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Straight answers to common questions about general-purpose rutile electrodes for welding mild steel.
Rutile electrodes have a coating rich in titanium dioxide, which gives easy arc starting, a smooth arc and low spatter. They are the usual general-purpose choice for light and medium fabrication, repairs, brackets, frames and fillet welds on clean mild steel.The slag is dense and normally lifts off easily, leaving a neat, evenly rippled bead. They give moderate mechanical properties, so they suit ordinary workshop and maintenance jobs rather than demanding, high-toughness structures.
It depends on the electrode. Many rutile electrodes are made for all positions except vertical down, because their slag and weld pool do not suit running downhill, and the result can be poor fusion and trapped slag. Some rutile electrodes are designed to weld vertical down as well, so check the positions shown on the pack or data sheet.For vertical joints with a general-purpose electrode, weld upwards using a smaller electrode and a lower current than you would use flat, with a slight weave to hold the pool. Rutile electrodes are especially good on horizontal-vertical fillet welds.
No. Rutile electrodes need a little moisture in the coating to run properly, so they should not be baked in the way low hydrogen electrodes are. Keep them in their sealed packaging or a dry, warm store and they normally run straight from the pack.If a pack has been left open or the electrodes have become damp, re-dry them gently following the maker's instructions on the pack or data sheet. The temperature and time vary between makers, so use the figures printed on the pack rather than a general rule.
Usually not on its own. Rutile electrodes give a higher weld hydrogen level than low hydrogen types, which limits them to mild steel of modest thickness, and they are not intended for structures that need high toughness or crack resistance.If a drawing, specification or welding procedure calls for a particular strength, impact toughness or hydrogen level, follow it and choose the electrode type it names. For ordinary non-critical fabrication, a rutile electrode is normally fine. When in doubt, ask the person responsible for the welding procedure.
A widely used rule of thumb is roughly 40 amps for each millimetre of electrode diameter, so a 4 mm electrode would start around 160 amps with an acceptable range either side. Always follow the current range printed on the pack, as it varies between makers.Smaller diameters suit thinner steel and out-of-position work. Too high a current overheats the electrode and can cause burn-through and spatter, and too low a current causes sticking and poor fusion. Make a short test weld on scrap of the same thickness and adjust from there.
Many rutile electrodes will, but not all do. Electrodes designed for AC can usually be used on AC or DC, while not every DC electrode will run on AC. The coating binder affects which current type and polarity suit.Check the pack or data sheet for the current type and polarity the electrode is designed for. Electrodes intended for AC have a stable arc at the lower open-circuit voltage of a small transformer set. If the arc keeps going out, a different electrode designed for AC is the usual fix.