Best Welding Rod For Home Use. 6013 would be the best general use rod. I have it listed as a med.
For general purpose welding 6013 welding produces a smoother finished weld bead. Stabilizers in the flux make 6013 welding electrodes one of the simplest rods to use. The 6013 welding rod is capable of withstanding 60000 lbs.
In that sense the 6010 welding rod is slightly more specialized as it requires specific tools and a higher level of skill to use.
Although the 6013 has a lesser tensile strength than the 7018 welding rod it is still pretty strong and can complete most welding projects. A current is fed through this wire which helps to join two pieces of metal together firmly. With 332 and 18 size rods on hand the 6011 will get the majority of your jobs done. TIG welding in general is reserved for those welders who have the greatest hand eye coordination because most TIG welders require hand eye and foot coordination almost like driving a car.