6010 vs 7018 Welding Rod: Which One Should You Buy?

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6010 vs 7018 welding rod: the short answer

These are two different electrodes for two different kinds of work. The YESWELDER E7018 listing describes a low-hydrogen iron powder electrode that produces high quality x-ray welds, runs in all positions on AC or DC reverse polarity, and is recommended for medium grade carbon steels where no preheat is used. Its application list reads like structural work: low-alloy structurals, low, medium and high carbon steels, offshore rigs, power plants and steel structures. The Blue Demon E6010 listing is titled as a steel pipe welding electrode, a 1/8 inch by 14 inch rod in a 5 lb carton. So the file-grounded split is this: 7018 for structural steel with clean welds, 6010 for pipe work. Neither listing states the other’s application, so do not swap them on a guess.

What the 7018 listing states

The YESWELDER E7018 example is the fully specified rod here. It is 3/32 inch diameter, 14 inches long, in a 5 lb package, with a recommended amperage of 70 to 100 amps. The listing claims a steady arc, low spatter, excellent re-striking ability and high deposition efficiency, and it names cold rolled steels that show excessive porosity with conventional electrodes as a use case. It also lists tack welds for tubular wire applications. If your work is structural steel, frames or brackets where the weld needs to look and hold clean, the 7018 listing gives you the most to work with: diameter, length, amperage and applications, all stated.

What the 6010 listing states

The Blue Demon E6010 example states less. The title says it is a 1/8 inch by 14 inch steel pipe welding electrode in a 5 lb carton. The bullets say only “Great tools at a great price”, and the spec table lists a 14 inch length with some odd entries, including “funnel” as an included component, which has nothing to do with a welding rod. Trust the title over the table: this is a 1/8 inch 14 inch E6010 rod in a 5 lb carton for pipe welding. The listing states no amperage range, no polarity and no application list beyond the pipe title, so it is the thinner data of the two. That is a reason to read the listing yourself before ordering, not a reason to assume the rod cannot do the job.

Which rod for which job

Match the rod to the listing’s application, not to the price. The 7018 listing names structural applications and no-preheat medium carbon steel work, with a stated 70 to 100 amp range on a 3/32 inch rod. If you are welding brackets, frames or structural steel where the listing’s “high quality x-ray welds” language matters, the 7018 is the file-grounded pick. The 6010 listing names pipe welding in its title and little else; if your work is pipe, that title is the whole case for it. Buy the rod whose listing describes your work. When neither listing describes your work, neither rod is the proven pick, and that is worth saying plainly.

The two examples, ranked

Both listings are stick electrodes, and they rank on how much the listing states. The YESWELDER E7018 leads: full specs, a stated amperage range and a detailed application list. The Blue Demon E6010 follows: a pipe welding title with thin bullets and a spec table that names a funnel as an included component, which the title and bullets overrule.

1. YESWELDER E7018 3/32 in 5 lb: the structural pick

A low-hydrogen iron powder electrode, 3/32 inch by 14 inches, rated 70 to 100 amps. The listing states all-position welding on AC or DC reverse polarity, a steady arc with low spatter, and applications from structural steel to offshore rigs. It is the best-documented rod here.

2. Blue Demon E6010 1/8 in 5 lb: the pipe pick

A 1/8 inch by 14 inch steel pipe welding electrode in a 5 lb carton. The title is the informative part: the bullets are one line and the spec table has an unrelated “funnel” entry. Buy it for pipe work the title names, and confirm the details on the listing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 6010 and 7018 welding rods?

From the listings: the 7018 example is a low-hydrogen iron powder electrode for structural steel with high quality welds, while the 6010 example is titled as a steel pipe welding electrode. They are different rods for different jobs.

What amperage does the 7018 example run?

The YESWELDER listing recommends 70 to 100 amps for its 3/32 inch rod. The Blue Demon 6010 listing states no amperage range.

Can I use 7018 on AC?

The YESWELDER E7018 listing says it can be used in all positions on AC or DC reverse polarity welding current. That is the maker’s statement for this rod.

What does low-hydrogen mean on the 7018 listing?

The listing calls the E7018 a low-hydrogen iron powder type electrode that produces high quality x-ray welds. Take the wording as the maker’s claim for this rod.

Why does the 6010 spec table mention a funnel?

The Blue Demon spec table lists “funnel” as an included component, which has nothing to do with a welding rod. The title and bullets describe a 1/8 inch pipe welding electrode; trust those over the table.

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