What Is The Best Welding Rod

[Dilworth Boy]

What Is The Best Welding Rod To Use For All Around Jobs With Rust On Metal
I Hav A Hobart Stickmate LX 235 AC / 160 DC.Thank You

[drivethruboy54]

if its rusty, run 6010 or 6011 those rods are deep penetrating and will burn through the rust, oils, grease, paint and even water. If you can clean the metal up 7018 is pretty common for alot of work, puts down alot of metal (coating has iron powder in it) but doesnt penetrate as deeply into the base metal so isnt recommended for metal that is clean.

[Dilworth Boy]

I Had Been Using 6010 5P Welding Rods

[drivethruboy54]

ok, sounds good to me

[808APP]

I got the same machine and do well with 6011, but my favorite is 7018

[KRD]

I will agree with 6011. I use it 90% of the time.

[nse_joshua]

6011's are good for all-around use... good penetration... 7018's good for filling... normally needs preheat...

[Jolly Roger]

5P+ is an excellent rod on dirty metal (oily, rusty. paint, etc., even galvanize that you can't get the galv off of) same for 6011. It will burn it out to where you are ready for 7018 on the next pass. I don't know where you got that info josh, but 7018 requires no preheat or postheat on mild steel.

[LomitaWelder]

I know this was not part of the question but heres my 2 cents. Just go with Excalibur! Try using something else and use the same rod made by Excalibur and you will notice a difference.
That just my 2 cents.

[nosleepno]

The "best welding rod" is the right one for the job. In your case, probably a 6010 or maybe 6011.


Excalibur are pretty good, cost a little more though.