Other Useful Information
Family Names
“Families” of related consumables are identified with brand names which are briefly described below.
Armet		Armour welding electrode
Chromet		Chromium-molybdenum low alloy electrodes
Cobstel		Cobalt-base stellite type electrodes
Cormet		Chromium-molybdenum flux and metal cored wires
Cupromet		Copper and cupronickel electrodes
HardCore		Hardfacing cored wires
KS		Suffix for all-positional (generally basic) electrodes with emphasis on pipework
MetHard		Hardfacing electrodes
Metmax		Stainless high recovery electrodes made on mild steel core wire
Nimax		Nickel-base high recovery electrodes made on nickel core wire
Nimrod		Nickel-base electrodes
Super R		Stainless rutile electrodes (25.20 and 29.9 only)
Supercore		Stainless gas-shielded flux cored wires
Supercore P		All-positional stainless gas-shielded flux cored wires
Supermet		Stainless (acid) rutile electrodes
Supermig		Stainless (high silicon) solid MIG wires
Thermet		High temperature austenitic electrodes
Tufmet		Low alloy electrodes for sub-zero toughness
Ultramet		Stainless rutile all-positional electrodes
Ultramet B		Stainless basic all-positional electrodes
Ultramet P		Fully positional (including vertical down) pipe welding electrodes, suitable for root welding
Vertamet		Stainless (acid) rutile vertical down electrodes
WorkHard		Hardfacing electrodes with ability to work-harden
Website The Metrode website contains a wealth of information on the company and always contains the latest information and up to date copies of all the data sheets

Welding Positions

Some welding engineers prefer to use the standard AWS/ASME terminology for welding positions – some use a general description – some use a mixture of both!

It is useful in describing welding procedures if we all understand each other. This chart shows the basic AWS/ASME (and BS EN) welding positions, together with the outline descriptions. The AWS/ASME positions are described in ASME IX and the European terminology is used in BS EN 287-1 and defined in ISO 6947.

ASME (BS EN) Positions

1G (PA) – downhand / gravity butt

2G (PC) – horizontal-vertical butt

3G (PF) – vertical butt *

4G (PE) – overhead butt

5G (PF) – horizontal pipe butt

6G (H-LO45) – inclined pipe butt

1F (PA) – downhand or gravity fillet

2F (PB) – standing fillet

3F (PF) – vertical fillet *

4F (PD) – overhead fillet

* In BS EN terminology, vertical down fillet and butt joints are designated PG.

Symbols used on data sheets for welding positions – ASME (BS EN)

Vertical up ASME 3G, 3F (PF)

Vertical down (PG)

Horizontal vertical ASME 2G (PC)

Overhead ASME 4G (PE, PD)

Downhand / gravity ASME 1G, 1F (PA)

Standing Fillet ASME 2F (PB)

Packaging and Storage

The following shows the typical packaging used for the various processes with nominal dimensions taken from national standards (eg. BS EN ISO 544 and AWS). If packaging is critical then this should be confirmed at the time of order with our Customer Care Department.

MMA / SMAW

Standard MMA packaging is hermetically sealed metal tins with a ring-pull top; tin weights vary depending on product and diameter. There are three tins to a cardboard carton.

The tins are hermetically sealed and meet the definition for hermetically sealed containers given in AWS A5.5. If unopened, and appropriately stored, this packaging will maintain the electrodes in the as-packed condition for an indefinite period of time.

Electrodes can be used directly from the tin without the need for rebaking. Once opened the tins can be closed using the plastic lid supplied and should be stored at >18˚C and <60% relative humidity. Redrying requirements are given on the data sheets for individual electrodes.

TIG / GTAW

Standard packaging for cut TIG lengths is 2.5kg or 5kg plastic tubes. Superoot 316L flux cored TIG wire is packed in a 1kg plastic tube.

TIG wires that may otherwise be susceptible to rusting (mild or low alloy steel) are copper coated. Under normal storage conditions TIG wires do not present any handling difficulties.

MIG / GMAW

Standard packaging for MIG wire is 15kg 300mm diameter spools, in a cardboard carton. Some wires are also available on 0.7kg 100mm diameter mini-spools or 5kg 200mm diameter midi-spools. Different spool types and dimensions are shown on the next page.

MIG wires that may otherwise be susceptible to rusting (mild or low alloy steel) are copper coated. MIG spools should be properly handled and stored because any damage to spools can lead to feeding problems.

Flux Cored Wire

Standard packaging for flux cored wire is 12.5kg or 15kg 300mm diameter spools, vacuum sealed in barrier foil and in cardboard carton. Different spool types and dimensions are shown on the next page.

