Reviews and specifications for Monolith welding electrodes

People who deal with welding not at work, but at dachas, in private homes, etc., know how important the quality of the welding electrode is. Of course, with the advent of inverters, welding has become better and easier, but practice shows that a lot depends on the electrode: the amount of slag, the quality of the seam, the quick ignition of the consumable.

Today there are no problems with purchasing these elements - the market offers a huge assortment.

Various models from different manufacturers. Professionals prefer branded products, whose cost is higher than that of ordinary ones.

Good, for example, are the products of the Swedish company ESAB , which produces high-quality electrodes of the same name. The Swedish products are truly excellent rods, although the price is appropriate. Due to the latter circumstance, not every home craftsman will afford to buy an electrode of this brand.

Similar in technical terms. According to the characteristics, consumables today are produced by the Ukrainian "Plasmo Tek" - these are "Monolit RC" electrodes corresponding to the ESAB KO 46.00 brand. Their quality is lower, and the rods are also worse in certain positions related to the welding process, but the affordable price makes the products attractive.

Electrodes Monolith RC

Electrode brand Monolit RC E46 is intended for manual welding in domestic and industrial conditions. Used for critical structures made of low-carbon steels using alternating and direct current. Electrodes can be used for installation welding. Work is carried out from all spatial positions.

Figure 1 — Electrodes Monolith

Monolith electrodes marked RC have a rutile cellulose coating. For the RC brand, the deposition coefficient is 9.5 g/Ah, and the consumption parameter is 1.75 kg. You can weld walls 3–20 mm thick with butt, corner and overlap joints. Consumables of this type can be used with household inverters and professional equipment.

When welding in the lower position, craftsmen advise holding the rod at an angle of 20–40°. Weld vertical seams with a short arc with the electrode tilted relative to the vertical at 40–70°, so that the slag will not flow in front of the arc.

Distinctive characteristics

In Monolit RC electrodes, it was possible to reduce the volume of harmful emissions by 28%. They can operate at the lowest currents from a household network. They are simple and easy to carry out welding work, so they are recommended for novice welders.

Positive characteristics:

• always stable and even arc;
• the seam turns out beautiful, with a uniform filling;
• easy ignition at the beginning and during operation;
• low metal spatter rate;
• the resulting slag is separated without much effort;
• when welding in hard-to-reach places, it is possible to bend the rod without compromising the quality of the seam;
• connecting non-critical parts does not require careful preparation;
• Traces of grease, oil, oxides, rust and other contaminants are allowed on the edges.

In conditions of high humidity, before welding, the rods are dried for half an hour at t = 110 °C.

Analogues are ESAB OK 46.00, Overcord, AV-31.

Welding electrodes Monolith - what are the advantages?

Monolith electrodes are produced by different manufacturers, so the quality of electrodes from a particular manufacturer may vary significantly. As you know, you can’t live without electrodes, and after purchasing a welding inverter, they are the missing link to start welding.

And if you still doubt whether it’s worth buying Monolith electrodes, then here are just a few advantages in their favor:

• Monolith electrodes are designed for both direct and alternating current. And although the welding inverter supports all brands of electrodes, you don’t have to worry about the fact that Monolith electrodes are not suitable for it.

• The absence of a large amount of slag also makes Monolith electrodes easy to use. Surely many welders are faced with such a problem as a large amount of slag during welding. So, when using these electrodes, a very small amount of slag remains.

• Monolith electrodes ignite well and quickly. However, here we can say so, but with a small caveat. Like most other coated electrodes, electrodes of this brand are resistant to moisture. In order for them to really light well, they need to be stored correctly, that is, in a dry place.

• When working with Monolith electrodes, there are practically no sparks flying to the sides. The metal does not splash and lies flat, which is also an undeniable advantage of electrodes of this brand.

• Such electrodes are quite suitable for novice welders, taking into account all their above-mentioned advantages.

And the price, of course, distinguishes Monolith electrodes from all other brands of electrodes. The price is more than affordable, despite the fact that the electrodes are quite universal, and are also suitable for welding with an inverter and a conventional AC transformer.

