Hobart/Weld-It rods...

[Big Nate]

Last weekend I ran out of 7018 rod while building a car dolly, and of course sence it was on a weekend I couldnt go to the lincoln dealer and pick up another can. So I decided to head up to Tractor Supply (tsc) and get something to use to finish the job. I picked up a 10 pound container of 1/8" 7018 rod, $14.99 So I get home and get ready to start blasting some metal together and I open up the rod and about 1/2 of the flux had flaked off of the rods so I took it back and got a good can ( I thought) I got home again and the rods looked ok but they just didn't feel "right" and the welds were verry porous (sp?) I finaly stuck them in the oven on a cookie sheet to get the moisture out and they work "ok" now. Is this the way all hobart rods come or did I get a bad batch? the price is awesome at about $1.49 a pound wheras Lincoln rod is about $2.25..... but from the looks of things the price difference makes for a difference in quality. opinions?

~Nate~

[TXBuster]

I use Weldit 7014 in 3/32 and 1/8. Seems like they burn a little hotter for the amperage as well. No complaints, but I have never bought a batch of bad/contaminated rods...YET!

[slowrev]

I use the TSC weldit rods, they are ok. Not quite as good as some of the more expensive ones. But for me they are more convenient to get and cheaper.

[Mike360000]

Originally posted by slowrev
I use the TSC weldit rods, they are ok. Not quite as good as some of the more expensive ones. But for me they are more convenient to get and cheaper.

My exact same sentiments/thoughts!

Actually I wrote about almost the same thing here a couple weeks ago.. Difference was I noticed the Weldit rods seemed to do better when dragged on the work rather than lifted off from the work, slightly. I stilll think the Lincoln rods are better than any I have ever used, but I just can't find them anymore in my area, except for Lowe's Hardware and their selection is so small and their price so high I just went with the Weldit rods from TSC.

Oddly 2 welding retailers here claims to sell Lincoln rods, but they never have them in stock and if you ask for x number of pounds of them loose, they will give anything and say they sold you Lincoln welding rods. Doesn't take me running 1 welding bead and I know I've been had, just like I got had with about 10 pounds of 6011 rods, this past December, which they told me was Lincoln, but wasn't!

I can only conclude from this and the way Lincoln is conducting itself in other areas, that they are slipping downhill in several areas.

Cheers,
Mike

[Hobart Expert Rock]

BIG NATE....... SORRY FOR THE PROBLEM'S WITH THE RODS....... I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THEM TO BECOME CONTAMINATED AND WET......... NOR DO I HAVE ANY IDEA WHY THE FLUX COME OFF.............. MAYBE THEY WERE DROPPED OR SOMETHING..... THEY DO HAVE A QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM SET UP IN PLACE..... I HAVE TOURED THE FACTORY........ THEY DO HAVE ROD OVENS TO DRY THEM OUT......... AND OH YES IT IS QUITE A HOT PLACE IN THE SUMMER....................THAT WAS WHEN I TOOK MY TOUR....... I WILL FORWARD TO APPROPRIATE FOLKS........DID TSC GIVE YOU A REFUND OR JUST AN EXCHANGE...........THANKS FOR THE INFO.... ROCK......... SSCOTT@MILLERWELDS.COM

[Big Nate]

I took the second can back and the manager said that because I used some of them (1-2 lbs) that he couldnt give me a refund, big suprise.... So I am waiting for my buddy to return my beater car so I can run to the lincoln dealer and fork out big cash for rod

~Nate~