Reference chart

AWS welding electrode and filler metal chart

The 30 consumables a shop actually keeps, in one page: the chart first, then how a designation is read, then a section for each one with its own decode and what separates it from the electrode or wire beside it. Strength, position and current are computed from the designation rather than retyped, so the chart and the decoder cannot disagree.

The chart

Carbon steel stick electrodes (AWS A5.1)

Designation	Min tensile	Positions	Current	Coating / chemistry
E6010	60 ksi / 414 MPa	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)	DCEP	High cellulose sodium coating, DCEP; deep penetration, for root runs
E6011	60 ksi / 414 MPa	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)	AC / DCEP	High cellulose potassium coating, AC or DCEP; deep penetration
E6012	60 ksi / 414 MPa	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)	AC / DC	High titania sodium coating, AC or DC; makers differ on preferred polarity, check the datasheet
E6013	60 ksi / 414 MPa	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)	AC / DC	High titania potassium coating, AC or DC; light penetration, smooth bead
E7014	70 ksi / 483 MPa	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)	AC / DC	Iron powder titania coating, AC or DC; light penetration, high deposition
E7015	70 ksi / 483 MPa	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)	DCEP	Low hydrogen sodium coating, DCEP
E7016	70 ksi / 483 MPa	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)	AC / DCEP	Low hydrogen potassium coating, AC or DCEP
E7018	70 ksi / 483 MPa	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)	AC / DCEP	Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP
E7024	70 ksi / 483 MPa	Flat and horizontal fillets only	AC / DC	Iron powder titania coating, AC or DC; light penetration, high deposition
E7028	70 ksi / 483 MPa	Flat and horizontal fillets only	AC / DCEP	Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP

Low alloy stick electrodes (AWS A5.5)

Designation	Min tensile	Positions	Current	Coating / chemistry
E7018-A1	70 ksi / 483 MPa	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)	AC / DCEP	Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP
E8018-B2	80 ksi / 552 MPa	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)	AC / DCEP	Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP
E9018-B3	90 ksi / 621 MPa	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)	AC / DCEP	Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP
E8018-C1	80 ksi / 552 MPa	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)	AC / DCEP	Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP
E11018-M	110 ksi / 758 MPa	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)	AC / DCEP	Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP

Solid wire (AWS A5.18)

Designation	Min tensile	Positions	Current	Coating / chemistry
ER70S-2	70 ksi / 483 MPa	Solid wire; not position classified, used in all positions	-	Triple deoxidised (Al, Ti, Zr); tolerant of mill scale, for TIG and MIG
ER70S-3	70 ksi / 483 MPa	Solid wire; not position classified, used in all positions	-	Basic deoxidation; clean plate, low silicon
ER70S-6	70 ksi / 483 MPa	Solid wire; not position classified, used in all positions	-	Highest silicon and manganese; best wetting on mill scale, the general MIG wire
ER80S-D2	80 ksi / 552 MPa	Solid wire; not position classified, used in all positions	-	Composition classifier outside the common carbon steel set

Flux cored wire (AWS A5.20)

Designation	Min tensile	Positions	Current	Coating / chemistry
E71T-1	70 ksi / 483 MPa	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)	-	Rutile, gas shielded, spray transfer, all positions
E70T-1	70 ksi / 483 MPa	Flat and horizontal only	-	Rutile, gas shielded, spray transfer, all positions
E71T-8	70 ksi / 483 MPa	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)	-	Self shielded, all positions, low hydrogen
E71T-11	70 ksi / 483 MPa	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)	-	Self shielded, all positions, general purpose, no gas

Stainless (AWS A5.4 and A5.9)

Designation	Min tensile	Positions	Current	Coating / chemistry
E308L-16	By alloy	Not position classified in the designation; see the maker datasheet	AC / DCEP	Titania coating, AC or DCEP; the common general purpose choice
E309L-16	By alloy	Not position classified in the designation; see the maker datasheet	AC / DCEP	Titania coating, AC or DCEP; the common general purpose choice
E316L-16	By alloy	Not position classified in the designation; see the maker datasheet	AC / DCEP	Titania coating, AC or DCEP; the common general purpose choice
ER308L	By alloy	Not position classified; bare wire is used in all positions	-	Low carbon (at most 0.03 percent), for corrosion resistance after welding
ER309L	By alloy	Not position classified; bare wire is used in all positions	-	Low carbon (at most 0.03 percent), for corrosion resistance after welding
ER316L	By alloy	Not position classified; bare wire is used in all positions	-	Low carbon (at most 0.03 percent), for corrosion resistance after welding
ER316LSi	By alloy	Not position classified; bare wire is used in all positions	-	Low carbon (at most 0.03 percent), for corrosion resistance after welding

How a designation is read

An AWS designation is positional. Each character is a separate fact rather than part of one number, which is why two designations that look a digit apart can be different consumables for different machines. Read left to right: the prefix says what the thing is, the digits that follow say how strong the deposited metal must be, and the last one or two say how it is covered and therefore what current it wants and which positions it will hold.