Monolith Professional

Electrodes Monolit Professional E50 are used for manual arc welding of products made of ordinary quality and low-alloy steel. They allow you to work under unfavorable conditions due to the formation of a gas bubble, which neutralizes moisture and creates the environment necessary for welding.

Figure 2 — Electrodes Monolith Professional

Therefore, they are successfully used for restoring water mains under pressure up to 1 atm and welding tanks, in shipbuilding, and for parts for general engineering purposes. The seam provides high mechanical characteristics.

Available in diameters of 2.5, 3, 4 and 5 mm. There are two standard sizes in length: 350 and 450 mm. They can be used to make corner and butt welds, as well as lap joints. The limitation on the thickness of the metal being connected is 1–20 mm.

Analogs are ESAB OK 43.32, Overcord S, Fincord, Lincoin Electric MGM-50K.

Specifications

The deposition coefficient is 8–9 g/Ah. For surfacing 1 kg of metal, 1.7 kg of consumables will be required. Rods with a cross-section of 2–4 mm allow you to work in all positions except vertical in the direction from top to bottom. To do this, take rods with a diameter of 5 mm.

For welding work, direct current of direct and reverse polarity is required. You can also use alternating current at an open circuit voltage of 50 V. Subject to storage conditions, they do not require calcination. Damp electrodes need to be dried at 110 °C for an hour.

Monolith electrodes: information from the manufacturer

Monolit electrodes are produced by one of the largest brands in the CIS - PlasmaTek.
The company's assortment includes a huge range of consumables for welding, and it has extensive experience in their production and a great love for its work. The company has its own laboratory, in which all method developments are carried out. The company's employees have the latest European equipment at their disposal. With its help, they determine the composition of materials and evaluate the mechanical properties of the deposited metal, check its hardness and the presence of ferrite (its quantity). In addition, the technological properties of manufactured products are tested using the latest laboratory technology. The company itself produces most of the materials used in the production of electrodes. Part of the raw materials is imported from Germany, India, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, and other European countries. Strict control of materials is a guarantee of high quality products. All products are carefully labeled and packaged. This, by the way, is one of the important advantages that users emphasize. Judging by reviews and information from the manufacturer, all monolith welding electrodes have multilayer packaging. In addition to the cardboard box, there is an inner and outer layer of film. Thanks to this, it is possible to completely eliminate such factors as ambient air humidity. The electrodes are well packaged and do not become damp at all during storage. As for labeling, the brand name is applied to each product. Thanks to this, it is absolutely impossible to mix up the electrodes. The quality of PlasmaTek products is confirmed by numerous certificates of compliance with modern standards.

As a result of all of the above, I would like to note that more than 80% of all brand products are included in the TOP segment. Those. users trust the company and value its products.

Welding electrodes Monolith Basic (Uoni-13/55)

Electrodes Monolit BASIC (UONI-13/55) are needed for connecting critical structures and pipes in places where increased resistance to the formation of hot cracks in joints is required, and the seams must meet high parameters of ductility and impact strength. They are used in shipbuilding, bridge construction and in the manufacture of high pressure vessels.

Figure 3 — Welding electrodes Monolith Basic (Uoni-13/55)

They have a basic coating with the addition of iron powder, which increases the efficiency of use by 20%. In application, they are characterized by a higher deposition rate - 10.5–11.5 g/Ah and reduced consumption - 1.58 kg. The finished seam has high strength and metallurgical purity, where the hydrogen admixture is minimal. Metal transfer occurs in a fine-droplet manner, which allows you to lay an even seam without slag getting into the weld pool.

Monolith OZL-6

Monolit OZL-6 electrodes are intended for welding austenitic stainless steels (08Х18Н10, 03Х18Н11), heat-resistant stainless steel (AISI 309, AISI 309S and 20X23H13, 08X23H13).

Scope of application: tanks and containers for liquid and bulk substances, equipment for the food and pharmaceutical industries, in the chemical or mining industries.