As supplied wires are adequately protected from moisture pick-up but once opened part-used spools need to be correctly stored. It is recommended that spools are removed from machines overnight and put in a controlled store. If an opened spool is to be stored for any period of time it should be adequately protected (in a plastic bag with desiccant) and held in a controlled store.

Submerged Arc Wire

Standard packaging for submerged arc wire is 25kg coils in a cardboard carton. Different spool types and dimensions are shown on the next page.

Submerged Arc Flux

Standard packaging for flux is 20kg, 22.5kg or 25kg plastic bags in a sealed metal drum.

For most applications it is recommended that the flux be dried prior to use.

Storage and handling – further details – click here

Standard Spool Sizes
(1) Plastic spool	(2) Wire basket
(3) Wire spool - requiring adaptor	(4) Submerged arc coil

Type	Code	Nominal weight	Outer diameter	Inner diameter	Outer width	Bore diameter	Pin hole
		kg	d1	d2	b	d3	d4	e1
Plastic - mini	S100	0.7	100	-	45	16.5	-	-
Plastic – midi	S200	5	200	-	55	50.5	10	44.5
Plastic	S300	12.5/15	300	-	103	50.5	10	44.5
Wire basket	BS300	12.5/15	300	189	103	50.5	-	-
Wire spool (adaptor)	B300	12.5/15	300	180	100	-	-	-
Submerged arc	R435	20/25	435	300	90	-	-

All measurements are in mm and are the nominal dimensions, for tolerances refer to international standards eg. BS EN ISO 544.

Quality – The Key to Customer Confidence

· The first welding consumables manufacturer to attain BS5750, which became ISO 9001.

· One of LRQA’s first customers (cert. no. 840131)

· Upgraded to ISO 9001:2008

· Extensive record system with batch data going back to the companies foundation in 1963

How does our quality management system affect you?

· Our main products are available direct from stock.

· Your views on our service are noted so that improvements can be made.

· Complaints are taken seriously and are dealt with promptly.

· All products are fully inspected before despatch.

· All batches are traceable to original manufacturing records.

· All deliveries are traceable to your order by the Test Certificate and/or Delivery Note.

· An internal system to ensure that standard products with non-standard requirements are correctly supplied.

	Conversions
Approximate electrode size equivalents
Diameter
		mm	inch	inch	SWG
		0.8	1/32	0.031	21
		0.9	-	0.035	-
		1.0	-	0.039	19
		1.2	3/64	0.047	18
		1.6	1/16	0.063	16
		2.0	5/64	0.078	14
		2.4	3/32	0.094	12
		2.5	-	0.098	-
		3.0	-	0.118	11
		3.2	1/8	0.125	10
		4.0	5/32	0.156	8
		5.0	3/16	0.188	6
		6.0	1/4	0.250	4
Length (not exact conversions but accepted correlations between metric and imperial units for electrode lengths)
		mm	inch
		200	8
		230	9
		250	10
		300	12
		350	14
		380	15
		450	18
Lengths of TIG wire per kilogram *
		Diameter mm	m/kg
		0.8	260
		1.0	158
		1.2	114
		1.6	65
		2.0	40
		2.4	29
		3.2	16
		4.0	10
* Based on ferrous alloys with a density of ~8g/cm^3
Note: 2.2mm diameter Superoot 316L has ~30 lengths per kg

Approximate Hardness Conversion (based on ASTM E140)
Rockwell B	Rockwell C	Vickers	Brinell	Products of approximately equivalent hardness
55	-	100	100
60	-	107	107
65	-	116	116
70	-	125	125
75	-	137	137
80	-	150	150	CI Soft Flow Ni
85	-	165	165	Ultramild
90	-	185	185	CI Special Cast NiFe
95	-	210	210	308L, 316L, 307 (AW)
100	~20	240	240	Nimrod/Nimax C (AW), P91/P92 (PWHT)
-	22	248	237	625 (AW)
-	25	266	253
-	28	286	271	Railrod, 29.9 Super R, duplex
-	30	302	286	Chromet 2 (AW), superduplex
-	35	345	327	410NiMo (AW)
-	40	392	371	Methard 350
-	45	446	421	Cobstel 6, 625 (WH), 307 (WH), P91/P92 (AW)
-	50	513	481
-	55	595	560	Methard 650
-	60	697	654	Methard 850
-	62	746	688	Methard 750TS
-	65	832	-	Methard 950, Methard 1050
-	68	940	-