E6010 vs E7018 Electrodes: What Is the Difference?

What Stick Welding Is

Stick welding, also called arc welding or SMAW, uses a consumable electrode coated with flux. The electrode carries the current, melts to become the filler metal, and the arc is struck between the electrode and the workpiece. No shielding gas is needed, which makes stick a common process for outdoor work and repair jobs.

On a welder listing, the process may appear as Stick, ARC, or MMA. A stick welder title names the process and the top output in amps. Some makers also name an electrode classification, such as 6010 capability. That detail is part of the machine's stated description and is useful when you compare listings.

What an Electrode Designation Means

Electrodes carry a standard classification code, and the code is defined by the American Welding Society. AWS publishes standards for the welding industry, and the electrode designation is part of that body of standards. AWS has defined more than 350 standards, and electrode classification is one of the topics those standards cover.

E stands for electrode. The middle digits state a strength level, the next digit states the position, and the last digit states the coating type and current. That pattern is how the standard organizes electrode classifications, and it is why E6010 and E7018 are read the same way.

When a maker lists 6010 capability on a machine, it is referring to the classification defined in the AWS system. The code has the same meaning on every listing, which is what makes it useful for comparing machines.

E6010 vs E7018: The Codes Compared

The difference between E6010 and E7018 lies in the coating digit. E6010 is the classification for a cellulose-based coating. E7018 is the classification for a low-hydrogen coating. Both carry the same position digit, so both are all-position classifications.

The coating digit is not a rating of one electrode against the other. It tells you which formulation the maker used, and the AWS standard describes what that formulation means. A buyer who needs a low-hydrogen electrode looks for the classification that names it, and a buyer who needs the cellulose coating looks for the classification that names that coating.

Coating, Flux and Slag

The flux coating on a stick electrode melts during welding and forms a layer of slag over the fresh weld. Slag is the protective crust that covers the hot metal while it cools. A different coating formulation produces a different slag, and the designation tells you which formulation the electrode uses.

Slag removal is part of stick welding. After the weld cools, the slag layer is removed. The coating formulation affects how that layer behaves, which is why the electrode code is a detail worth knowing before you buy a box of electrodes.

The exact description of each coating is written in the AWS standard and in the electrode maker's data, not in a welder listing title. This article does not repeat those descriptions because the standard and the maker are the sources for them.

Reading Electrode Names on a Listing

Some stick welder listings name the electrode type the machine can run. The Forney 160 STx, for example, is listed with 6010 capability. When a listing names a classification, you can compare machines by that stated detail.

If a listing does not name an electrode type, the question to ask the maker is which electrode classifications the machine is designed to run. The maker's manual is the source for that answer.

Electrode names on a listing are different from the process names on a title. A title may say Stick or MMA, while the electrode name appears in the description or the bullet list. Reading both parts of a listing gives you the full stated picture.

The same approach applies to other electrode details. The electrode diameter selection guide explains how diameter appears on a listing, and the classification code is the second detail a buyer meets.

Choosing a Stick Welder by Electrode

A buyer who knows which electrode they will use can compare machines by the electrode names on a listing or by the manual's list of supported classifications. A buyer new to stick welding can start with the process itself and read the manual once the machine is chosen.

Multi-process machines include stick welding among their listed processes. If a multi-process welder title lists MIG, TIG, and Stick, the stick process is one of the machine's modes. The electrode classifications the machine can run are the detail to look for in the manual.

For a first machine, a dedicated stick welder or a multi-process machine are both routes into stick welding. The best welder guide compares machines on stated details, and the stick welder guide focuses on the process alone.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

What does the E in E6010 mean?

E stands for electrode. The digits that follow are the classification code, and the meaning of each digit is defined by the AWS standard.

Is E6010 the same as E7018?

No. They are two different classifications under the AWS electrode system. They differ in the coating digit, with E6010 using a cellulose-based coating and E7018 using a low-hydrogen coating. The AWS standard gives the full definition of both.

Does the electrode classification change which welder to buy?

It can. Some stick welder listings name a classification, like 6010 capability. If you know the electrode you will use, you can compare machines by that stated detail. If the listing does not name one, the maker's manual lists the classifications the machine supports.

Where can the exact definition of E6010 and E7018 be read?

The American Welding Society publishes the standards that define electrode classifications. The maker's manual for a machine also lists which classifications it supports. The AWS standard and the manual are the two places to check.

Why do some listings name electrodes and others do not?

Makers choose what to put in a listing. A name like 6010 capability is a stated detail that helps a buyer who already knows the electrode. A listing without an electrode name is not a problem: the manual lists what the machine supports.