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Stick Electrode Decoder Chart

A wall chart that breaks an AWS stick electrode classification such as E7018 into its digits and lists what the last two digits mean for coating and welding current.

Ref WG-0202AWS A5.1AWS A5.5

Draft, open for review. Check every value against the governing standard and the manufacturer’s data before use.

What it is

Covered (stick) electrodes for carbon steel are classified under AWS A5.1, and low-alloy steel electrodes under AWS A5.5. The classification is printed on each rod near the bare grip end and on the box. Every part of the number has a meaning, so a counter person can tell what a rod does from the number alone.

How to read it

Take E7018-1 H4R as the example.

E = electrode.
70 = minimum tensile strength of the weld metal in ksi (three digits at 100 ksi and up, as in E11018).
1 = welding positions.
18 = coating type and current, read as a pair.
-1, H4, R = optional suffixes.

Position digit

Digit	Positions
1	All positions
2	Flat and horizontal fillet
4	Flat, horizontal, overhead and vertical-down

Last two digits

Digits	Coating type	Current
10	High cellulose, sodium	DCEP
11	High cellulose, potassium	AC or DCEP
12	High titania, sodium	AC or DCEN
13	High titania, potassium	AC, DCEP or DCEN
14	Iron powder, titania	AC, DCEP or DCEN
15	Low hydrogen, sodium	DCEP
16	Low hydrogen, potassium	AC or DCEP
18	Low hydrogen, potassium, iron powder	AC or DCEP
24	Iron powder, titania	AC, DCEP or DCEN
28	Low hydrogen, potassium, iron powder	AC or DCEP
48	Low hydrogen, potassium, iron powder	AC or DCEP

Suffixes

Suffix	Meaning
-1	Improved low-temperature toughness (A5.1)
H4, H8, H16	Diffusible hydrogen limit, mL per 100 g of weld metal
R	Moisture resistant coating
-A1, -B2, -C1, -D1, -G and similar	Alloy family (A5.5)

Key points

Low-hydrogen types are 15, 16, 18, 28 and 48. Store them per the maker and the governing code.
Metric classifications in A5.1M use megapascals; E4918 corresponds to E7018.
Diameter is ordered separately.

Common mistakes

Reading the third digit as part of the strength.
Running a DCEP-only rod (10, 15) on an AC machine.
Treating E6013 as a substitute for E7018 on structural work.

Governing standards: AWS A5.1; AWS A5.5.

Reference only. Verify against the current governing code or standard, the manufacturer's data and the project documents before use. Apps for Distributors disclaims liability arising from reliance on this reference.

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