The whole welding industry is based upon skill and no skill comes without knowing the welding equipment top to bottom. Specifically for beginners, it’s a great deal to have the prior knowledge to complete the task.
Often the beginners, even some mid-experience welders get confused about which welding stick to use for the specific metals.
Even though there are many similarities between the 6013 & 7018 welding rods, you will notice some differences. The key difference between the 6013 and 7018 is the flux materials, storage procedure, tensile strength, etc.
In this short article, I will show you the 6013 vs 7018 with easy to read!
6013 vs 7018 Welding Rods: Let’s check the contrast
To ensure an error-free welding period, it’s crucial to have the right knowledge about any welding rods.
I can assure you that after knowing the welding rod’s A to Z, you will be able to work in a better way with more safety. So let’s explore them!
6013 Electrode Specification
In the following I will shortly talk about the specifications of the 6013 welding rods so that you can make the best use of them.
Welding Position
The 6013 is good for working in all welding positions. Plus, they generate a minimum amount of spatter during welding time.
Arch Characteristics, tensile strength & composition
Just like 7018, the 6013 is also a great welding rod for beginners. Speaking of the arc, the 6013 has a soft arc. The coating of the rods is high titania potassium which is much different than the 7018 welding rod.
In terms of tensile strength, the 6013 has less tensile strength than the 7018 welding rod.
Appropriate industry
You will see the use of 6013 welding rods most in vehicle manufacturing & repairing, machine manufacturing, metal furniture, farm implementations, and ship industry.
Storage system
Unlike the 7018, the 6013 welding rod does not need any specific type of storage. Adding to that if they get exposure to moisture, they tend to perform better according to some experts. Just keep them in dry condition and they will be fine for the welding job.
Right metal to work on & Penetration level
Due to the shallow penetration characteristics, the 6013 welding rods are suitable for welding on cleaner and new metals. They are not a good pick for welding on any dirty metals.
Polarity
The 6013 welding stick is suitable for use with AC and DC power sources. However, for the optimum result, you can use them with a low voltage AC current.
7018 Electrode Specification
Though there are a lot of similarities between the 7018 & 6013, there are slight differences too. Below you will see the unique feature of the 6013 welding rods.
Welding Position
Although the 7018 welding electrode may be suitable for most of the positions, but performs poorly in certain of them. Higher heat is required to weld vertically. You will have a spatter-less plus silent operating time when welding on chosen base metal with this welding rod.
Arch Characteristics, tensile strength & composition
While not all the welding rods are not user-friendly for beginners, the 7018 stands out a bit different. These rods generate a non-violent and smooth arc due to the presence of low hydrogen.
A beginner in the welding community will find it pretty easy to use this rod. When you compare this with the 6013 electrode, it has more tensile strength.
Appropriate industry
These welding rods can do uniform and well quality welds under freezing temperature which is one of the great advantages.
The 7018 electrodes are primarily used in construction welding, manufacturing pressure vessels, water tanks, industrial equipment manufacturing, energy generating plants, the shipping industry, etc.
Storage system
When it comes to storing 7018 welding rods, you need to maintain some specific thing to ensure the durability and fitness of the welding rod.
These electrodes need a high temperature after opening so you should store them under 250F oven temperature. Moreover, you also have to ensure these are not getting in contact with the moisture.
Right metal to work on & Penetration level
The presence of cobalt leads to a porosity problem which is a major downside of this electrode. As their penetration level is medium and not too deep so they make the right pick for welding on low thickness metals.
Unfortunately the 7018 welding rods are not good for working on contaminated metals or rusty metal surfaces. They are suitable for working on carbon steel and low alloy joints.
Polarity
The 7018 welding wire is more adaptable when it comes to polarity. These are suitable for both AC and DC. However these welding rods generate a significant portion of slag, it is very simple to remove.
Welding rod 6013 vs 7018: Toe to toe
For your performance enhancement and easy to retrieve information, in the following I am adding a table to portray the contrast of 6013 and 7018 welding rods.
| Welding Rod | 6013 | 7018 |
| Tensile strength | 60,000 psi | 70,000 psi |
| Welding position | Suitable for all positions | Suitable for all positions, apart from the vertical downhill |
| Flux material | High potassium rod | 25% Iron Powder Low Hydrogen |
| Penetration level | Medium | Meidum |
| Welding current | Both AC & DC | Both AC & DC |
| Material | Mild steel | Mild steel |
| Arc type | Soft | Soft |
| Slag type | Thick | Fluid & Thick |
What does the number of welding rods means?
The welding rod numbers have their specific meaning and characteristics of the rod. The first 2 digits of the welding stick indicate the tensile strength. Here, the 6013 have ‘’60’’ and the 7018 have ‘’70’’ which indicates 60,000 and 70,000 psi tensile strength consecutively.
Now, the 3rd digit of the 4 number code means the ability to weld in various positions. Here, the ‘’1’’ in both rods refers to the fact that you can use 6013 and 7018 in all positions comfortably.
And, the combination of the last digit of the 4 numbers gives you an idea about the flux material of the welding wire. From that, you can have the info about penetration ability, the right metal for welding, storage needs, etc.
Final Words
A better driver knows his car top to bottom and the same goes for professional welders. A top-notch welder will know the details of all welding equipment for the best outcome.
When it comes to which one is best I would say each one of them has its own play area. Both are good for beginners but for sustainable welding, you should choose the 7018 welding rod.
Hopefully, you got a clear idea about each of them and know a little bit about how the 6013 vs 7018 welding rods look!
