Welding Rod Chart & Selection Guide

The Most Common Stick Welding Electrodes and What They're Actually For

Walk into any weld shop and you'll see the same boxes on the rack. Each rod exists for a reason — wrong choice means porosity, failed inspection, or a bead that looks fine until it cracks two days later. Here is what the common electrodes actually do in the field.

E6010 — Deep Penetration, Dirty Metal, Pipe Root Passes

E6010 runs on DC+ (DCEP) only. Forceful arc, deep penetration, fast-freezing slag — built for pipe root passes, structural work on mill scale and light rust, and all-position welding when you cannot babysit the prep. It cuts through less-than-clean steel better than any general-purpose rod. Unforgiving arc: arc length and travel speed matter. If your machine is AC-only, 6010 will not run — use E6011 instead.

E6011 — The AC/DC Version of 6010

E6011 shares the cellulosic penetrating character of 6010 but runs on AC or DC. Farm rigs, maintenance welders, and older buzz boxes without DC output use 6011 for dirty metal, all-position work, and field repairs. On DC+ it behaves similarly to 6010; on AC the arc feels slightly different but the use case overlaps. Not low hydrogen — do not substitute for 7018 on coded structural work.

E6013 — Easy Arc, Thin Metal, Beginner Friendly

E6013 is the forgiving rod: easy arc start, smooth bead, light slag, moderate penetration. Runs on AC, DC+, or DC−. Best on clean, thin material in flat and horizontal. Vertical and overhead are possible but not its strength. Good for hobbyists and light fabrication. Will not burn through heavy rust the way 6010 does — clean the joint or step up to a penetrating rod.

E7018 — Low Hydrogen Structural Workhorse

E7018 is what structural codes expect. Low-hydrogen coating produces strong, ductile welds with minimal diffusible hydrogen — the kind that pass X-ray on bridges, pressure vessels, and AWS D1.1 work. Runs DC+ or AC, all positions with a drag technique. Must stay dry. Open the box in humid air and moisture in the flux causes porosity, worm tracks, and failed bend tests. Not a rod you leave in the bed of a truck overnight.

E7024 — High Deposition, Flat and Horizontal Only

E7024 is a drag rod for production. Iron powder in the coating pumps metal into the joint at high deposition rates — great for fillets and laps in flat and horizontal where speed matters. Position code 2 means flat and horizontal only. Do not use vertical or overhead; the slag cannot support the puddle out of position. AC or DC+.

E308L, E309L, E316L — Stainless Electrodes

E308L matches 304/308 stainless base metal — standard austenitic filler for same-alloy fabrication and repair. E309L is the dissimilar-metal rod: carbon steel to stainless, unknown stainless grade, or buttering before a carbon-steel fill. Higher chromium and nickel buffer the dilution zone. E316L matches 316 base metal and adds molybdenum for chloride and corrosion resistance — marine, chemical, and food-grade 316 work. All three run DC+ and need dry storage like 7018.

ENi-Cl and ENiFe-Cl — Cast Iron Electrodes

Never stick a 7018 on cast iron and hope for the best. ENi-Cl (99% nickel) produces soft, machinable deposits for crack repair and buildup — short stringer beads, minimal base-metal melting, peen between passes on heavy sections. ENiFe-Cl (nickel-iron) gives higher strength with less machinability — better for structural cast iron repairs where you need more strength and can live with harder deposits. Both run DC+ with low heat input.

How to Read an Electrode Number — The AWS Classification System Explained

An AWS stick electrode number like E7018-1 H4R tells you everything if you know how to decode it. Start with the four digits after the E:

First two digits — tensile strength: 60 = 60,000 PSI minimum weld metal tensile strength. 70 = 70,000 PSI. A 7018 deposit is stronger than a 6013 deposit. Match or exceed base metal requirements per your WPS or code.

Third digit — welding positions: 1 = all positions. 2 = flat and horizontal only. A 7024 with a 2 in the third position is not rated for vertical or overhead work regardless of how confident you feel.

Fourth digit — current type and coating: 0 = cellulosic sodium (6010, DC+ only). 1 = cellulosic potassium (6011, AC/DC). 3 = rutile potassium (6013, easy arc). 8 = low-hydrogen potassium (7018, AC/DC). 4 = iron powder (7024, high deposition).

What "low hydrogen" means and why it matters: The coating is formulated to produce minimal diffusible hydrogen in the weld metal. High hydrogen in a hard, restrained joint causes delayed cracking — sometimes hours or days after welding. That is why 7018 is required on structural and pressure work, and why it must be stored dry. Low hydrogen is not marketing — it is a metallurgical requirement on code jobs.

Complete Electrode Reference Table

How to Choose the Right Rod — Decision Framework

Stop grabbing whatever box is open. Run through these six questions before you strike an arc:

• Base metal type: Mild steel → 60/70 series. Stainless → 308L/309L/316L. Cast iron → nickel rods only.
• Material thickness: Thin sheet favors 6013 or smaller diameter. Heavy plate and structural sections need 7018 or 6010/6011 with enough amperage to fuse the root.
• Joint position: Vertical or overhead eliminates 7024 and pushes you toward 7018 or 6010/6011. Flat production opens up 7024.
• Available power: AC-only → 6011, 6013, or 7018. No DC means no 6010 and no most stainless recommendations.
• Surface condition: Rust, paint, mill scale → 6010 (DC) or 6011 (AC/DC). Clean coded structural → 7018 on prepared surfaces.
• Code requirements: Structural and pressure work require low-hydrogen filler — 7018 or equivalent per your WPS. General fab has more flexibility.

For a guided recommendation based on your inputs, use the Welding Rod Selection Calculator.

Amperage Settings by Electrode Diameter

Starting ranges for common electrodes. Adjust for your machine, rod brand, and joint fit-up. When in doubt, start low and walk up.

For exact amperage by diameter and position, use the Stick Welding Calculator.

Storage and Reconditioning — Why 7018 Goes Bad

7018 flux is hygroscopic — it absorbs moisture from the air. Welding with damp 7018 puts hydrogen into the weld metal and produces porosity, worm tracks, and under-bead cracking that shows up after the weld looks fine. On coded work, wet 7018 fails inspection every time.

Rod oven: Store opened 7018 at 250–300°F in a heated holding oven on the job. Same-day use from a sealed box is fine in dry climates; overnight in humid air is not. Reconditioning per manufacturer spec is typically 700–800°F for several hours if rods have been exposed — check the box.

Field tips: Only open what you will burn in a shift. Keep rods in a sealed portable oven or tight container with desiccant. Never mix damp rods back into dry stock. Cellulosic rods (6010, 6011) tolerate moisture better but still store dry when possible. Stainless electrodes also need dry storage — treat 308L like 7018.

Run your job inputs through the Welding Rod Selection Calculator for a primary electrode recommendation with amperage range. Then dial exact settings on the Stick Welding Calculator by diameter and position.

Frequently Asked Questions