SMAW · Carbon steel
E7028
A low-hydrogen rod built for downhand production, combining moisture-controlled weld metal with the deposition rate of a heavy iron powder covering.
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.
- 2Restricted to the flat position and horizontal fillets.
- 8Low-hydrogen potassium covering with a heavy iron powder loading, run on alternating current or direct current electrode positive.
At a glance
- Process
- SMAW
- Family
- Carbon steel
- Positions
- Flat position and horizontal fillets only
- Polarity
- AC or DCEP
- Shielding
- Self-shielded by the covering
- Minimum tensile
- 70ksi
Typical uses
- High volume horizontal fillets that still require low hydrogen weld metal
- Flat position groove fills on heavy structural plate
- Shop fabrication where a positioner keeps the joint downhand
How it runs
- Deposition rate well above an all-position low-hydrogen rod
- Fluid puddle that wets out wide and flat
- Thick slag that lifts readily but must be fully removed between passes
- Cannot be used vertical or overhead because of the fluid puddle
Storage and handling
A low-hydrogen consumable requiring sealed packaging until use, a heated rod oven for rods in service, and rebaking when exposure limits are exceeded.
Compare with
SMAWE7024A heavy iron powder production rod that is dragged along the joint on its covering, laying long flat fillets faster than any all-position carbon steel electrode.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.