The OZL-6 grade is characterized by good weld quality, resistance to cracking and intercrystalline corrosion. During welding, the metal hardly spatters, and the slag layer quickly separates.

Monolith Special TsL-11

Special TsL-11 electrodes provide welding of critical products made of chromium-nickel and corrosion-resistant steels (12Х18Н10Т, 12Х18Н9Т, 08Х18Н12Т) used in aggressive conditions. The welding conditions are characterized by stability and high quality of the seam. Subsequent mechanical processing of welded parts is allowed.

They are used in the production of equipment for aggressive environments and high temperatures in the food and chemical industries. The weld is characterized by resistance to corrosion and intercrystalline cracks. Sandvik wire and coating with a low content of gases and harmful impurities are used as a base.

Specifications

The deposition rate of this brand is 11 g/Ah. It will take 1.7 kg of rods to fuse 1 kg of metal. Productivity parameter – 1.5 kg/hour. For calcination within an hour after moistening, a temperature of 200 °C is required. For electrodes Ø3 mm, the current is set to 50–90 A, for Ø4 mm – 110–150 A.

Preparation of edges before welding involves thorough cleaning of all types of contaminants. It is recommended to cook with a short arc and narrow rolls, excluding transverse vibrations. TsL-11 electrodes with a cross section of up to 4 mm operate with direct current of reverse polarity. Welding work is performed in all positions of the electrode, except vertical.

Specifications

The main technical characteristics include the type of current and welding polarity. So, electrodes of the “Monolit” brand can be used when welding with direct or alternating current. In this case, the polarity can be either reverse or direct. Reverse polarity is when a minus is applied to the part, and a plus is applied to the electrode. Accordingly, with direct polarity, the connection is made in reverse. The plus and minus poles are indicated on the welding inverter; they are connected to the rod and the workpiece by cables (wires).

A very important point when welding with electrodes is the ability to weld in different positions. So, with the help of Monolith you can do this without any problems. The only position is an electrode with a diameter of 5 mm - they cannot be welded in a vertical direction from top to bottom. A welder who has been working in his specialty for a long time knows what this means. How important it is to be able to weld metal structures and workpieces in different positions.

Attention! Cooking from top to bottom with Monolit brand electrodes is not difficult. But it is better to do this with a short arc, that is, the distance between the end of the rod and the weld pool should be minimal.

In order for the vertical seam to be of the highest quality, it is necessary to hold the welded rod at an angle of 40-70°. In the lower welding position, this angle should be within 20-40°. And a few more characteristics of Monolith welding consumables.

• The rods are coated with rutile cellulose coating.
• Their consumption (diameter 3 mm) per 1 kg of deposition is 1.75 kg.
• Deposition coefficient – ​​9.5 g/Ah.

Novice welders often incorrectly set the current strength on the inverter in accordance with the diameter of the consumable used. This always affects the quality of the weld, and accordingly the quality of the connection itself. Therefore, it is very important to correctly correlate these two indicators.

Attention! If a Monolith brand electrode is wet with water or lying in a damp room, then it is prohibited to cook with it. Before starting welding, it must be calcined for half an hour at a temperature of +120C.

Reviews from welders

According to reviews from welders, Monolith electrodes are the best choice for those who are just trying to weld. They consistently catch the arc and produce an excellent seam. It is noted that they absorb less moisture than products from other manufacturers. Reducing toxicity is an important factor when working indoors. You won't have to breathe harmful gases.

Monolith electrodes are pliable in the welder’s hand. They light up immediately: just swipe across the metal and get a spark. With full coverage and the required modes, there is no sticking. With strong pressure, the materials of the two parts fuse, which makes the seam strong.

Novice welders complain that the arc is interrupted, after which it is difficult to restore it. But it’s not the electrodes that are to blame here, but the lack of experience and too high a current. Welding professionals and self-taught people note that Monolith products are a reasonable price-quality ratio. We will be glad to hear the opinion of our readers, as well as discuss it in the comments to this article.