Electrode comparison

E7018 vs E7024

E7024 deposits far faster but only flat and horizontal; E7018 works all positions and is the low-hydrogen rod codes require.

E7018 vs E7024 at a glance

	E7018	E7024
AWS specification	AWS A5.1/A5.1M	AWS A5.1/A5.1M
Process	Stick (SMAW)	Stick (SMAW)
Form	Covered electrode	Covered electrode
Tensile strength (min)	70 ksi	70 ksi
Yield strength (min)	58 ksi	58 ksi
Elongation (min)	22%	17%
Impact toughness	20 ft·lb at -20 °F (27 J at -29 °C)	Not required by AWS A5.1 for this classification
Polarity	DCEP, AC	AC, DCEP, DCEN
Positions	Flat, Horizontal, Vertical, Overhead	Flat, Horizontal fillet
Penetration	Medium	Shallow
Deposition rate	High	Very high
Coating / core	Low-hydrogen potassium with iron powder	Iron-powder titania, roughly 50% iron powder
Slag	Heavy, brown-glassy, releases cleanly when run correctly	Very heavy, usually peels off in one strip
Shielding gas	None — self-shielding	None — self-shielding
Storage	Low-hydrogen rods must be kept dry. Hermetically sealed until opened, then held in a rod oven at 250–300 °F (120–150 °C).	Dry room-temperature storage; no oven required.
Primary use	Structural steel erection, bridges and buildings	Long horizontal fillet welds on heavy plate

Which should you use?

Both are 70 ksi electrodes, and both use iron powder — but E7024 carries roughly 50% iron powder against E7018's smaller addition, which makes it the fastest-depositing common stick rod. The price is position: the 2 in E7024 restricts it to the flat position and horizontal fillets, and its shallow penetration means it cannot be used for a root pass. E7018 covers all positions, is low hydrogen, and carries a toughness requirement. On a positioned production fillet E7024 will fill the joint in far less time; anywhere else E7018 is the rod.

Choose E7018 when

Any out-of-position work — vertical or overhead
Code work requiring low hydrogen
Root passes and joints with variable fit-up

Choose E7024 when

Long flat or horizontal fillets on heavy plate
Production work where deposition rate drives cost
Filling large flat groove welds quickly

Amperage compared

Diameter	E7018	E7024
3/32 in (2.4 mm)	70–120 A	100–145 A
1/8 in (3.2 mm)	110–165 A	140–190 A
5/32 in (4.0 mm)	150–220 A	180–250 A
3/16 in (4.8 mm)	200–275 A	230–305 A
7/32 in (5.6 mm)	260–340 A	285–375 A

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

E7018 vs E7024 — common questions

Can E7024 be used vertical?

No. The 2 in the classification limits it to the flat position and horizontal fillets. The large fluid puddle sags out of position.

Is E7024 low hydrogen?

No. It is a rutile iron-powder electrode. E7028 is the high-deposition rod that is also low hydrogen, and it is rated for flat and horizontal fillets.

How much faster is E7024?

Substantially — the heavy iron-powder coating puts far more metal per inch of rod into the joint, and it is dragged at high travel speed. On long horizontal fillets that difference dominates the cost of the weld.

Full specifications

E7018

AWS A5.1/A5.1M

E7018 is the low-hydrogen structural rod — 70 ksi tensile, tough at -20 °F, all positions, and the default electrode on most structural and code work.

E7024