Awl --
Or me, or my machine.....
Previously, I had posted to rcm about fresh new welding rod that was just about unusable, 3/32 6013, Anchor brand from my welding supplier, Lincoln stuff from HD. Both unusable. I couldn't figger it out, cuz the rod I had previously was super-old, but not flakey or anything, and worked just fine. On a 1996 Econotig, DC reverse.
The new crap I had (have) wouldn't strike right on any setting. It was unusable in the sense that the arc was so hard to strike -- a very hard flux formation over the tip, not allowing the arc to strike.
So, in my meanderings, a couple of steel suppliers also carry fence supplies and rod, so I said, Hey, gimme a rod or two to try.
Both rods were just like I remember the old stuff to be, orders of magnitude more usable than the new crap that I bought. One, however, was even better than the other -- if you just *touched* the metal, you got a nice arc!!
Both have a "buttery" arc, at about 75-80 A, while the new crap rod crackles much more, and seems less stable. The good sample rods hold the arc up to 1 1/4" long!! The new crappy stuff can hold mebbe 5/8" arc.
Inyway, there really IS a difference in run-of-the-mill rod! And I'm sure the samples these suppliers gave me was not Eutectic et al, so what is this shit that Lincoln and my welding supply house are carrying?
I can't speak on the fundamental metallurgy or weld quality, but from a usability pov, it's night and day.
Just glad this nightmare is over. I literally have avoided welding for many many months, except in dire need.
Oh, another interesting tidbit, these fence/steel houses also carry cast iron rod at fraction of the price of a welding supply house. Seemed to work great. When I was buying the stuff, the diff was $1/lb vs $10/lb !!!