[TheForge] welding... my two cents

[S. Pohlman]

My start with playing with metal started with welding, stick rod mostly. 
I am just starting to play with Tig. With pipefitting stick rod AC  
6010  and 7018 are standards. with 6010 or 5-p there is also a 5-p+ 
(plus ) that is newer  it runs a little smoother.  Almost like 7018  as 
far as slag cleanup . With 7018 we refer to it as Lo-Hi  for low 
hydrogen. There is a brand of 7018 called Excalibur. I find it runs very 
well compaired to other 7018's.  On DC rigs the 6011 or 6013 runs well. 
I have on small occasions run into stick welding  S.S. and cast iron. 
there are some good specialty rods out there that make it look easy. 
sorry I don't recal the names of these rods but a welding supply guy can 
find them.  Keeping rod dry is important especially with Lo-Hi. The 
flux  on the rod is organically based and sucks up moisture easily. 
small cracks or discolouration are a sign that the rod got wet. a rod 
oven is a good thing to have. an insulated box with a 25watt bulb is 
what I use. they have college classes on welding  so I could go on for a 
while( not that I am an expert just that I know a bit) but thought I 
would hit a couple spots  that wer being discussed.

Stu