Contact, non-contact, or short arc

[wayne50]

I have little experience stick welding, but I do have the Hobart ac/dc stickmate. From reading this forum and from various welding books, I have tried to take notes on how to use different rods. Please correct me, but this is what I have for these rods.

6010, 6011, 6013 short arc

7014 contact

7018 ???

Thanks
Wayne

[usmcpop]

Go on over here :

http://products.esabna.com/EN/home/filler_metals_catalog/filler_metals_secondary/q/display_id.id4367f2a94ab488.10693762/path.filler_metals_covered_electrodes_carbon_low_a lloy_steel

If you root around, especially on the individual specs and the "extra info" tab, there's quite a bit of info.

[boilerman79]

6010 and 6011 rods are usually used on dirty,rusty ,or painted metal as well as root pass on pipe.They are great general purpose rods for mild steel.
7014 and 6013 rods are used on fairly clean metal,used mostly on A.C. machines.
7018 is a low-hydrogen rod that for structural work or pipe work needs to be kept in a rod oven.But can be used and is used all the time for general purpose mild steel work.
With the machine you have I would get some 1/8 inch 6010s and some3/32 7018s and burn away as the run the same amps.Usually run a root of 6010 then cover with 2 passes of 7018.
There are terms for each type of rod,Fast Fill,Fast Freeze,etc.But that usually ends in the classroom.The Hobart Pocket welding guide is a cheap yet very useful book to have.I think it is only around 5$.
Nothing beats a Basic Arc Welding class at your local Comm.College or Tech Center.It will put you way ahead of trying to learn on your own.
Good luck

[wayne50]

Thanks, the Esab site had what I was looking for.