Where the strength sits is the trap. On a stick electrode it is in thousands of psi, so the 70 in E7018 is 70 ksi. On a flux cored wire it is a single digit in tens of ksi, so the 7 in E71T-1 is also 70 ksi and the 1 after it is the position. Reading one as the other turns an all position wire into a 71 ksi electrode that does not exist. One fact is never encoded at all: the shielding. A designation cannot tell you whether the consumable brings its own gas, needs a bottle, or needs nothing, so every section below states it outright.

The position digit

On the classifications here the position digit takes 4 of its possible values. It is not a preference; it is what the classification was qualified for, and it follows from how fluid the puddle is.

Digit	Classified for
0	Flat and horizontal only
1	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
2	Flat and horizontal fillets only
S

The coating series

The last digit of a carbon or low alloy stick electrode designation names the covering, and with it the current the electrode wants. 15 of the 30 classifications on this page draw that digit from this one series, so the alternatives are worth seeing together once rather than a fragment at a time. The other 3 covered electrodes here are stainless, and AWS A5.4 classifies their covering separately, as -15, -16 or -17, which is why their sections do not point back to this table.

Digit	Coating and current
0	High cellulose sodium coating, DCEP; deep penetration, for root runs
1	High cellulose potassium coating, AC or DCEP; deep penetration
2	High titania sodium coating, AC or DC; makers differ on preferred polarity, check the datasheet
3	High titania potassium coating, AC or DC; light penetration, smooth bead
4	Iron powder titania coating, AC or DC; light penetration, high deposition
5	Low hydrogen sodium coating, DCEP
6	Low hydrogen potassium coating, AC or DCEP
7	High iron oxide with iron powder, AC or DC; high deposition
8	Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP

The low hydrogen digits are 5, 6 and 8. Those coverings absorb atmospheric moisture, the moisture becomes hydrogen in the weld metal, and hydrogen in a restrained joint cracks it days after the welder has gone home. That is the whole reason for the oven.

Every designation

Each one below carries its own decode, the shielding the classification does not encode, and how it differs from the ones a reader is usually choosing between. Paste any designation into the decoder to read one that is not on this list.

E6010

Root passes on pipe, and dirty or rusty steel, on DC only. Deep digging arc.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	60	60 ksi (414 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	1	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
Coating / chemistry	0	High cellulose sodium coating, DCEP; deep penetration, for root runs

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E6010 needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding. Its last digit, 0, is drawn from the coating series: High cellulose sodium coating, DCEP; deep penetration, for root runs.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E6011 differs by a different coating or chemistry.
E7018 differs by a stronger deposit at 70 ksi and a different coating or chemistry.

All designations Next: E6011

E6011

The E6010 arc on a machine that only has AC. Common on farm and repair work.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	60	60 ksi (414 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	1	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
Coating / chemistry	1	High cellulose potassium coating, AC or DCEP; deep penetration

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E6011 needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding. Its last digit, 1, is drawn from the coating series: High cellulose potassium coating, AC or DCEP; deep penetration.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E6010 differs by a different coating or chemistry.
E6013 differs by a different coating or chemistry.

Previous: E6010 All designations Next: E6012

E6012

Bridging gaps and poor fit-up where penetration would burn through.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	60	60 ksi (414 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	1	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
Coating / chemistry	2	High titania sodium coating, AC or DC; makers differ on preferred polarity, check the datasheet

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E6012 needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding. Its last digit, 2, is drawn from the coating series: High titania sodium coating, AC or DC; makers differ on preferred polarity, check the datasheet.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E6013 differs by a different coating or chemistry.
E7014 differs by a stronger deposit at 70 ksi and a different coating or chemistry.

