hello, I am new to welding and just purchased a MAXSTAR 150, should be arriving today! Bought it to stick weld a fence - 2x2 sq tubing, 11ga, as fence post. Using 3/16x4''x20ft flats as my rails. What size rod do I need and should I run 6010 or 7018?? For this application, if I use 7018, do I still need to bake at 250F? and for how long? I also want to add that I started taking welding classes at our local community college, having a blast!! thanks for any help.
Yeah just use 6010. Do these posts have a galvanized coating on them? If so deffinetly just use a 6010 so you don't have to grind all the galvanized off and things will go much quicker. These rods will start better or strike an arc better for a beginner and you will just plain out have an easier time tacking and so forth.
Some 6013 works nice on the 11 ga in my opinion. If its galvanized, I like the 6010/6011. Keep the gaps tight.
To get to far ends of the property; get a set of Miller male & female quick connect/disconnects #127 835 female and #127 836 and #4 cable. Or, if you use an 115 VAC extension cord use #10 cable. Makes the 13 pounder very portable.
Hey Carlos,
I've got a Maxstar 150, it's a great little machine. One thing about them, they just don't like 6010. (unless Miller has made some changes in the last 2 years) It's hard to start and re-start. 6011 however is no problem. You might find tacking and a first pass easier with the 6011, but 6013 (or 7018 if you are comfortable running it) will give you a nicer looking and smoother cap for painting. I really like the profile on 7014 and 7024 but they are for flat work.
~thirdeye~
Thanks for the advice. Steel being used is NOT galvanized. Should I run 3/32 or 1/8 rods? Also, I was thinking about making my own 220v extension cord using ROMEX. I will need about 100ft or so to get to the far corner. Trying to keep cost down as I've spent 1500 on just steel and bought the new 150STH pkg.
Use the 3/32" would probably be easier on you, but the 1/8th would be more cost effective because you won't use as much. If you go 1/8" it will be a bit tuffer to run it at a lower amperage, but once you catch on it's no big deal. It's all about the travel speed and watching what your doing. Get a lil bit of both to start off and find what works best for you and then go buy more of that. Remember also that trying to save money sometimes ends up costing you more in the end.
Romex will work fine, just dont unwind and rewind it alot or eventually it will fatigue. Dont use it all coild up in the package, as heat needs to be able to get away. When You do need to coil it up use really big loops.
By Sourdough 
Date 07-19-2007 01:34
Edited 07-19-2007 01:38
LN-25 works really well for fencing. Used it on prince Bandars place in Starwood, Aspen. Could have used 5p as well, but would imagine 70+, (7010) to be more sturdy and just as easy to run. If you're a beginner you probably ought to steer away from using LH, (7018). Looks like you will be doing a lot of overhead welds........
ALSO.....do not seal weld each joint of that flatbar at one time. The heat will warp it and it will look like a piece of spagetti when you ar done. Weld one side then move on to the next post and so on. Come back after several posts and make one more weld. The idea is to keep the heat input at a minimum.......
