#42 Marquette welding electrodes

Hi All, I found a small stash of these rods at my Grand dad's.According to the box they are for welding cast iron.All they say is preheat is nessecary.What they are is around a 3/16" round actual cast iron rod with flux on it.There is a bare spot in the middle for holder in the stinger on the arc welder so I guess you use both ends to the middle.I haven't had a chance to try them so I was wondering if anyone has used them and are they any good?Thanks Rob

Hi Rob, Boy I haven't seen that type of rod in over 20 years, and then I think they were old then. The section in the middle where the flux is missing is indeed for the stinger to clamp on. I was told they did this because the cast iron (or filler rod) was high resistance and to shorten the rod by grabbing it in the middle, in effect lowered the resistance. This would make the way the rod welded more consistant.

Then you used the other end.

I guess better than making two short rods???

You might want to cook them in an oven for a little while. That will remove any moisture in the flux.

DB

Not only that, Marquette always made top quality stuff!!!! Craig