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Which electrodes to choose for a beginner self-taught in welding? We will mean electrodes for our household welding needs for a house, a summer residence, a garage.
There are 3 types of electrodes for welding steel structures - rutile coated electrodes, rutile cellulose coated electrodes, and basic coated electrodes.
In the upper photos, rutile-coated electrodes of grades ano-21, monolith, and mr-3s. These electrodes can weld any irresponsible structure, the surface to be welded may not be perfectly clean. It is also possible to weld thin metals with frequent pull-off and re-ignition - spot welding. For a profile pipe, that's it.
Another undoubted advantage of such electrodes will be the ability to bend them into an arc, and the coating will not crumble at the same time. This is done if it is not convenient to get to the welding place with a direct electrode.
But there is also a minus in these electrodes.
When welding with such electrodes, the weld pool is not always clearly visible, the slag almost completely covers the weld pool, and so that to control the process normally, more or less welding experience is required, otherwise there may be places with uncooked plots.
In the photo above, electrodes with basic coating. These are brands LB-52, MTG, UONI 13-55. They are designed for welding critical structures. Such electrodes are used in serious industries. They are designed for welding thicker metals. But the surface for welding with these electrodes must be prepared especially carefully, everything must be cleaned of dust and dirt. Cooking with frequent separation will not work, they are difficult to re-ignite, you need to cook in solid wood.
In the photo above, I cooked attachments on the manipulator with such electrodes in order to put the installation on the MAZ truck frame. The weld pool is clearly visible during welding, it is not at all difficult to control the welding process, the main thing is to choose the welding current and the welding speed itself. But in everyday life I see no reason to use them, only if you need to cook something responsible and from thick metal.
It will not be possible to bend such electrodes into an arc for welding in hard-to-reach places, the coating will be sprinkled.
In the photo above, ESAB OK-46 rutile-cellulose electrodes. These are excellent electrodes, one might say universal, you can weld thin metals with frequent separation, as well as thick metal for critical structures.
The weld pool is clearly visible, the welding process is easier to control than when welding with rutile electrodes. For summer cottage and garage needs, they are perfect for beginners.
To summarize our article - for a beginner self-taught at home, in the garage and in the country, it is best to take ok-46 with a rutile-cellulose coating, or electrodes with rutile coating, but it is a little more difficult to cook with them, at least a little experience is already required here, although at first you can just cook with dots, hold on will be.
Train, get your hand, and your welding will get better and better!