In a shop full of MIG guns and TIG torches, stick welding is still the process that shows up when the job is dirty, remote, or welded outside. The secret to a good stick weld is picking the right rod for the job — and that starts with being able to read the number stamped on the box.
READING THE CLASSIFICATION
Take E7018: the E means electrode, 70 means 70,000 psi minimum tensile strength, the 1 means all positions, and the last two digits tell you the covering. Understanding just these four parts gets you 90% of the way to choosing correctly.
- Position — 1 = all positions, 2 = flat and horizontal only, 3 = flat only (rare in the field).
- Covering/current — the last digit pair: 10 and 11 are fast-freeze cellulosic, 13 is rutile, 14 is iron powder rutile, 18 is low-hydrogen, 24 is high-deposition iron powder.
THE RODS YOU WILL ACTUALLY USE
| Rod | Positions | Polarity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| E6010 | All | DCEP | Root passes, dirty or galvanized steel, pipelines |
| E6011 | All | AC or DCEP | Same as 6010 when only AC power is available |
| E6013 | All | AC, DCEN, DCEP | Sheet metal, light fabrication, clean cosmetic welds |
| E7014 | All | AC, DCEN, DCEP | Heavy fillets on clean steel, high deposition |
| E7018 | All | DCEP | Structural steel, code work, low-hydrogen requirements |
| E7024 | Flat/H | AC, DCEN, DCEP | Flat-position production fillets, long welds |
The workhorse pair is E6010 for the root and E7018 for the fill and cap. That combination is the backbone of pipeline and structural work around the world — the 6010 digs in and gets full penetration on the root pass, and the 7018 carries the load after.
AMPERAGE BY ROD SIZE
These are starting points. The 70-series rods run hotter per size than the 60-series — size up the rod before you size up the amperage.
| Rod Size | E6010/E6011 | E6013 | E7018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8" | 75–110 A | 90–130 A | 90–140 A |
| 5/32" | 110–150 A | 130–175 A | 130–180 A |
| 3/16" | 140–190 A | 165–225 A | 175–230 A |
| 1/4" | — | — | 220–275 A |
On multi-pass welds, step the amperage down about 10% per pass as the joint fills. The weld holds more heat as it builds, and a hot cap pass is how you get undercut.
THE LOW-HYDROGEN RULE
E7018 is called low-hydrogen for a reason: the covering is loaded with moisture, and moisture turns to hydrogen in the arc — the cause of cold cracking on hardenable steels. The rules are not optional:
- Store rods in a rod oven at 250–300°F (or a sealed container with desiccant).
- Once out of the oven, burn them within 4 hours.
- Never weld with a wet rod. Moisture pops, sputters, and cracks.
- Grind or wire-brush each pass — slag and hydrogen get trapped between passes.
If a job spec calls for low-hydrogen electrodes, there is no substitute. Swapping E7018 for E6013 because the 6013 runs easier is how stress-relief cracks show up a week later in the shop.
CHOOSING FOR THE JOB
- Root pass on pipe or thick plate — E6010 (or E6011 on AC machines). Deep penetration, digs through rust.
- Structural steel, code work — E7018, preheated per WPS, stored properly.
- Sheet metal and light fabrication — E6013. Runs cool, welds look clean.
- Long flat fillets, production — E7024. High deposition, drag it like a broom.
- Repair work on unknown steel — E7018 after grinding out the crack, with preheat if the section is thick.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Stick welding is about matching the rod to the job: 6010 to dig, 7018 to carry, 6013 to make it pretty. Read the number, respect the storage rules, and keep the amps in the table — the rod will do the rest of the work.