SMAW · Carbon steel
E7016
A low-hydrogen rod with a tighter, less fluid puddle than its iron powder relative, which is why many pipe welders prefer it for vertical and overhead fills.
What the designation means
Point at any character to see what it claims. The classification is a sentence written in fields, not a product name.
- EElectrode for shielded metal arc welding.
- 7070,000 psi minimum tensile strength of the deposit.
- 1Usable in all welding positions.
- 6Low-hydrogen potassium covering without added iron powder, run on alternating current or direct current electrode positive.
At a glance
- Process
- SMAW
- Family
- Carbon steel
- Positions
- All positions
- Polarity
- AC or DCEP
- Shielding
- Self-shielded by the covering
- Minimum tensile
- 70ksi
Typical uses
- Out-of-position fill and cap passes on pipe
- Welds on higher carbon or crack-sensitive steels
- Code work that specifies a low-hydrogen consumable
How it runs
- Stiffer, more controllable puddle than the iron powder low-hydrogen rods
- Moderate penetration with a smooth, crisp arc
- Dense slag that lifts as a shell once the bead contracts
- Slightly slower deposition than iron powder low-hydrogen rods of the same size
Storage and handling
A moisture-controlled consumable. Keep unopened cans sealed, move working rods into a heated rod oven, and observe the rebake schedule if atmospheric exposure limits are exceeded.
Compare with
SMAWE7018The workhorse structural low-hydrogen rod, giving a smooth arc, a moisture-controlled deposit, and the crack resistance that heavy sections and restrained joints demand.SMAWE6018A low-hydrogen rod at the 60 ksi strength level, chosen when a moisture-controlled deposit is needed but the base metal does not call for 70 ksi weld metal.SMAWE7018-1The same low-hydrogen chemistry as the standard structural rod but qualified to a colder impact test, so it is specified where the finished joint must stay tough in cold service.