The Most Popular Types of Welding Rods

 welding with a stick welder




They are:

E6010.  Among the most popular electrodes, these require DC and a narrow arc. They are common in steel welding applications that require deep penetration, such as shipbuilding, steel storage tanks, and other large-scale applications.

E6011.  These are similar to E6010 but can be used with AC as well. They are one of the most common go-to electrodes for thick welding materials, with a bit more leeway and ease of use than E6010. Their primary drawback is that their weld beads tend to be flatter and leave waves, so they may not be as aesthetically pleasing as other welds.

E6012.  These welding rods support both AC and DC current and are ideal for welding with minimal spatter and slag. They create a stable arc and are great at shallow penetration. As such, they are best for repair, cosmetic, non-critical welds, and welds of certain materials like oxidized carbon steel. They also produce thick welds, which may need cleaning after.

E6013.  Another of the most popular electrodes, this composition is easy to use and creates very little spatter. It’s commonly used in mid-penetration welding and for mid-thickness materials. It’s also good for short runs and multiple welds, where consistency between welds is necessary during a repositioning.

E7018.  Perhaps the most popular electrode, this is one of the best multipurpose rods available and a staple of every welder’s kit. It’s mostly used for welding low and medium-carbon steel and can create a significantly stronger weld than any of the E60XX rods. The flux coating on the rod is also essential for preventing inclusions in the weld itself. E7018 is found in many kinds of construction and other joinery.

E7024.  This rod uses a high iron content in its flux, which makes it very quick in heating and deposition. This characteristic makes it ideal for fast, high-speed welds but risks issues if your process is too slow. They’re also ideal for smooth, flat-surfaced, or finely-waved finished welds.

Further Reading

All of this only scratches the surface of electrodes and welding rods. There are many, many other rods out there, many of which have specific purposes. Design specifications, industry regulations, or directives often identify distinct rods necessary for individual projects. Most of this doesn’t need to be memorized, though knowing the basics of how the rods are categorized can give you immediate insight into what you’re working with.

Remember, too, that this is primarily about welding rod electrodes. Filler rods can have other numbers to identify them. For example, aluminum filler rods have numerical codes to specify the aluminum alloy used in the rod so that you can match it as closely as possible to the joined materials.

The rabbit hole is deep, and there’s always more to learn, even among experienced welding veterans. Feel free to contact us with questions about which rods are ideal for your projects or welding equipment requirements. We’re happy to help.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Oxy-Acetylene Welding

Image
Oxyacetylene welding uses the concept of generating heat from the combustion of oxygen and fuel gas. Gas supply stored in high-pressure cylinders flows through the flexible hoses (an oxygen hose and a fuel gas hose) by adjusting the gas regulators. The gases are combined in the mixing chamber of the hand-held oxy-fuel torch and exit through the orifice in the tip. Welding tip orifice size is an important factor and thus, it should be chosen in accordance with the application. As heat is applied to the base metal, it reaches a melting point (around 3200°C), wherein fusion welding occurs. Other welding techniques that use electricity can reach higher temperatures (above 5000°C), making oxyacetylene welding most suitable for thin metals. Using filler rods is optional and depends on the scope of the project. Since gas welding operates with combustible materials, it is vital to practice proper safety measures. Types of Flames The type of welding flame plays an important role in determining ...
Read more

mig welding

Image
  Torch Position and Laying Welds It pays to practice a bit laying beads on the sheet metal you plan to use to develop some technique before trying any project welding upside down on a rusty car. If you plan to mess around with cars a good thickness for the first practice sessions would be 1.5mm or 2mm. 1.5 or 2mm is thick enough to stop blowing holes becoming a big issue, and is a handy thickness to use for experimentation with power settings. Preparing the metal Metal needs to be completely clean of rust or paint in the area where you want to weld. Any rust or paint will act as an electrical insulator which isn't good when you are are using an electric welder. An area needs to be cleaned for the earth clamp too. Light use of a flap disc on an angle grinder will quickly remove surface rust and paint without thinning the metal. For more inaccessible areas an air grinder or dremmel can be effective. Holding the torch MIG can be used one handed but nobody does that because it can be ...
Read more

TIG Filler Rods types

Image
TIG Filler Rods Explained A TIG filler rod is a special metal alloy that withstands high heat and does not lose its characteristics after melting and solidifying. The primary role of TIG rods is to add the additional metal to the weld joint and help fuse the two pieces, creating high-quality welds with a desirable strength. A TIG welding rod is similar to a MIG wire, and they share the composition. However, there are various types of TIG filler metals, and they differ on the: Composition (Type) Diameter Length Choosing the suitable TIG filler metal will depend on the type and thickness of the metal you are welding. As a rule of thumb, you want the rod to have the same composition as the base metal and one size smaller than the metal thickness, but let's explore this further. TIG Filler Rod Types For Various Metals To help welders make an informed choice when choosing the right tig filler metal, AWS (American Welding Society) created a classification. The system for identifying the ...
Read more