Yes, I used radnor 7018 and I would weld flat grind the metal shiney and ran a quick tjoint and got a ton of inclusions and porosity. The arc constantly sputtered even from a fresh can.:dizzy:

 

I have not had good luck with radnor anything. They tried passing off "victor style" torch tips a few years ago at work, never could make them seat right. I purchased a couple 1lb boxes of the 6011 , 1/8", several years ago to try out and ended up throwing it away. I stay away from it now!

 

We bought some 3/32 7018 that is complete junk from them. Some of the other Radnor stuff is ok but for the most part I've not usually been impressed. The Praxxair stuff isn't much better. We do have pretty good luck with the ER70S .035 hard wire from them.

 

The school I go to got some radnor 7018 once instead of Excalibur. Nobody liked em and a few people failed bend tests. They went in the garbage and we broke out the Excalibur and all those problems went away.
Radnor is junk! If you want a good rod buy lincoln

 

I've used their 1/8'' cast iron rods, COMPLETE JUNK, couldn't keep a good arc going for more than 2-3 seconds. I only use Airgas for my gas cylinders because they seem to be the cheapest in town and I usually get a good discount

 

Another "thumbs down" for Radnor $h!+. Radnor mig wire and stick electrodes are a fricking joke!!!! I wish I could punch out the CEO of Airgas. I would make him choke on that Radnor crap! I also wish people would refuse to buy Radnor "anything," this putting them out of business or off the market completely.

R-A-D-N-O-R SUUUUUUCKS!!!!!!

 

A few years back I was given a few sample packs of their equivalent of 6010 5p. They were ok but nothing I would want to switch away from Lincoln electrodes. I have never tired any other products from them. I stick to the same rods and do not switch around.

Dan

 

It' amazing how different rods of the same number act differently. I tried many 6011 rods as an experiment, sticking only to the light colored flux brands. I found the 'Airco easy arc" to be almost a mix between 6011 and butter rod like 6013. There is quite a difference. I have not tried fourney, but sounds like I will.
Might be a good time to list all the top of the line choices in popular rods. The expensive super "missle weld rods" and similar ones seem to weld great, but is there a comparable one at a decent price? I rarely use them, but if I'm welding a critical part, sometimes I use them. I tried a higher XXX18 rod just to compare, I believe it was Lincoln 11018. It seemed good, but I don't have any test results on them.

 

Radnor branded anything is usually the cheapest Chinese crap built buy the lowest bidder. Airgas is really pushing this crap on everyone and its complete JUNK. They aren't even stocking any of the good consumables anymore.

 

I like Radnor gloves, they're quite comfortable. Other than that I just use Hobart since no one stocks any Lincoln stuff in my area.

 

This thread has me wondering what my local hardware store (L&M Fleet Supply) carries on the open shelves....

For at least 15 years I've just grabbed a fistfull of whatever rod I needed off the open racks - all have welded as expected with normal slag removal. Normally 7014.

Only problem rods I've encountered were last month when I got a box of Hobart 6013 for my kid to practice with - spatters like mad.

Dave J.

 

The Radnor ER70S2 tig rod is ok, and their gloves are fairly decent. Their torch tips are kind of crude looking and their tip cleaners and torch strikers are CRAP!
For stick rod I will only buy Lincoln.

 

Radnor stainless mig wire and stainless tig rods makes me want to take two weeks off and then quit my job...