Decoding Welding Rods
General Information
Amps = Heat Smaller Diameter Rods Burn "Hotter"
Volts = Force (penetration) Larger Diameter Rods Burn "Cooler"
General Welding, DC Current
| 6011 | | Burns through crud | | 1st. Choice For Field Emergency Repair
(commonly refered to as a 'Farmers' rod) |
| 6013 | | Burns WellOverhead | | 2nd. Choice For Field Emergency Repair |
| 5-P or 6010 | | Direct Current Only | | Suitable for use with On Board Welder Projects |
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Let's start by decoding the short one.
If you have digits left over, it's a long number, read on.
"E 6011" This can be decoded fairly easily.
"E" stands for "Electrode"
The first two digits (or first 3 if it's a 5-digit number) are an
abbreviation of the weld's strength.
To figure out the strength of the weld, take the 2 digits, in this case 60,
and multiply by 1000 to get the weld strength in PSI. (60,000 PSI)
In this case, 'E 6011' is 'Electrode', '60xx' is 60,000 PSI weld strength.
So if you had welded two plates together, with the weld covering one square
inch
(or even 1/4" x 4" : that's still one square inch) that weld could take
60,000 pounts of pulling force.
Typical vales are 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110.
(Example: 'E 10011' would be, 'E= Electrode, 100xx= 100,000 PSI weld
strength)
The 3rd digit (or fouth on five digit numbers) tells you what
position the rod is recommended for.
| xx1x: | Flat, Horizontal, Vertical, Overhead. |
|
| xx2x: | Flat and Horizontal only. |
| xx3x: | Flat, Horizontal, Vertical Down, Overhead. |
|
(Example: 'E 6011', 'E'= Electrode, '60xx'= 60,000 PSI weld strength,
'xx1x'= recommended for flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead)
The last digit tells you about welding current and the coating.
| xxx1 : | DC:ROD+ | cellulose sodium |
| xxx2 : | AC or DC:ROD+ or DC:ROD- | cellulose potassium |
|
| xxx3 : | AC or DC:ROD- | titania sodium |
|
| xxx4 : | AC or DC:ROD- or DC:ROD+ | iron powder titania |
| xxx5 : | DC:ROD+ | low hydrogen sodium |
| xxx6 : | AC or DC:ROD+ | low hydrogen potassium |
| xxx7 : | AC or DC:ROD+ or DC:ROD- | iron powder iron oxide |
| xxx8 : | AC or DC:ROD+ | iron powder low hydrogen |
You probably don't need to worry much about the coating.
I have in my notes, but don't remeber where I read it, that having the rod
+ will give deeper penetration, and the rod - will give faster deposition.
If there is a letter and number combination next, it relates to the
chemical composition of the weld deposit.
| A1 | | | 0.5%Mo | | |
| B1 | | 0.50%Cr | 0.5%Mo | | |
| B2 | | 1.25%Cr | 0.5%Mo | | |
| B3 | | 2.25%Cr | 1.0%Mo | | |
| C1 | 2.50%Ni | | | | |
|
| C2 | 3.25%Ni | | | | |
| C3 | 1.00%Ni | 0.15%Cr | 0.35%Mo | | |
| D1 | | | 0.25-0.45%Mo | 1.25-2%Mn | |
| D2 | | | 0.25-0.45%Mo | 1.25-2%Mn | |
| G* | 0.5%Ni | >0.3%Cr | >0.2%Mo | | >0.1%V |
| * (G only needs one of the elements listed)
|
Next part is a H#. This relates to the maximum amount of hydrogen that will
be diffused from the rod.
A trailing R means that the rod is moisture resistant.