SMAW · Carbon steel
E7018
The workhorse structural low-hydrogen rod, giving a smooth arc, a moisture-controlled deposit, and the crack resistance that heavy sections and restrained joints demand.
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 deposited weld metal.
- 1Usable in all welding positions.
- 8Low-hydrogen potassium covering with iron powder added, run on direct current electrode positive or alternating current.
At a glance
- Process
- SMAW
- Family
- Carbon steel
- Positions
- All positions
- Polarity
- DCEP, or AC
- Shielding
- Self-shielded by the covering
- Minimum tensile
- 70ksi
Typical uses
- Structural steel connections on buildings and bridges
- Heavy plate and restrained joints prone to hydrogen cracking
- Pressure vessel and pipe fill passes under a qualified procedure
How it runs
- Smooth, quiet arc with medium penetration and little spatter
- Heavy, glassy slag that releases in a single shell
- Flat to slightly convex bead with a fine, even ripple
- Needs a short arc length and a drag or slight push technique, not whipping
Storage and handling
Low-hydrogen coverings absorb atmospheric moisture. Open cans go straight into a heated rod oven, exposure time is limited, and rods left out must be rebaked or discarded.
Compare with
SMAWE7016A 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.SMAWE7028A low-hydrogen rod built for downhand production, combining moisture-controlled weld metal with the deposition rate of a heavy iron powder covering.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.SMAWE6010A fast-freeze cellulosic rod that digs deep and stays the traditional pick for open root passes on pipe and for repair work on plate that is not clean.