i just picked up a suzuki engine driven welder today and i have a question. what is a good gen purpose AC stick and any other tips and tricks are good too thanks

 

You said an A/C machine. Get 6013 or 7013 rod. The size dependes on the amperage of the welder and what your welding. Another tip is to stay out of strong wind. The way a welding rod works is the outer coating melts and some of it turns into a gas. This gas and molten coat shields the molten metal from the oxygen in the air so it doesn't oxodise. When it cools chip the scale off the weld.

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I don't know if you have ever welded or not. But make sure you, your kids, or any pets don't look at the light. I did that once. My dog was running around and I didn't think about that. The dog really suffered for days.

 

6011 is a good rod for ac

 

7018, a child can use it and it has decent strength.

 

yes low hyd 7018 is a good strong rod but metal has to be cleaner. if welding mild steel i like 6011 better.

 

6011 and 7018s are a must. thats what i teach my students to use and save for using a small amount of 6013 thats all i use for general welding. Just makes sure you keep 7018s out of humidity

 

thanks guy i just got some 6011 and some 7018 what are the benefits and uses of both

 

lk someone said 7018s can be hard to use on dirty metal however they will give a nice stong bead that looks good. also once you start and run part of a stick they can be hard to start again. a trick i was tought and i teach my students is keep a piece of scrap wood around and as soon is you finish the weld stick the electrode to the wood. It seems to make it easier to start again.

6011 is your all around rod it will work on metal that is clean or dirty. it can penetrate good

im sure there are some full time welders that will chime in and im in no way claming to be one im just giving you what i now and use for general farm type welding.

 

i will confess. i was a pipeliner welder for 25 years. rednekroper05 got it down to a tee. what i would do is use the 6011 for tacking and running your first bead and then if you want the 7018. remember the first numbers on the rods are your tensile strength. 6011 can be cleaned with a electric grinder with a wire brush wheel. 7018 a chipping hammer

 

practice with the 6011. It's more challenging and gets your technique right. Then run stuff in 7018. If you learn with 7018 it'll look pretty but might not be a good weld.