Are there differences in quality between brands of electrode?

[Haywire]

Are there major differences in rod quality between brands? For the anticipated arrival of my PA200, I bought Hobart 6011, 6013, and 7014. I declined to buy the rod that Harbor Freight was selling just out of principle, although I did walk out with an auto-darkening helmet.

thanks,
Ian

[performance]

The hobart rods are good, though some weld better than others. I use Lincoln for 6011...much better. 7014 and 6013 Hobarts are good. I like the 7018 Hob's. The Harbor Freight stuff is quite funky. A reasonable alternative, that I have found sold many places locally, that probably doesn't get enough press is U.S Forge. I have used all those rods quite well and they are available in most common weights that you would want. Its not a "Name" brand per se, but it is generally a good quality rod for the price.

See: http://us-forge.com/Products/Welding/Electrodes.htm

[Tritium]

I am not much of a welder but the Hobart 7018's work well for me too mainly for farm equipment repairs.

Thurmond

[Haywire]

The local rental place had US-Forge rod.. they had a 50lb box of 7018 open so you could buy one at a time. You could probably squeeze the water out of it with your bare hands.

They also had small 3-5 stick packs of specialty stuff... cutting rod, aluminum rod, nickel 99 rod, and stuff for cast iron.

Lowes had the Lincoln brand, Tractor supply and Scott-Gross Welding had Hobart.

Ian

[DaveO]

they had a 50lb box of 7018 open so you could buy one at a time.

I stopped into a LWS some time back and asked for electrodes by the pound: I was used to buying them loose for $1 per pound some years ago. The counter guy said they stopped selling loose rods because they didn't have packaging, and without packaging the rods didn't carry a MSDS and OSHA warnings, and some guy somewhere sued and won damages for injuries sustained while welding.

[Tritium]

I stopped into a LWS some time back and asked for electrodes by the pound: I was used to buying them loose for $1 per pound some years ago. The counter guy said they stopped selling loose rods because they didn't have packaging, and without packaging the rods didn't carry a MSDS and OSHA warnings, and some guy somewhere sued and won damages for injuries sustained while welding.

Not a problem in my neck of the woods (prairie that is). They will sell 1 rod or hundreds. Whatever you want.

Thurmond