I got 250 pounds of 10018 rods from an old welder friends of mine. Im
using them for odds and ends as i learn how to weld. im currently
taking a class at a local university. I can't seem to find out what
kind of amps i should use with them. Im using an old craftsman 230amp
ac-dc welder.
-dave
I think I have one of those welders . It's square , gray has a low and
high range and has a handle on top that makes about a half of a turn .
If so use high range and follow the amp range for 7014 contact rod .
High range will give you the longest duty cycle because you will be
towards the lower amperage side of the dial . Keep the rods dry . As
far as a setting for amperage goes . 1/8" probably maxes out at about
145 amps and minimum would be say 115 . You will have to adjust your
heat to suit the thickness of material and type of joint . Outside
corner would be less and inside fillet would be more . If the rod melts
apart before it's used up or you burn thru the material then the amps
are too high , If you have too hard of a time holding an arc or you get
slag trapped in the weld then the amps are to low . If you have to turn
the amps up so high to get penetration that the rod melts apart before
it's finished then the rod diameter is too small . If you burn thru the
metal even though the amps are so low that it's hard to keep an arc then
the diameter of rod is too big .
A rule of thumb on this is to take the decimal equivalent of the welding rod
diameter and set your welding machine to that amperage to start.(ie 1/8
E7018 = 0.125 inch so start at 125 amps) This is approx the amperage
setting, higher if you are welding on thicker mat'l and lower if welding on
thinner mat'l
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