Previous: E6011 All designations Next: E6013

E6013

Thin sheet and light fabrication; the easiest general purpose stick to run.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	60	60 ksi (414 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	1	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
Coating / chemistry	3	High titania potassium coating, AC or DC; light penetration, smooth bead

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E6013 needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding. Its last digit, 3, is drawn from the coating series: High titania potassium coating, AC or DC; light penetration, smooth bead.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E6012 differs by a different coating or chemistry.
E7014 differs by a stronger deposit at 70 ksi and a different coating or chemistry.

Previous: E6012 All designations Next: E7014

E7014

Faster fill than E6013 at the same easy arc, on plate that fits up well.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	70	70 ksi (483 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	1	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
Coating / chemistry	4	Iron powder titania coating, AC or DC; light penetration, high deposition

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E7014 needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding. Its last digit, 4, is drawn from the coating series: Iron powder titania coating, AC or DC; light penetration, high deposition.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E6013 differs by a weaker deposit at 60 ksi and a different coating or chemistry.
E7024 differs by a different position classification.

Previous: E6013 All designations Next: E7015

E7015

Low hydrogen on DC only, largely superseded by E7016 and E7018.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	70	70 ksi (483 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	1	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
Coating / chemistry	5	Low hydrogen sodium coating, DCEP

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E7015 needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding. Its last digit, 5, is drawn from the coating series: Low hydrogen sodium coating, DCEP.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E7016 differs by a different coating or chemistry.
E7018 differs by a different coating or chemistry.

Previous: E7014 All designations Next: E7016

E7016

Low hydrogen where the machine is AC, on crack sensitive or restrained joints.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	70	70 ksi (483 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	1	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
Coating / chemistry	6	Low hydrogen potassium coating, AC or DCEP

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E7016 needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding. Its last digit, 6, is drawn from the coating series: Low hydrogen potassium coating, AC or DCEP.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E7018 differs by a different coating or chemistry.
E7015 differs by a different coating or chemistry.

Previous: E7015 All designations Next: E7018

E7018

The structural low hydrogen standard: restrained joints, thick section, code work. Must be kept dry.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	70	70 ksi (483 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	1	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
Coating / chemistry	8	Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E7018 needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding. Its last digit, 8, is drawn from the coating series: Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E7016 differs by a different coating or chemistry.
E7018-A1 differs by the A1 alloy suffix and a different specification (AWS A5.5).

Previous: E7016 All designations Next: E7024

E7024

High deposition fillets in the flat and horizontal, where speed matters more than positions.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	70	70 ksi (483 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	2	Flat and horizontal fillets only
Coating / chemistry	4	Iron powder titania coating, AC or DC; light penetration, high deposition

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E7024 needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding. Its last digit, 4, is drawn from the coating series: Iron powder titania coating, AC or DC; light penetration, high deposition.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E7014 differs by a different position classification.
E7028 differs by a different coating or chemistry.

Previous: E7018 All designations Next: E7028

E7028

Low hydrogen with the iron powder deposition rate, flat and horizontal fillets only.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	70	70 ksi (483 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	2	Flat and horizontal fillets only
Coating / chemistry	8	Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E7028 needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding. Its last digit, 8, is drawn from the coating series: Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E7018 differs by a different position classification.
E7024 differs by a different coating or chemistry.

Previous: E7024 All designations Next: E7018-A1

E7018-A1

Carbon-molybdenum piping and pressure work at elevated temperature.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	70	70 ksi (483 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	1	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
Coating / chemistry	8	Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP
Suffix	A1	Carbon-molybdenum steel

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E7018-A1 needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding. Its last digit, 8, is drawn from the coating series: Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E7018 differs by no alloy suffix and a different specification (AWS A5.1).
E8018-B2 differs by a stronger deposit at 80 ksi and the B2 alloy suffix.

Previous: E7028 All designations Next: E8018-B2

E8018-B2

Welding 1.25Cr-0.5Mo alloy pipe and tube; needs preheat and usually post-weld heat treatment.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	80	80 ksi (552 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	1	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
Coating / chemistry	8	Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP
Suffix	B2	Chromium-molybdenum steel, about 1.25Cr-0.5Mo

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E8018-B2 needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding. Its last digit, 8, is drawn from the coating series: Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E9018-B3 differs by a stronger deposit at 90 ksi and the B3 alloy suffix.
E7018-A1 differs by a weaker deposit at 70 ksi and the A1 alloy suffix.

