Many welders learn their trade by stick welding with 7018, 6010, and 6011 welding rods. The rods are versatile, easy to work with, and can be used in a variety of situations. If you have a welding project outside, a stick welding rod doesn’t need shielding gas. If you’re learning how to weld, a 6011 electrode will work with a variety of settings. While many welders are interested in picking up a MIG or TIG welder for more specialized projects, there are some really good reasons to keep using a stick welder.
Run a Stick Welder on Standard Voltage
Many of today’s stick welders are capable of running off 115V power in wall sockets. While welders with more power require a socket that can handle more current, a basic stick welder that can run off any socket is more versatile and portable. If you have a project outside or you need to weld in a location other than your shop, it’s not a bad idea to keep a stick welder around.
Keeping a simple stick welder around will also keep your costs down since you can weld without altering the electrical set up at your home.
Find a Job with Stick Welding
A stick welder could lead to some great job opportunities. There are plenty of construction and pipe welding jobs that will require a wide range of stick welding skills. In the booming natural gas and oil industries, the skills of stick welders will be called upon over and over again. If you’re looking for long term job security in a growing sector, brush up on your stick welding skills. Welders willing to move to the work won’t be disappointed.
6011 Electrodes Get Jobs Done Fast
If you need a dependable welding method, stick welding with a 6011 electrode is just about as good as it gets. It’s a fast-freeze electrode that won’t run all over the place while you work. You can easily create a clean weld without worrying about grinding down excess metal.
6011 electrodes also give welders really deep penetration into the metal work piece, an excellent combination with its clean bead. Once you’re done welding, you’ll also have minimal slag to remove from the weld.
You’ll use 6011 for household projects and smaller metal joints that don’t require quite as much filler. In addition, if you need a reliable way to take some metal pieces together, 6011 will give a strong tack without slag.
Don’t Forget 6010 Electrodes for Stick Welding
If you want a smooth running electrode, check out the 6010 electrode for stick welding. You’ll have a much easier time creating a smooth, solid weld with 6010. In addition, the slag with 6010 chips off much easier than a 6011.
Reach Tight Spaces with a Stick Welder
When you’re MIG welding, you’ll be limited with how far you can read into a tight spot with your MIG gun. The torch isn’t designed for tight spaces. So even if you like to weld for the majority of your projects on a MIG welder, it’s not a bad idea to keep an old stick welder around so that you won’t get stuck on a project in a tight space. It’s narrow electrode is ideal for confined spaces. Just make sure you have good ventilation!
Uphill and Downhill Welding
While 7018 electrodes run smooth and are quite easy to use, especially for structural welding, you’ll find 6010 or 6011 will freeze fast enough that you can keep moving your electrode back and forth across the weld joint without worrying about run off and crowning on the weld.
Stick Welders Are Affordable
If you’re just learning how to weld or you’re on a tight budget, you can do a lot of welding projects with a stick welder by simply switching inexpensive welding rods. Whether you have a large deck project or a small table to weld, a stick welder can get the job done, provided you are running enough current.
Stick welders have very few parts as well, so you don’t have to worry about maintaining a spool or picking up an extra TIG pedal. They don’t have tips or other consumable parts other than the electrode itself. Your main accessory for stick welding is a simple file for grinding down any slag on the tip.
