About WeldSymbols

What this site is

WeldSymbols is a reference database for people who need a specific answer quickly: what amperage a 1/8 inch E7018 wants, whether E6010 will run on AC, which filler joins stainless to carbon steel, or which side of the reference line means the arrow side. Every page is built to answer its question in the first paragraph and then give you the supporting detail underneath.

What it covers

• Electrode and filler metal pages with classification breakdowns, mechanical properties, amperage by diameter, shielding gas, storage requirements and application notes.
• Side-by-side comparisons of the electrode pairings people actually have to choose between.
• Welding symbol pages for the AWS A2.4 weld symbols, each with original technical drawings of both the symbol and the joint it produces.
• Process overviews for stick, MIG, TIG, flux-cored and submerged arc welding, with transfer modes, gas selection and settings tables.
• Reference guides on reading welding symbols, decoding electrode numbers, polarity, storage and welding positions.

Where the information comes from

The classification systems and minimum property requirements are factual data from the AWS filler metal specifications — A5.1, A5.3, A5.4, A5.9, A5.10, A5.18 and A5.20 — and the welding symbol conventions follow AWS A2.4. Background on processes and joint design draws on US Army TC 9-237, a public-domain military welding manual. Operating ranges are typical figures consistent with data published by manufacturers including Lincoln Electric, Miller Electric and ESAB. All text on this site is written from scratch.

How to use the numbers

Amperage ranges, voltages and wire feed speeds on this site are starting points, not specifications. Real settings depend on your machine, the joint, the position, the thickness and the material. For any coded or safety-critical work, the governing welding procedure specification and the manufacturer's data sheet are the authority — not a reference website.

Corrections

If you find an error, a figure that does not match a current data sheet, or a page that is missing something obvious, send it to [email protected]. Corrections with a source attached get fixed fastest.