Proper Welding Rod question for my RF smoker build

[ronn1234]

Hello all,
First off this is my first post on this forum i bow to the masters haha. So here is my situation I am in the process of building my new smoker. First about the smoker it is going to be 66" long and 30" in diameter. The fire box is 26" long and 30" in diameter. The whole shebang is built out of 1/4" pipe with 1/4" side plates, it will be a reverse flow with a 1/4" thick baffle plate vee'd so the juices run to the center down to the opposite end of the fire box. This smoker will be on large wheels front and back and will be a backyard smoker for now with plans in the future of putting it on a trailer. I am currently cutting out the end caps for the smoker chamber and the fire box and getting ready to cut the doors.
My question is given my current purpose (backyard) and potential future use (Trailer-ed pit) I was looking for advice on which welding rods to use. Right now the plan is to use E6011 to spot weld about every 6-10 inches on the inner joints, since this would not provide a pretty weld on the outside. These spot welds will be primarily for strength. On the outer side of the joints my plan is to weld with E6013, for that pretty smooth finished look.

I am assuming that using E6011 for the backyard pit would be over kill and that using E6013 would be sufficient for the whole build would this assumption be correct?

I could always weld the rolling frame 2"x2"x1/4" angle iron and weld that to the smoking chamber with E6011 as well and do the rest in E6011?

Now given that I may be putting this pit on a trailer in the future, should I just do as I posted in my plan above with inner spot welds using E6011 and outer E6013 Or should I weld fully inner with 6011 and outer with E6013 I'm gona use the 6013 on the outer either way because i don't want any joints visible.

I have a Hobart Stickmate LX 230 amp AC welder so i can pretty much weld it however it needs to be done.

I would appreciate any and all ideas.

Thanks, Ron

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

Welcome to our little spot on the net. Back when I built smokers using an arc welder, I used 7018 for everything. It's stronger than the 60 stuff and produces a great finished bead.

[ronn1234]

Awesome thanks for the reply. How critical is it to keep 7018 in an oven, as I do not have that capability?

[bluecatfish]

I agree with CRS on the 7018 rods. That is about all I ever use, especially if welding on pipe that might be magnetized. It does make a strong, pretty weld and the slag cleans up easy. I never keep my rods in an oven, just keep them dry and don't keep around to long. I am not familiar with your welder and don't know if it is AC or DC. If it is AC get the 7018AC rod. They burn good on either AC or DC. If I was doing it I would just weld up the outside good. I think inside and outside would be overkill. Good luck on the build. jm2cw

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

[Puff]

These guys all suggested I use 7018 DC on the build I'd just completed. It all started with 7014 and 6013. The 7018 did make a nice smooth weld and a big difference from the 6013. I have very poor looking welds whenever I use 6011. Just can't seem to find a happy amp setting for it

[ronn1234]

Thanks for all the input my welder is an AC only welder so how clean do you have to have the metal and at what amps would you run on a 3/32 7018AC rod

[cypertj]

I burned mostly 6011 rods on my build. 7018 on the trailer frame. You'll be just fine either way, but use the one you're most comfortable with. And welding both sides of your joint is overkill, the outside alone will be fine

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[Rodcrafter]

I never used for more than a minute or two a welder that only puts out A/C, I hated it. I hope you have better luck than I did with it.

[Grabber70Mach]

I think you would be better off using a 1/8" rod, doesn't 1/4 metal exceed the capabilities of 3/32" rod?

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[bluecatfish]

I would use the 1/8" 7018AC rods with the AC welder at 105 or 120 amps welding the 1/4" metal. The AC welder will run the 7018AC rod with no problem and it is very easy to strike an arc. You can run the DC rod on a AC machine but it is hard to strike an arc. You have to knock the slag of the end of the rod to strike the arc. I have burned a lot of them.

[ronn1234]

From all the charts i have seen 3/32 can be used on up to 1/4" materal

[ronn1234]

Bluecatfish thanks for the info i think that is what i'm going to do

[bluecatfish]

You are welcome ronn1234. I just like the 1/8" rods for 1/4" material. Just try them both and see which runs better for you.

[ronn1234]

One last question about the 7018 rod does the material have to be ground down to shinny metal or is mill scale ok?

[bluecatfish]

If it was me I would just wire brush the loose rust off and start welding, unless it was really heavy rust.

[love2flymn]

Not to hijack the thread or anything...But I have troubles getting the arc going steady with the 7018. I bang the outer covering of the rod (I'm sure there's a name for this) off so the electrode is there but I get a spark or the rod sticks. Even if I do get a small arc going, it's hard to keep it until a few full seconds after I have been going.
I've tried higher amps but then I just burn through.
Try 3/32" rod?

[bluecatfish]

AC or DC welder? It sounds to me like you are trying to burn a 7018 DC rod on an AC welder from the sticking rod trouble. To strike an arc it seems to me like you have to hit the rod on the metal a little harder and immediately raise it just enough to keep the arc going on the straight 7018 rod. The 7018AC rod is made for AC welders and is a lot easier to strike and maintain the arc. I burn both kinds on my tombstone Lincoln AC 225 that I have converted to weld either AC or DC.

[ronn1234]

Thanks Bluecat it is what i consider light surface rust. It was recently sand blasted

[love2flymn]

I have a tombstone Lincoln like you mentioned. How do i know if it's AC/DC?

[The Czar]

Is it back in black?


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[bluecatfish]

I have a tombstone Lincoln like you mentioned. How do i know if it's AC/DC?

If it is a Lincoln AC-225-S welder it should burn a 7018AC rod.