Stupid question! Realy!

[2tay530]

if I cleaned the metal befor using 6011 or 6013 would I get more penatration or would I have to use a diferent type of rod? just wondering

[triggerman]

These two rods are in different leagues of penetration. 6011 has a lot. 6013 has a little.

HTH

[kevinroy]

AC or DC, 6011 will run better with AC, 6013 with dc, and clean metal. What are you welding? BTW cleaner is always better.

[2tay530]

Ill probably be running ac. I was thinking of building a trailer. Maybe kind of like rbertalotto a few posts down from here. I want to get maxmum penitrarion because I'll be carrying my golf cart and didn't want it falling off>(it's my baybe)

[shorerider16]

If you have a DC power source with sufficient kick, running 6011 DCEP will give you the most penetration. 6013 is a lower penetration rod designed for general purpose, lighter gauge work.

No matter what rod, or what you are working on, it is always good practice to have you base metal as clean as possible.

[Skip]

6011 is the best rod for penetration on AC. It also is more forgiving for dirty metal and good for filling in gaps with the fast freezing puddle, utilizing the whip technique. As was mentioned the cleaner the metal is always better for any welding process.
Skip

[tacmig]

If asking if cleaning the metal will help penetration, absolutely! It's a proven fact and it only makes sense as you increase the conductivity with a clean surface which in-turn delivers more current to the work surface. Stick has always been a good choice in wind and on surfaces that are less than clean due to the mass (size) of the electrode (wider area of contact). But as mentioned above all electrodes differ from one another and as mentioned above, the 6011 delivers the most penetration in all weldable conditions.

My 2 pennies worth, good luck..

TacMig

[hankj]

if I cleaned the metal befor using 6011 or 6013 would I get more penatration or would I have to use a diferent type of rod? just wondering

Definitely.

And, I'll take issue with some of the advice you've been given.

IMO, 6010/11 runs best on DCEP. Both of those rods are difficult on AC. 6013 runs really sweet on DCEP. While it is a high titania rod (soft arc, shallow penetration) it is certainly adequate for any trailer frame I've ever seen with good joint prep.

If all you have is AC, I'd recommend EXX14. It gets medium penetration, runs nicely on AC, and is easy to clean up.

Also, there are no stupid questions!
Hank

[tacmig]

I was hanging on the clean thing, but your advice on AC using EXX14 was right on. It's been so long since I've used AC I forgot. Thanks for the refresher.

TacMig

Definitely.

And, I'll take issue with some of the advice you've been given.

IMO, 6010/11 runs best on DCEP. Both of those rods are difficult on AC. 6013 runs really sweet on DCEP. While it is a high titania rod (soft arc, shallow penetration) it is certainly adequate for any trailer frame I've ever seen with good joint prep.

If all you have is AC, I'd recommend EXX14. It gets medium penetration, runs nicely on AC, and is easy to clean up.

Also, there are no stupid questions!
Hank

[bryce_burden]

ACXX14 would be a good choice. 6013 has never been one of my favorites but I know alot of guys that swear by the stuff. 6011 is a good all-round rod for most applications, and will run well on AC or DC. However, if you have a machine with DC capabilities, pick up some Lincoln 5p+ 6010, won't run for **** on AC but on the DC side it can't be beat. At work on the old Forney, I use 1/8" 6011 (110-135 amps AC) on most applications, or 3/32" 7014 (85-100 amps AC) on the smaller stuff. When I have access to my Thunderbolt, I use the 5p+, 1/8" 6010 (110-135 amps DCEP), and cap that with 1/8" 7018 low-hydrogen (135-150 amps DCEP). Good surface prep is always a good idea. Hope this helps