The 7018 and 8018 welding rods are low hydrogen rods used predominantly in the welding of high tensile steel. The 8018, which will be the focus of my article, is used for welding high tensile steel of between 70 t0 80 Ksi.
Also, this rod is recommended where notch toughness is required at low temperatures. Needless to say, this welding rod is more specialized than your typical 6011 or 6010 rods. So what are some of the notable properties of the 8019 welding rod?
Recommended Best 8018 welding rods
Image | Product | Price |
  | Lincoln Electric Excalibur 8018-C3 MR Low Alloy Steel Electrode | |
  | Washington Alloy 8018-C3 10lbs Welding Stick Electrode | |
  | Esab AtomArc 8018-B6L Low Alloy Steel Electrode |
All about 8018 Welding Rod
E-8018 Welding Rod Applications
The first question you are probably asking yourself is, what is the 8018 welding rod used for? As mentioned, this is a low hydrogen rod that excels in the welding of high tensile steel.
So what are some of the 8018 welding rod uses? This rod is used in a wide array of applications. These include;
- Bridge construction,
- General and industrial fabrication,
- Pipelines, ship and barge building
- Mobile equipment manufacture
- Weathering steels
The 8019 electrodes are primarily used in stick welding since it has an iron-rich flux low in hydrogen
Mechanical properties of E 8018
| Tensile Strength | 80-85 Ksi |
| Yield Strength | 70-74 Ksi |
| Elongation | 24-30 % |
| Welding Current | AC, DC (+,-) |
| Coating Type | Low-hydrogen iron powder |
| Welding Position | All position |
welding parameters of 8018 weldig rod
| Diameter (inch) | Diameter (mm) | Polarity | Current (amp) | Deposition Rate | Deposition Efficiency (%) | Optimal Amps |
| 3/32 | 2.4 mm | DCEP, AC | 70-100 | 0.8 kg/h (1.7 lb/h) | 66.3 % | 90 |
| 1/8 | 3.2 mm | DCEP, AC | 90-160 | 1.2 kg/h (2.6 lb/h) | 71.6 % | 120 |
| 1/8 | 3.2 mm | AC | 90-160 | 1.2 kg/h (2.7 lb/h) | 70.9 % | 140 |
| 5/32 | 4.0 mm | DCEP, AC | 130-220 | 1.7 kg/h (3.8 lb/h) | 73.5 % | 170 |
| 5/32 | 4.0 mm | AC | 130-220 | 1.1 kg/h (3.1 lb/h) | 75 % | 140 |
| 3/16 | 4.8 mm | DCEP, AC | 200-300 | 2.2 kg/h (4.9 lb/h) | 76.4 % | 200 |
| 3/16 | 4.8 mm | AC | 200-300 | 2.4 kg/h (5.4 lb/h) | 74.6 % | 250 |
deposit composition as per AWS A5.5 requirements
| Weld metal | C | Cr | Cu | Mn | Mo | Nb | Ni | P | S | Si | V | Diffusible H2 |
| AWS Spec Max % | 0.045 | 0.06 | 0.139 | 0.40-1.25 | 0.35 | 0.003 | 0.80-1.10 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.80 | 0.05 | 4.09 (ml/100gm) |
The welding positions
If you know anything about welding rods, then you know that the designated numbers such as 8018 aren’t random. We can use this number to know what a rod is capable of and wielding it.
The third number in the figure denotes the positions a rod can be used. For the 8018, the third number is one that refers to the 8018 welding rod positions. This means that the rod can be used in all positions.
The 8018 welding rod meaning
The full name of this welding rod is the E8018. The E stands for electrode, with the first two numbers representing a tensile strength of 80,000 PSI. This is the welded tensile strength of this electrode.
As mentioned, the one that comes after the first two figures means the rod can be used in all positions. The last eight refers to the composition of the electrode’s flux. In this regard, the flux is high in iron powder and low in hydrogen.
What is the 8018 welding rod amperage?
There is no universal 8018 welding rod amperage. The amperage to be used will depend on the diameter of the rod. In turn, the diameter of the rod will depend on the thickness of the metal being welded.
Nevertheless, this welding rod can be used with an amperage rating of up to 250. Overall, the general rule of thumb is that you should use 30 amps per 1/32 inch of the rod. This means a 3/32 inch rod’s optimal amperage is 90 amps.
On the other hand, the optimal amperage for a 3/16 inch rod is 250 amps. As such, the amperage will depend on the rod’s diameter.
Tips For Using 8018 Welding Rod
Here are some 8018 welding rod tips to keep note of when using this rod.
- The welding rod should be kept dry and in temperatures between 100 and 150 degrees celsius and away from moisture. This is so as to prevent the absorption of hydrogen by the rods.
- When welding using this rod, keep the arch short.
- Also, when welding, pay attention to the heat input. Excessive heat input can lead to problems with the weld strength.
Is 8018 welding rod low hydrogen?
Yes, the 8018 rod has a flux composed of iron powder and low hydrogen.
The 8018-b2 welding rod
The 8018-b2 welding rod is used mainly for welding steels with higher tensile strength, higher than 80,000. The flux of this rod has a higher iron powder content. Furthermore, the rod is designed to be used in high heat and humidity conditions. It is resistant to moisture reabsorption, which aids in preventing hydrogen cracking.
8018-c1 welding rod
The 8018-c1 welding rod is another version of the 8018 low hydrogen rod. This particular rod is used in welding nickel-bearing steels. The rod is used to achieve the toughness of the welded metal at low temperatures. It is primarily used in shipbuilding, piping, and the construction of tanks used for storing gases.
8018-c3 welding rod
The 8018-c3 welding rod is also used in welding steels of high tensile strengths up to 80,000 psi. This rod is mainly used where notch toughness is required at low temperatures. Similar to the c1 variant, it is also used in shipbuilding, piping, and gas storage tanks construction.
7018 vs 8018 welding rod
The 7018 and 8018 welding rods are used in similar welding applications. As such, both are used in the welding of high tensile strength steels. In the case of the 7018, it is used to weld steels of up to 70,000 PSI.
Furthermore, both are classified as low hydrogen electrodes. However, the 7018 is more ductile than the 8018. On its part, the 8018 is preferred for welding housings since it’s a close match to the strength of the cast.
Conclusion
The 8018 requires a skilled pair of hands to be used properly. And while it is mainly used in industrial settings such as shipbuilding, you can also use it in your small personal projects. Overall, this rod is used where weld toughness and strength at low temperatures are required.