Previous: E7018-A1 All designations Next: E9018-B3

E9018-B3

Welding 2.25Cr-1Mo alloy pipe for higher temperature service.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	90	90 ksi (621 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	1	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
Coating / chemistry	8	Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP
Suffix	B3	Chromium-molybdenum steel, about 2.25Cr-1Mo

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E9018-B3 needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding. Its last digit, 8, is drawn from the coating series: Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E8018-B2 differs by a weaker deposit at 80 ksi and the B2 alloy suffix.
E7018-A1 differs by a weaker deposit at 70 ksi and the A1 alloy suffix.

Previous: E8018-B2 All designations Next: E8018-C1

E8018-C1

Nickel steel for low temperature toughness.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	80	80 ksi (552 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	1	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
Coating / chemistry	8	Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP
Suffix	C1	Nickel steel, about 2.5Ni

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E8018-C1 needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding. Its last digit, 8, is drawn from the coating series: Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E8018-B2 differs by the B2 alloy suffix.
E7018 differs by a weaker deposit at 70 ksi, no alloy suffix and a different specification (AWS A5.1).

Previous: E9018-B3 All designations Next: E11018-M

E11018-M

High strength quenched and tempered steels where 110 ksi weld metal is specified.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	110	110 ksi (758 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	1	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
Coating / chemistry	8	Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP
Suffix	M	Military-style toughness and composition requirements

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E11018-M needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding. Its last digit, 8, is drawn from the coating series: Low hydrogen potassium with iron powder, AC or DCEP.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E7018 differs by a weaker deposit at 70 ksi, no alloy suffix and a different specification (AWS A5.1).
E9018-B3 differs by a weaker deposit at 90 ksi and the B3 alloy suffix.

Previous: E8018-C1 All designations Next: ER70S-2

ER70S-2

TIG filler for carbon steel, including over light mill scale, thanks to the triple deoxidation.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	ER	Electrode or rod: usable as either
Strength	70	70 ksi (483 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	S	Solid wire; not position classified, used in all positions
Coating / chemistry	2	Triple deoxidised (Al, Ti, Zr); tolerant of mill scale, for TIG and MIG

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. ER70S-2 needs: Argon for TIG, or argon-CO2 for MIG.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

ER70S-6 differs by a different coating or chemistry and different shielding.
ER70S-3 differs by a different coating or chemistry and different shielding.

Previous: E11018-M All designations Next: ER70S-3

ER70S-3

MIG on clean plate where low silicon keeps the bead free of glassy islands.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	ER	Electrode or rod: usable as either
Strength	70	70 ksi (483 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	S	Solid wire; not position classified, used in all positions
Coating / chemistry	3	Basic deoxidation; clean plate, low silicon

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. ER70S-3 needs: 75 to 100 percent argon, balance CO2.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

ER70S-6 differs by a different coating or chemistry and different shielding.
ER70S-2 differs by a different coating or chemistry and different shielding.

Previous: ER70S-2 All designations Next: ER70S-6

ER70S-6

The default carbon steel MIG wire: wets well over mill scale and tolerates less than perfect prep.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	ER	Electrode or rod: usable as either
Strength	70	70 ksi (483 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	S	Solid wire; not position classified, used in all positions
Coating / chemistry	6	Highest silicon and manganese; best wetting on mill scale, the general MIG wire

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. ER70S-6 needs: 100 percent CO2, or 75 to 90 percent argon balance CO2.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

ER70S-3 differs by a different coating or chemistry and different shielding.
E71T-1 differs by a different process (FCAW), a different specification (AWS A5.20) and a different position classification.

Previous: ER70S-3 All designations Next: ER80S-D2

ER80S-D2

Higher strength manganese-molybdenum wire for 80 ksi joints and some pipe work.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	ER	Electrode or rod: usable as either
Strength	80	80 ksi (552 MPa) minimum tensile strength
Position	S	Solid wire; not position classified, used in all positions
Coating / chemistry	D2	Composition classifier outside the common carbon steel set

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. ER80S-D2 needs: Argon-CO2 mixture.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

ER70S-6 differs by a weaker deposit at 70 ksi, a different coating or chemistry and different shielding.
E8018-B2 differs by a different process (SMAW), the B2 alloy suffix and a different specification (AWS A5.5).

