Thread: Full open corner weld on 12mm plate

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins

In my humble opinion DIY people tend to use Satincraft as a crutch.Basically they are no better than other electrodes, but higher amps and shorter arc length are obligatory if you don't want a slag holes.

In what way are Satincraft a crutch for "DIY people"?

The comment was not meant to be disparaging to DIY welders though I concede I may have put it the wrong way and upset anyone..Apologies to any who have taken it this way.

Satincraft are susceptible to problems stemming from use with a long arc length. New welders have a problem in maintaining a consistent short arc with the electrode,the result being that the arc has not got the "grunt" to penetrate the viscous molten flux. On a perfect set up amps and a perfectly clean sample coupon that is not plated the flux does a very good job of providing that nice ripple finish.

However on DIY work, apart from incorrect amps setting there is often dirt rust and a plated surfaces to contend with, which the flux does not not perform its primary function of cleaning the the molten weld pool very weld at all.

Obviously flux formulas are a bit of a compromise between weld bead bead finish and scavenging of the molten weld pool.Most other electrodes are fluxed in favour of weld pool scavenging and cleaning and suffer less from a longer arc length being held.

With satincraft the setting and arc manipulation have to be spot on and not all DIY welders are at this level. My opinon for what it is worth, is that they do get suckered in by the undeserved reputation of the electrode for its finish and believe its THE electrode to use.

Grahame

Strongly agree with post #17 regarding satincraft , in fact would say they would have to be the worst electrode in their category that I can remember using, as stated before slag trapped in the weld appears to be the main problem along with their high cost. Would not buy them.
Have found WIA 12P or Magmaweld ESR11, a big improvement.

Have to agree on the Satincraft, my old standby is Weldcraft but used some smootharc recently and they were very similar.