Ive used wire, 3o years ago, then cable, then rebar rods in the 90s, chain now and couple dozen 10' fiberglass rods. The chain s and fiberglass rods are the best Ive used yet.

7018 rod, or 6011 and an old Lincoln 225

That's too bad. I was hoping it was a wire welder with flux cored wire so I could show why you should use gas, but no, its not bad for a stick welder!

I want the wire welder with gas. Flux core sucks, lol.

If I use the 6013 it looks great, but I don't always trust the weld. The washers break loose on my washer topped rebar stakes when I use 6013, but it looks nice. 6011 and 7018 make my strongest welds. I'm shakier than a hoor in church and I stay in one place too long when I'm welding sometimes.

Ttt

Trapper 7, started using 3/4 fiberglass re rod for drowners. drilled the bottom & installed cotter key & washer, on top, I drilled & installed 3/32 cable for staking. for the slider, I used a 3/4 pvc coupling with a quick connect, so far, so good. nice without the rust & weight.

I have a 6 1/2 foot box on my truck. I put the 8 foot fiberglass rods in opposite corners and they fit just fine. Still able to close the tailgate. I have a couple 10 footers, which I seldom use. They have to stick out the back.

Does anyone know who came up with the drowner rod system? I first saw them in use in the late 80’s in north central minnesota near where I’m from. The guy I figured who they belonged to was a fantastic beaver trapper and also happened to have a concrete business. Longer than 8 ft the fiberglass ones are a little whippy but the original carbon fiber ones from the ‘speed of light’ were superior to fiberglass but too costly now. Those were on the market about 20 years ago.

Not sure who came up with the drowning rod idea, but I bought some in the late 70s from Trapper Art of WI. They were metal rods and 8 footers. They worked pretty good, but I prefer the fiberglass ones I now have.