Previous: ER70S-6 All designations Next: E71T-1

E71T-1

All position gas shielded flux cored for structural fabrication; fast fill with a slag that peels.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	7	70 ksi (483 MPa) minimum tensile strength. Note the single digit is TENS of ksi here
Position	1	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
Coating / chemistry	T-1	Rutile, gas shielded, spray transfer, all positions

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E71T-1 needs: 100 percent CO2 or argon-CO2 mixture.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E71T-11 differs by a different coating or chemistry and different shielding.
ER70S-6 differs by a different process (GMAW), a different specification (AWS A5.18 or A5.28) and a different position classification.

Previous: ER80S-D2 All designations Next: E70T-1

E70T-1

The flat and horizontal version of E71T-1, for heavy fillets on a positioner.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	7	70 ksi (483 MPa) minimum tensile strength. Note the single digit is TENS of ksi here
Position	0	Flat and horizontal only
Coating / chemistry	T-1	Rutile, gas shielded, spray transfer, all positions

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E70T-1 needs: 100 percent CO2 or argon-CO2 mixture.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E71T-1 differs by a different position classification.
E7024 differs by a different process (SMAW), a different specification (AWS A5.1) and a different position classification.

Previous: E71T-1 All designations Next: E71T-8

E71T-8

Self shielded all position low hydrogen, used on structural steel outdoors where gas would blow away.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	7	70 ksi (483 MPa) minimum tensile strength. Note the single digit is TENS of ksi here
Position	1	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
Coating / chemistry	T-8	Self shielded, all positions, low hydrogen

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E71T-8 needs: None; self shielded.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E71T-11 differs by a different coating or chemistry.
E71T-1 differs by a different coating or chemistry and different shielding.

Previous: E70T-1 All designations Next: E71T-11

E71T-11

The no-gas wire in small hobby machines; general purpose, not a low hydrogen class.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	7	70 ksi (483 MPa) minimum tensile strength. Note the single digit is TENS of ksi here
Position	1	All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
Coating / chemistry	T-11	Self shielded, all positions, general purpose, no gas

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E71T-11 needs: None; self shielded.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E71T-8 differs by a different coating or chemistry.
E71T-1 differs by a different coating or chemistry and different shielding.

Previous: E71T-8 All designations Next: E308L-16

E308L-16

Stick welding 304 and 304L stainless, the general purpose austenitic choice.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	308	Type 308 stainless composition; strength follows the alloy, not the number
Position	-	Not position classified in the designation; see the maker datasheet
Coating / chemistry	16	Titania coating, AC or DCEP; the common general purpose choice
Suffix	L	Low carbon (at most 0.03 percent), resists carbide precipitation

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E308L-16 needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

ER308L differs by a different process (GMAW), no alloy suffix and a different specification (AWS A5.9).
E316L-16 differs by a different alloy class (316).

Previous: E71T-11 All designations Next: E309L-16

E309L-16

Stick welding stainless to carbon steel, and buttering before a dissimilar joint.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	309	Type 309 stainless composition; strength follows the alloy, not the number
Position	-	Not position classified in the designation; see the maker datasheet
Coating / chemistry	16	Titania coating, AC or DCEP; the common general purpose choice
Suffix	L	Low carbon (at most 0.03 percent), resists carbide precipitation

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E309L-16 needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

ER309L differs by a different process (GMAW), no alloy suffix and a different specification (AWS A5.9).
E308L-16 differs by a different alloy class (308).

Previous: E308L-16 All designations Next: E316L-16

E316L-16

Stick welding 316 and 316L where the molybdenum is needed for pitting resistance.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	E	Electrode: carries the welding current
Strength	316	Type 316 stainless composition; strength follows the alloy, not the number
Position	-	Not position classified in the designation; see the maker datasheet
Coating / chemistry	16	Titania coating, AC or DCEP; the common general purpose choice
Suffix	L	Low carbon (at most 0.03 percent), resists carbide precipitation

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. E316L-16 needs: None; the coating provides its own shielding.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

ER316L differs by a different process (GMAW), no alloy suffix and a different specification (AWS A5.9).
E308L-16 differs by a different alloy class (308).

Previous: E309L-16 All designations Next: ER308L

ER308L

TIG and MIG filler for 304 and 304L stainless.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	ER	Electrode or rod: usable as either
Strength	308	Type 308 stainless composition; strength follows the alloy, not the number
Position	-	Not position classified; bare wire is used in all positions
Coating / chemistry	L	Low carbon (at most 0.03 percent), for corrosion resistance after welding

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. ER308L needs: Argon for TIG, or argon-based mixture for MIG.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E308L-16 differs by a different process (SMAW), the L alloy suffix and a different specification (AWS A5.4).
ER316L differs by a different alloy class (316).

