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Which rods for a buzz box welder?

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vtsteam:
As far as I know buzzbox welders are all AC. Hence the buzz.

I'm partial to ChuckE2009's videos on youtube for down to earth stick welding info.

S. Heslop:

--- Quote from: vtsteam on January 12, 2015, 07:16:28 PM ---I use 6011 more than anything else for utility stuff, but it isn't a pretty weld -- good penetration though. 6013 is often considered a beginner's rod because it flows out more with less spatter, but it really only does that well on a horizontal surface -- too liquidy for vertical or overhead. Also I tend to make crap welds with it -- but then I'm not a great welder.

7018 is a good rod, more expensive. And I've even welded cast iron with it. That's frowned upon generally. This is all personal opinion based on my buzzbox and amateurish welding, not a pro with good equipment.

6011 is pretty much my go to rod.

--- End quote ---

I only own a box of 3.2mm 6013 that I use very occasionally on my buzz box welder, and yeah it's very difficult to weld vertical and I've never even tried overhead. It's possible to weld 2mm steel with the 3.2 rods, but a bit tricky. I'd go for something thinner if I had the chance again.

The rods are stored in an old mini fridge with a few packets of sillica gel that came with PC parts, I think. I'm not sure if it does anything to keep the moisture out but i've not had a problem so far.

Don't be put off by all the stuff you'll find online saying it's impossible to weld with a buzz box though. Even the ugliest welds full of gouges will still hold steel together very well.

awemawson:
I've always used 6013's for 'stuff around the farm' - it's a good rod for use on an AC buzz box. I also have 7018's but they are a nightmare to get going on AC - really need a DC welder then they are fine.

I was tortured in my welding classes years ago having to always do the root pass on heavy plate using 7018 with a 55v AC buzz box. If you cheated and swapped the connector for the 80v setting it got easier but make sure the instructor doesn't see  :clap:

vtsteam:
I have to admit, I used the 7018 w/ a DC welder, not my lincoln buzz box, aka "tombstone" welder.

I've done countless jobs with the buzzbox, including building a 10,000 lb capacity trailer for my houseboat, and my sawmill. Both required vertical welds -- there was a lot of channel and angle iron in the construction. That's where I learned to love 6011, even though it spatters.

I keep both 6013 and 6011 in various sizes, though 1/8" is by far the most used and I go though 3 times as much 6011 as 6013.  7018 I keep for specialty situations, and don't use much. Supposedly the 60 stands for 60 thousand psi strength, and the 70 for 70 kpsi. Well I doubt it when I get through with it,! But I also doubt that just about any steel I'm likely to pull out of my scrap pile for project is going to equal 60K psi either.

Incidentally, brazing is actually higher kpsi -- most people think it's less. Though its best purpose is for large area connections like lap or thick butt joints, not so good for thin butt joints. It's particularly good where you don't want to melt the parent metal, as in connecting already machined parts, and of course for reducing the liklihood of cracking cast iron.

And speaking of cast iron, and madness/modness here's the completely unapproved method of stick welding it, courtesy of fast talkin' (but fun to watch) ChuckE2009. It's worked for me on several occasions:

RotarySMP:
I'd liked to give a second vote for ChuckE2009's youtube "how to weld" videos. I have little welding experience, except a few lessons of Oxy/Acetylene during my apprenticship and a bit of mucking around with a flux core years ago.

A friend lent me an inverter welder, and a half box of 6013 2.5 (3/32"). I spend a couple weeks of evenings laying down beads on a slab of 10mm plate, and then watching ChuckE2009 videos to work out what I was doing wrong. By the end of that box of electrodes, my welds look like...
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=257222&d=1416161455
and
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=257224&d=1416161455

At least for me 6013's seems to work okay on mild steel. Preparing the joint with a good fit, cleaning off rust, grinding fillets, and positioning the work so the weld is flat, at comfortable height etc all make a huge difference.

Regards,
Mark

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