Hi everyone
Got some expert advice in the UK. Wanted to reach out for North American practical experience - as seems much more use of 6010 and
6011. Demonstrated massive increase in productivity stick-welding seams / butt-joints in boat superstructure plates using 6010's to get full-penetration weld, with big high-current 6013 vertical-down to fill and "wash smooth" the weld bead. Plate is 5mm thick (13/64th's [3/16ths] inch) low-carbon mild steel. A lot of the increase in productivity is in grinding flush fast with a powerful 9inch angle-grinder, as opposed to the slow sculpting with delicate 4~1/2inch angle-grinder of "all cap" zero-penetration butt welds made with
6013's (a "fillet-butt", if you will).
The welding is outdoors with wind blowing in over the open water, and climbing over adjacently-moored hulls, so MIG is not an option (?).
Richard Smith