E-6010

Electrode

Minimum tensile strength (1000s of psi)

Position of welding

Type of Coating, Current & Polarity

So the example E-6010 would be an Electrode with 60,000 psi tensile strength , all position, with a cellulose sodium coating, DC reverse polarity.

Electrode is pretty self explanitory. If it is a stick that doesn't have an E on it, I'm not sure you can weld with it. Try writing with it, or perhaps pushing a hoop with it.

errr...Awelding rod that does not have an "E" on it is classified as oxy-fuel welding rod. thanks Darcy! forgot about that stuff...

Minimum tensile strength (1000s of psi) is also pretty self explanitory. just take those two numbers and add three zeros to it. I believe that means how much it should take to pull that weld apart. If it's good.

Position of welding in which the electrode is capable of producing satisfactory Welds

1. 1--All positions: Flat, Vertical, Horizontal, & Overhead
2. 2--Flat Position or Horizontal Fillets Only
3. 3--Flat Position Only

Type of Coating, Current & Polarity

the way this was explained to me is all of these lists pertain to the last number (Type of Coating, Current & Polarity), but from different sources. I think the actual chemical elements (the last list) is from an old OSHA text which names the main ingredient in the coating.

1. 0--Non-low hydrogen, DC Reverse polarity
2. 1--Non-low hydrogen, AC or DC Reverse polarity
3. 2--Non-low hydrogen, AC or DC Straight polarity
4. 3--Non-low hydrogen, AC or DC Either polarity
5. 4--Non-low hydrogen, iron powder coating, AC or DC Reverse polarity
6. 5--Low-hydrogen, DC Reverse polarity
7. 6--Low-hydrogen, AC or DC Reverse polarity
8. 7--Non-low hydrogen, iron powder coating, AC or DC Reverse polarity
9. 8--Low hydrogen, iron powder coating, AC or DC Reverse polarity

Type of Current & Polarity

1. 6010, 6015, 7015---DC Reverse only
2. 6020, 6030---------AC/DC both
3. 1, 6, 8---------------AC/DC Reverse
4. 2,3------------------AC/DC Straight
5. 2,7------------------AC/DC Both

Type of Coating

1. 0--Cellulose Sodium
2. 1--Cellulose Potassium
3. 2--Titania Sodium
4. 3--Titania Potassium
5. 4--Iron-powder Titania
6. 5--Low-hi Sodium
7. 6--Low-hi Potassium
8. 7--Iron-powder Iron-oxide
9. 8--Iron-powder Low-hi

There is also information about the Chemical Composition of the weld deposit alloy itself to be had, as a -(letter)(number) after the basic electrode designation, for example E7018- B2, means a 1-1/4 Cr, 1/2 Mo weld deposit.

(I'm assuming that the CR is Chromium, the MO is Molybdenum, and MN is Manganese as per the table of elements. The rest of the metals were spelled out already. )

1. (NONE)--Mild Steel
2. A1---Carbon Moly
3. B1---1/2 CR, 1/2 MO
4. B2---1-1/4 CR, 1/2 MO
5. B3---1-1/4 CR, 1 MO
6. C1---2-1/2 Nickel
7. C2---3-1/2 Nickel
8. C3---1 Nickel
9. D1---1-1/2 MN, 1/4 MO
10. D2---1 MN, 1/4MO
11. G---Alloy not designated
12. M---conforms to military specs.