Rutile electrode coating

Rutile electrodes are the all-rounders for normal mild steel welding. The slag is fluid and glassy, the bead runs nice and flat, and the arc burns steady and starts well – even with AC. The catch is the higher hydrogen content in the weld metal, which makes the weld more brittle and prone to cold cracking. They're ideal for thin sheets, root runs, and positional welds, but for high-strength steels or highly restrained parts, better use basic electrodes. Moisture in the coating is the enemy – store them dry and bake them if needed at moderate temperature, not too hot, or the coating will crumble.