Pick the Right Rod
How to Read an Electrode Number
| Part | Example (E7018) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| E | E | Electrode for arc welding |
| First two digits | 70 | Minimum tensile strength of the weld metal in thousands of psi (70 = 70,000 psi) |
| Third digit | 1 | Positions: 1 = all positions, 2 = flat and horizontal fillets only, 4 = flat, horizontal, overhead and vertical-down |
| Last two digits together | 18 | Flux coating type and current it runs on (18 = low-hydrogen, iron powder, AC or DCEP) |
| Suffix (if any) | -H4R, -1 | H4/H8 = diffusible hydrogen limit, R = moisture-resistant coating, -1 = improved impact toughness |
Common Stick Electrode Comparison
| Rod | Tensile | Coating | Current | Penetration | Positions | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E6010 | 60 ksi | High-cellulose sodium | DCEP | Deep, digging | All | Pipe roots, dirty or rusty steel, open-gap joints |
| E6011 | 60 ksi | High-cellulose potassium | AC or DCEP | Deep | All | Same jobs as 6010 on an AC machine; farm repair |
| E6013 | 60 ksi | High-titania potassium | AC or DC either | Shallow to medium | All | Sheet metal, light fab, good-looking beads, beginners |
| E7014 | 70 ksi | Iron powder titania | AC or DC either | Medium | All (best flat/horizontal) | Fast fill on clean steel, easy slag release |
| E7018 | 70 ksi | Low-hydrogen iron powder | DCEP or AC | Medium | All | Structural, code work, thick and crack-sensitive steel |
| E7024 | 70 ksi | Heavy iron powder titania | AC or DC either | Shallow | Flat and horizontal fillets | High-deposition fillets on heavy plate |
| E308L-16 | 75 ksi | Rutile, low carbon | AC or DCEP | Medium | All | 304/304L stainless |
| E309L-16 | 75 ksi | Rutile, low carbon | AC or DCEP | Medium | All | Joining stainless to mild steel |
| ENi-CI | — | Nickel | AC or DCEP | Low | All | Cast iron repair, machinable deposit |
Need amp settings? See the stick welding amperage chart for ranges by rod and diameter.
Choosing a Stick Rod Without Guessing
Most mild steel work comes down to four rods: E6010, E6011, E6013 and E7018. They overlap, but each one has a job it does better than the others. The questions that decide it are simple: how clean is the metal, what does your machine put out, what position are you welding in, and how much does the weld need to hold?
Fast-Freeze Rods: E6010 and E6011
These cellulose rods burn hot and dig in. The arc blows through mill scale, light rust and paint better than anything else in the bucket, and the puddle freezes fast enough to run uphill and overhead. That is why pipeliners run 6010 roots. The trade-off is a rough-looking bead and a lot of spatter. E6010 needs DC. E6011 is the AC version, so it is the rod to grab on an old buzz box when the steel is dirty.
The Easy Rod: E6013
E6013 has a soft, smooth arc, light penetration and slag that often lifts off by itself. It is the most forgiving rod on thin sheet and the easiest one for a beginner to make look good. It is not the rod for heavy structural joints or anything that has to pass a bend test.
The Strength Rod: E7018
E7018 is the standard for structural steel and most code work. The low-hydrogen coating keeps hydrogen out of the weld, which is what prevents cracking in thick sections and higher-strength steels. It needs clean metal, a tight arc and dry storage. Rods that soak up moisture lose the low-hydrogen benefit, so keep opened rods in a rod oven.
Production Rods: E7014 and E7024
Both carry iron powder in the flux, which adds metal to the puddle and speeds up fill. E7014 runs smooth on AC or DC and works in all positions. E7024 is a "drag rod" that lays down big, flat fillets fast, but only flat and horizontal. Shops that run a lot of fillet welds on heavy plate love it.
Stainless, Dissimilar and Cast Iron
Match stainless to stainless: E308L for 304, E316L for 316. When you weld stainless to mild steel, use E309L; its extra alloy handles the dilution from the carbon steel side. Cast iron is its own world. A nickel rod (ENi-CI) gives a soft, machinable repair. Preheat the casting, weld short stitches, and peen each one while it cools to limit cracking.
Rod Diameter
The type picks the chemistry; diameter sets how much heat and metal you can put down. Thin material wants 3/32", general fab 1/8", and heavy plate 5/32" to 3/16" after the root. Thicker rods need more amperage, so check what your machine can deliver before buying a 50-pound box of 3/16".
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the minimum tensile strength of the weld metal in thousands of pounds per square inch. E7018 deposits weld metal with at least 70,000 psi tensile strength. E6010 and E6013 are 60,000 psi rods.
Both are deep-penetrating cellulose rods for dirty steel and out-of-position work. E6010 runs only on DC electrode positive. E6011 has a coating that lets it run on AC as well, so it works on AC-only machines.
E6013 is the easiest to strike, run and clean up, and it works on AC or DC. Once you can hold a steady arc, move to E7018 for stronger welds on clean steel.
E6010 on a DC machine or E6011 on an AC machine. Their forceful arc cuts through contamination better than other rods, though grinding to clean metal still gives a better weld.
No. Use E309L. Carbon steel filler on stainless leaves a weld that can crack and rust. E309L is formulated for that dissimilar joint.
