Electrode comparison

E308L vs E410

E308L is an austenitic 304-matching filler that needs no heat treatment; E410 is a hardening martensitic filler for 410 base metal and wear surfaces.

E308L vs E410 at a glance

	E308L	E410
AWS specification	AWS A5.4/A5.4M	AWS A5.4/A5.4M
Process	Stick (SMAW)	Stick (SMAW)
Form	Covered electrode	Covered electrode
Tensile strength (min)	75 ksi	75 ksi
Yield strength (min)	45 ksi	55 ksi
Elongation (min)	35%	20%
Impact toughness	Not required; austenitic deposits stay tough to cryogenic temperatures	Not required; properties depend heavily on post-weld heat treatment
Polarity	DCEP, AC	DCEP, AC
Positions	Flat, Horizontal, Vertical, Overhead	Flat, Horizontal, Vertical, Overhead
Penetration	Shallow to medium	Medium
Deposition rate	Medium	Medium
Coating / core	Lime-titania (-16)	Lime or lime-titania
Slag	Self-lifting, brittle, must be removed completely between passes	Moderate, releases readily
Shielding gas	None — self-shielding	None — self-shielding
Storage	Keep dry. Stainless coatings pick up moisture and cause porosity and worm tracks.	Dry storage and a rod oven at 250–300 °F (120–150 °C) after opening — hydrogen cracking is a real risk with martensitic deposits.
Primary use	Food, dairy and beverage equipment	Repair and joining of 410 martensitic stainless components

Which should you use?

These are different classes of stainless entirely. E308L deposits an austenitic 19Cr-10Ni weld: ductile, tough, non-hardening, easy to weld and corrosion resistant in general service. E410 deposits a 12% chromium martensitic weld that hardens in still air, needs preheat and post-weld tempering, and can exceed 40 HRC as welded. E410 exists for matching 410 base metal and for wear overlays; it is not an alternative filler for 304 work.

Choose E308L when

Type 304 and 304L fabrication
Anywhere post-weld heat treatment is impractical
Corrosion service without wear requirements

Choose E410 when

Type 410 and 12% chromium base metals
Wear-resistant surfacing
Applications where a hard deposit is the objective

Amperage compared

Diameter	E308L	E410
3/32 in (2.4 mm)	40–80 A	40–80 A
1/8 in (3.2 mm)	65–110 A	70–110 A
5/32 in (4.0 mm)	95–150 A	100–150 A
3/16 in (4.8 mm)	130–190 A	130–190 A

Ranges are typical starting points. Diameters listed for only one electrode are shown as — for the other.

E308L vs E410 — common questions

Can E410 weld 304 stainless?

It is the wrong choice. The martensitic deposit has lower corrosion resistance than 304 and requires heat treatment the 304 assembly probably will not receive.

Why does E410 need preheat when E308L does not?

E410's deposit transforms to hard, brittle martensite as it cools through the transformation range. Preheat and controlled cooling slow that transformation enough to avoid cracking. Austenitic E308L does not transform at all.

Which is more corrosion resistant?

E308L, in most environments. Its higher chromium and nickel give far better general corrosion resistance than a 12% chromium martensitic deposit.

Full specifications

E308L

AWS A5.4/A5.4M

E308L is the standard stick electrode for welding 304 and 304L stainless, with a low 0.04% maximum carbon that protects against intergranular corrosion.

E410