All I've ever ran are the Stoody rods. Are the Hobart Brothers / McKay as good ? Cost $1 or more per pound than Stoody. Chisel plow shanks looking at McKay Hardalloy 140 & 155 vs. Stoody 31, 21, & 19.
Never ran Mckay hardface but I know there stainless alloys suck compared to esab,aveasta, and Lincoln. Stoody is all I have run and it has always treated me fair.
Thanks but don't have to sell me on Stoody I know it works good. Just hard to change to something else when it costs more and the salesman can't really tell you why. Stick with what works.