Stick Electrode Ratings by Brand / MFG ? Favorites / Bummers

[PSCampSr]

I keep running across stick electrode sales of brands I have never heard of. Some of these are Anchor, Great Bridge, Cigweld, Tuffaloy, etc. Is there a rating for comparable electrodes anywhere? I have experience with Lincoln, Inweld, Stoody, Hobart, and others. Its hard in this economy to pass up what appear to be really good prices for common rods.

Any thoughts about the rods you like or the ones you hate ?

America will be free until the electorate discovers they can sup at the public trough........

[OscarJr]

Anchor is a China-based mfg'er.: http://anchorwelding.en.hisupplier.com/ . Whether or not they are good, I have yet to find out since I can get Lincoln Electrodes at my Home Depot stupid cheap in the 50lb tin cans.

My LWS keeps touting Böhler as a great European welding wire mfg'er, but I've also heard the contrary here and there on the forums. One stick electrode mfg'er I do consistently hear with a bad rap is the Radnor house-brand from Airgas. One off-brand I have used is "Blue Demon", because I wanted something in 5/64", but didn't want to pay a large price-to-pound cost, and their 5lb packs are priced good on Ebay. They ran fine from what I remember. I also have lots of TIG rods by Blue Demon, and for my hot-rod projects at home, they run just fine.

[aametalmaster]

I work at our LWS and asked a rep a few weeks ago where there wire and rod comes from. Some from the US and some from other counties. Most of it is good. But if you need specific rods that are USA made and vacuum packed like the Lincoln 7018MR then buy that brand. The gas company buyer was in Friday and bought 3 10 lb vacuum packs of the Lincoln and said they waste 9 lb of it because of their company regs. I have seen that in other shops I worked at for pipe and such. So depends what you are doing with it. We sell the off branded wire and rods 10 to 1 over the branded. Just depends again what you need or want to pay for...Bob

[OscarJr]

Absolutely agree. If you're in the business of making things like barbecue pits, making/repairing fences, and things like that, that aren't structural like erecting buildings, then I can easily see getting by with off-brand consumables that don't go by specific WPS's. So SPcampSr, what kind of work are you planning to do?

[PSCampSr]

Absolutely agree. If you're in the business of making things like barbecue pits, making/repairing fences, and things like that, that aren't structural like erecting buildings, then I can easily see getting by with off-brand consumables that don't go by specific WPS's. So SPcampSr, what kind of work are you planning to do?

Mostly I do metal art, garden art pieces, repairs around the farm etc. I will probably be building a smoker this fall / winter. I build gates and feeders, and have built a BBQ pit when I first learned to weld. Since I am retired, it is always prudent to watch the budget on projects.
I am self taught with the help of Jody, Chuck E 2009, Weld.com, Kevin Caron and so many other wonderful folks who have shared their knowledge on line.

Thanks to everyone on this forum for your help and opinions.
PSCampSr

[ryanjones2150]

To me, it doesn't matter much if I'm practicing or building some whacky doofloppy for no good reason. I like to use good quality filler metals that I enjoy using and I know will produce sound welds. Even the things that don't matter do matter to me because they are practice for when your skills are needed. <br />
<br />
Practice like you fight I say. <br />
<br />
If it doesn't matter, why do it?

[Olivero]

I gotta agree with Ryan on this one. I do every weld as crucial and aimed for perfection as any other weld. Doesn't matter what it's for, should be professional every time. I use Radnor or Hobart/Mckay for TIG and Anchor or Lincoln for stick electrodes.

6011,6013 and 7018 is about all you need for most things. Construction, marine and all that stuff is different and has requirements but if you keep some of the above and if your fancy, some 308L sticks then you should be good for most situations.

[PSCampSr]

I agree that if it is worth doing, it is worth doing well.

My question was originally if there were no name / off brand electrodes that were favored (Olivero mentioned Anchor) by the welders here or if there were brands to stay away from. What are your favorite rods and why? Does anyone know if there is a rating anywhere to compare different branded rods?
PSCampSr

[aametalmaster]

I will use anything. I have worked for so many cheap shops that used anything under the sun i got good with them. I like the McKay 7018
...Bob

[OscarJr]

Does anyone know if there is a rating anywhere to compare different branded rods?
PSCampSr

The best you will do is find the rod comparisons on YouTube

[ryanjones2150]

Probably comes down to personal preference really. I don't know of any specific rating like you're looking for.



For me, I stick with what I've come to like until someone suggests I try something different. I use the same rods simply for consistency. I know the quality and I know how they run, so I stick with it.

For for 6010, I like the fleetweld.
For 7018 I've been using Excalibur, but I just got a can of esab atom arc on a friend's recommendation, I'll give it a try.

Both are name brand, both I trust and can obtain by the truck load locally if I need it.

[Olivero]

Yeah, hard to say.

I doubt there is really much of a difference between the brands, I personally stick with name brands I know like Mckay or Lincoln or Radnor. Just because they are big names and must have good quality stuff. I can't really tell the difference between an excalibur or a Mckay 7018 rod,

So no, I can't tell you what I like and what I don't like other than the big brands have good stuff and the small brands might not. The rods are made in a way so they run the same and are to a certain criteria (if i am not mistaken) so they will act pretty uniform, but the guys who have been in the business for ages will have refined it better and fixed their mistakes. That's just my view point.

[PSCampSr]

Yeah, hard to say.

I doubt there is really much of a difference between the brands, I personally stick with name brands I know like Mckay or Lincoln or Radnor. Just because they are big names and must have good quality stuff. I can't really tell the difference between an excalibur or a Mckay 7018 rod,
.

You had mentioned Anchor in any earlier post, I believe it is a Chinese brand / or of Chinese manufacture. Do you find any differences between Anchor and the US made brands you mentioned above?

PSCampSr

[aametalmaster]

You had mentioned Anchor in any earlier post, I believe it is a Chinese brand / or of Chinese manufacture. Do you find any differences between Anchor and the US made brands you mentioned above?

PSCampSr

That's a big problem. Because you never really know where the wire or rod comes from or starts out at. There are only so many factories that box rods for everybody's name. Some companies get wire or rod and slap their name on them that may sound like a US name. Plus some of the materials that go into making rods and wire is only found overseas. So to say its 100% USA made really isn't true. I sell the Anchor brand also and no one has complained. I have welded myself with prob 20+ brands over the years and in real time it may have only been 5 brands because of the different names on the boxes. Just my thoughts...Bob

[aametalmaster]

And Anchor is a brand from ORS Nasco a large welding supplier in the US...Bob