Powdery slag

**Danger Mouse** · 14th June 2012, 09:20 PM

I have bought a BOC 130 arc welder and have been using it to build a few bits and pieces. My welds are ok - not going to win any competitions but I am fairly happy with them. The largest project has been a carry-all for a tractor which went well and I am now using it. (made mostly from 50x50 x 2.5 RHS and angle).

To begin with I bought some smootharc 13 welding rods - they seemed fine and did a good job. When I was going to buy more I was told that the WIA 12P rods were really good so I thought I would try them. I have found that they tend to like being run at a little less amps compared to the BOC 13's but again I am getting decent looking welds. However the slag is quite powdery when I chip it compared to the smootharc ones which chipped off in more shell type pieces. The appearance underneath the slag is fine but this seems odd. Any thoughts on what I may be doing worng or is this normal?

**steran50** · 15th June 2012, 08:48 PM

HI

,
I use WIA 12P Rods at Home and Work amongst others and I have never noticed the Slag to be Powdery. I am not sure what what You are doing wrong Graham Collins will probably give You an answer at some stage. For 2.5mm 12P Rods I tend to run them at 70 to 75 amps. The 3.2mm 12P Rods I run from 90 to 110 amp. Our Welder at Work is an old EMF Pilot Arc Welder (Pie Warmer) so its AC. My Welder at Home for ARC Welding is DC.

**Danger Mouse** · 16th June 2012, 09:03 AM

Yeah that is the kind of amps I am running these 2.5mm rods at. I just don't understand what is going on when the BOC ones are giving the hard slag but not the WIA ones.

**Danger Mouse** · 24th June 2012, 10:55 AM

Just wondering if anyone out there might have a view to help my query?

**Grahame Collins** · 24th June 2012, 08:18 PM

Hi Danger Mouse,

I can't recall WIA rods ever forming a flux residue as you describe.
Probable cause is that they have changed the formulation of the flux cover.

Think of it this way that if you can get away with just brushing the flux ,the benefit is that there are no chipping hammer dings.This benefits you cosmetically as well as saving time not chipping.

If the weld deposit looks ok, I can't see any problems.Accept it, call it good and move on.

Grahame

**Danger Mouse** · 25th June 2012, 09:37 PM

Thanks Grahame

The weld looks pretty good but the slag isn't all that easily removed. It still needs a chipping hammer and then the wire brush. The other rods are giving me a pretty nice shell of slag that is easier to remove.

Maybe I just got a dogey batch.

**Karl Robbers** · 26th June 2012, 02:42 AM

Originally Posted by Danger Mouse

Thanks Grahame

The weld looks pretty good but the slag isn't all that easily removed. It still needs a chipping hammer and then the wire brush. The other rods are giving me a pretty nice shell of slag that is easier to remove.

Maybe I just got a dogey batch.

Dodgy batches of electrodes just don't happen - at least not from Australian sources.
Why don't you post a picture of what you are experiencing.
I have burned quite a few 12P's over the years and have found them to be quite easy to de slag usually, so I am a little interested as to what is going on.
What polarity are you running, (I have found some electrodes to be harder to deslag when run on DCEN)?
You could also play with your amperage a little to see if this makes a difference.
Are you experiencing this on butt welds or only on fillet welds?

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