My boss uses aluminum stick rods in the field a lot and tells me that you can't get a good looking weld with them no matter how hard you try. But they do work.
Never seen them used, but I do remember my teacher telling us his experience with al stick rods - short shelf life and corrosive flux coating damaged his shelf. Welds sucked. Use as last resort or take up basket weaving instead.
Middle rods, can't tell what they are in the pic.
Bottom rods, 612, very useful weld all maintenance/repair rods and for joining dissimilar steels.
Maybe it was just me but Forney electrodes never worked. I had trouble getting good arcs and arc starts.
A student now but really want to weld everyday. Want to learn everything about everything. Want to become a knower of all and master of none.
Instagram: @farmwelding
Nick
Played around with some of the 312 tonight (on hot rolled 1/8" without cleaning {just cause})Started and restarted, and ran better than the 6011 I got!