comments on welds.

[bobwills]

Lol i was doing those for pay too for my dads and uncles company. My job title is shop b**ch as my uncle would say. And I know i just love 7018. I really dont ever use anything different. And 7018 ac is just for if you got an ac welder and you like how 7018s weld. Use the ac ones when you got an ac machine cause they just run way smoother than the regular 7018s used on ac. Regular ones dont run as good and has more spatter, they still work but dont get near the performance.

[hooda]

So the question(s) I have is 1. Does 7018AC work in DC mode, and if so, how well? and 2. What do they do to the composition to make it more AC compatible> Is it in the metal, the coating, or both. And how does that effect weld strength?

[performance]

Its a good time to point out, that if 7018 rods don't come from a hermetically sealed can (or baked at 600 degrees), and held constantly in a hot box, using any 7018 can result in underbead hydrogen cracking. You are better off using a 7014. That includes rods marked AC....Yes, AC rods can be used on DC. They run fine.

[everlastsupport]

7018 low-hydrogen can be used AC or DC.

I would still recommend 6010 (DC) or 6011 (AC or DC) for the root pass (better penetration) and use the 7018 for the other passed, leaves a nice finished look.

[I_Love_Plasma]

Its a good time to point out, that if 7018 rods don't come from a hermetically sealed can (or baked at 600 degrees), and held constantly in a hot box, using any 7018 can result in underbead hydrogen cracking. You are better off using a 7014. That includes rods marked AC....Yes, AC rods can be used on DC. They run fine.

Oh goodness, I had no idea that it would do that. I thought they just didn't run good with moisture. Very good to know.

[everlastsupport]

Oh goodness, I had no idea that it would do that. I thought they just didn't run good with moisture. Very good to know.

All electrodes should be kept dry, 7018 even more so (see prior posts). You should have gasket sealed rod tubes and a small oven. I do not stick weld a lot and have all my rods in tubes as well as an oven for them.

And again, root pass, see prior posts.

[bobwills]

Yeah the 7018 ac will run in ac. They run good I just noticed a funny smell coming from it but they still will run really good. And what makes they work better on ac is some additive in the flux of the rod. Off hand I cant think of it but its not important. They run good and are just as strong im sure. And I dont really like 7014. Dont know why just they dont really do anything good for me. I use them time to time but i really cant do vertical and they still aint great for flat so i just stick with the 7018.

[geezer]

Many years ago, I built a gooseneck trailer and had the worst time welding down hill with 7018, everything looked like tree sap dripping out, that's when I discovered that 7018 is not recomended for down hill, 7014 however will go up and down. Of course back in those days I thought a root pass was something the paper boy needed to come on your property, learned different since then.

[bobwills]

I cant weld 7018 downhill either, Havnt tried much though but i like uphill better. Get better penetration anyways, And 7014 just doesnt do much at all for me. Its what i learned on. They dont run bad just idk lol.

[jerky]

if you have to run 7018 downhill, turn your heat up about 10 amps then what you would normally run. you want some good heat so that the slag that rolls down infront of your weld is "burned" out and you get a good weld. mind you ya, your really not supposed to downhill 7018, but sometimes ya just have to.

[bobwills]

Thats one problem is the weld starts running on the rod and wants to put the arc out. But a higher amp would make it better. Also something with arc force would help too.