What welding rod numbers mean
The E is for electrode. The first two digits are tensile strength in thousands of psi, so 60 is 60,000 psi and 70 is 70,000. The third digit is position: 1 means all positions, 2 means flat and horizontal only. The fourth digit sets the coating and the current it wants.
Put together, E6010 is a 60,000 psi all-position electrode with a cellulose sodium coating for DC electrode positive. E7024 is 70,000 psi, flat and horizontal only, with a high iron powder coating for fast fill.
| Digit | Coating | Current |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Cellulose sodium | DC+ |
| 1 | Cellulose potassium | AC, DC+, DC- |
| 2 | Titania sodium | AC, DC- |
| 3 | Titania potassium | AC, DC+, DC- |
| 4 | Iron powder titania | AC, DC+, DC- |
| 5 | Low hydrogen sodium | DC+ |
| 6 | Low hydrogen potassium | AC, DC+ |
| 7 | Iron powder iron oxide | AC, DC+, DC- |
| 8 | Iron powder low hydrogen | AC, DC+ |
Welding rod amperage chart
The rough rule is one amp per thousandth of an inch of electrode diameter, so a 1/8 inch rod at 0.125 inch starts around 125 amps. The ranges below are the working windows; start in the middle and adjust to the puddle.
Run at the low end for thin material, out of position, or when the arc is blowing through. Run high for flat fillets in thick plate where you want deposition.
| Electrode | 3/32 in (2.4mm) | 1/8 in (3.2mm) | 5/32 in (4.0mm) | 3/16 in (4.8mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E6010 | 40 to 80 | 75 to 130 | 110 to 165 | 140 to 225 |
| E6011 | 50 to 85 | 75 to 130 | 110 to 165 | 140 to 200 |
| E6013 | 45 to 90 | 80 to 130 | 105 to 180 | 150 to 230 |
| E7014 | 80 to 125 | 110 to 160 | 150 to 210 | 200 to 275 |
| E7018 | 70 to 110 | 110 to 165 | 150 to 220 | 200 to 275 |
| E7024 | 100 to 145 | 140 to 190 | 180 to 250 | 230 to 305 |
Choosing a welding rod
E6010 digs deep and cuts through mill scale, rust and paint, which makes it the pipe root and farm repair choice. It needs DC and a stiff arc.
E6011 does the same job on an AC buzz box, so it is the small-workshop version of 6010.
E6013 is the easy one. Soft arc, shallow penetration, forgiving on thin sheet, and it will run on almost anything. It is not a structural rod.
E7018 is the structural electrode. Low hydrogen, strong, clean, and it needs clean joint prep because it will not burn through contamination. Keep it dry: once the flux picks up moisture it puts hydrogen into the weld and cracks follow.
E7024 is a drag rod for flat and horizontal fillets only. Very high deposition, almost no skill needed, useless out of position.