Previous: E316L-16 All designations Next: ER309L

ER309L

TIG and MIG filler for stainless to carbon steel joints.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	ER	Electrode or rod: usable as either
Strength	309	Type 309 stainless composition; strength follows the alloy, not the number
Position	-	Not position classified; bare wire is used in all positions
Coating / chemistry	L	Low carbon (at most 0.03 percent), for corrosion resistance after welding

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. ER309L needs: Argon for TIG, or argon-based mixture for MIG.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E309L-16 differs by a different process (SMAW), the L alloy suffix and a different specification (AWS A5.4).
ER308L differs by a different alloy class (308).

Previous: ER308L All designations Next: ER316L

ER316L

TIG and MIG filler for 316 and 316L stainless.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	ER	Electrode or rod: usable as either
Strength	316	Type 316 stainless composition; strength follows the alloy, not the number
Position	-	Not position classified; bare wire is used in all positions
Coating / chemistry	L	Low carbon (at most 0.03 percent), for corrosion resistance after welding

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. ER316L needs: Argon for TIG, or argon-based mixture for MIG.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

E316L-16 differs by a different process (SMAW), the L alloy suffix and a different specification (AWS A5.4).
ER308L differs by a different alloy class (308).

Previous: ER309L All designations Next: ER316LSi

ER316LSi

The 316L wire with raised silicon, for a flatter bead and easier MIG wetting.

Position	Code	Meaning
Prefix	ER	Electrode or rod: usable as either
Strength	316	Type 316 stainless composition; strength follows the alloy, not the number
Position	-	Not position classified; bare wire is used in all positions
Coating / chemistry	L	Low carbon (at most 0.03 percent), for corrosion resistance after welding
Suffix	SI	Raised silicon for better wetting and a flatter bead

Shielding is the one fact the designation does not carry. ER316LSi needs: Argon-based mixture for MIG.

Against the ones you are choosing between:

ER316L differs by no alloy suffix and different shielding.
ER308L differs by a different alloy class (308), no alloy suffix and different shielding.

Previous: ER316L All designations

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between E6010 and E6011?

Nothing in strength or position: both are 60 ksi and both are classified for all positions. The difference is the coating and therefore the current. E6010 uses a high cellulose sodium covering and runs on direct current electrode positive only, while E6011 uses the potassium version and will also run on alternating current, which is why it is the one you find where the machine is an AC buzz box.

Why does E7024 not appear as an all position electrode?

Its position digit is 2, which classifies it for flat and horizontal fillets only. The iron powder in the coating gives it a very high deposition rate, and that same pool of molten metal is too fluid to hold in a vertical or overhead joint. Speed in the flat is bought with the loss of the other positions.

Which of these need to be kept in an oven?

The low hydrogen classes, meaning the usability digits 5, 6 and 8 on stick electrodes. Their coatings pick up atmospheric moisture, and that moisture becomes hydrogen in the weld metal, which causes delayed cracking in restrained or high strength joints. Storage requirements come from the maker datasheet and the applicable code rather than from the designation.

Is a higher strength electrode always a safer choice?

No. Overmatching the base metal puts a harder, less ductile weld into the joint and moves the strain into the heat affected zone, and higher strength classes generally bring preheat and interpass requirements with them. The classification is chosen to match the base metal and the code, not maximised.

Do the numbers mean the same thing on a stick electrode and on a wire?

Only the first ones. On a stick electrode the digits before the last two are the minimum tensile strength in thousands of psi, so E7018 is 70 ksi. On a flux cored wire the strength is a single digit in tens of ksi, so E71T-1 is also 70 ksi with the 1 after it meaning all positions. On solid wire the strength is again in thousands of psi but the letters that follow describe the chemistry rather than a coating, so ER70S-6 is a 70 ksi solid wire with a particular deoxidiser package. Reading a wire as though it were an electrode is the common mistake, and the decoder below will not make it.

Sources

The classification system is documented freely by the filler metal makers. The composition limits and impact values behind each class live in the AWS A5 standards, which are sold by AWS and are not reproduced here.

This is reference and identification data, not a procedure. Confirm it against the manufacturer data sheet and the specification that applies to your work, and verify the part in your hand, before relying on it for anything that carries load or holds pressure.