does not matter what it costs but on the other hand, I hate spending more for consumables than I have to.

It was the price of CIG rods at hardware stores that inspired me to search elsewhere. Now I'm using Gemini 4112 rods from Bob at Ballina. The price is good and they seem fine to me.

I wonder if the lime is dry or mixed with water

Dear Charleville
the reality is that most of us do not use a lot of welding rods, so I would suggest you buy the best you can find. My experiences with the cheapies are all bad. Rather the green and red hardware shop, try a specialist welding supplies.
regards
Piney

After having gone through over half of the twelve 5kg boxes of 3.2 Chinese rods I snapped up on special from Crazy Clarks [$6 a box reduced from $9.95] ,recon I,m ready to try the coathangers dipped in lime .

Originally Posted by phelum

It was the price of CIG rods at hardware stores that inspired me to search elsewhere. Now I'm using Gemini 4112 rods from Bob at Ballina. The price is good and they seem fine to me.

Thanks. This might be the easiest option on the lighter rods.

Many thanks to all contributors on this thread.


.

Hi Men,
While we are in the mood to purchase some half decent electrodes, lets consider the storage.Some will suck up airborne moisture like you wouldn't believe.

If you want best performance keep them out of the moisture.
A visit to your friendly plumping supply outlet with a few dollars in hand , will yield a length of 90mm pipe and a couple of pipe caps.

Cut the pipe marginally longer than the electrode length and glue a cap on 1 end and clean up the other end to make the other cap snug but not impossible to remove.

Perhaps glue a bag of moisture absorbent like you get in some medications, inside the lid and mark on it in indelible marker what you have.

Keeps em for years if yer remember to put the bloody lid on properly every time you use them.

Cheers

Grahame

Ah - now I have a new use for that pvc pipe container like Grahame describes that I made some years ago to carry a few basic tools on my boat and keep them from rusting.

Regrettably it was not up to the task of quarantining moist salt laden air to its outside and the tools still rusted inside over time.

However, at home in my garage and with the moisture absorbent stuff added, it might find a new lease on life. Thanks Grahame.

Anyone in Brisbane who needs short lengths of plastic pipe let me know. I've got about 100 lengths in 1m or less lengths. Several diameters.

Use the email link of my username at the left of screen. Please don't PM me.

On the topic of electrode storage, for many years I have kept open packs in an old steel school book locker - about 300mm square and 500mm or so deep, in the back I have installed a batten holder with a 25 watt globe that runs all the time. Not a huge expense and also a good place to store other items like a multi meter if you live in a damp winter climate zone. It is also possible to dry electrodes, (when your wifes not looking) pre heat the oven the 100 degrees F and "bake" them for an hour or so and then store in a dry environment of your choice - once cool to touch. An old farmer mate in Gippsland used to store his in an old frig, also with a low watt globe running.