Electrode comparison
E7018 vs E71T-1
Both give low-hydrogen-class 70 ksi welds for structural work. E7018 is portable and wind-tolerant; E71T-1 deposits several times faster indoors.
E7018 vs E71T-1 at a glance
| E7018 | E71T-1 | |
|---|---|---|
| AWS specification | AWS A5.1/A5.1M | AWS A5.20/A5.20M |
| Process | Stick (SMAW) | Flux-Cored (FCAW) |
| Form | Covered electrode | Tubular wire |
| Tensile strength (min) | 70 ksi | 70 ksi |
| Yield strength (min) | 58 ksi | 58 ksi |
| Elongation (min) | 22% | 22% |
| Impact toughness | 20 ft·lb at -20 °F (27 J at -29 °C) | 20 ft·lb at 0 °F (27 J at -18 °C); -1J and -1M grades extend this to -20 °F |
| Polarity | DCEP, AC | DCEP |
| Positions | Flat, Horizontal, Vertical, Overhead | Flat, Horizontal, Vertical, Overhead |
| Penetration | Medium | Medium to deep |
| Deposition rate | High | Very high — roughly twice the rate of a comparable stick electrode |
| Coating / core | Low-hydrogen potassium with iron powder | Rutile flux core inside a mild steel sheath |
| Slag | Heavy, brown-glassy, releases cleanly when run correctly | Fast-freezing rutile slag that supports the puddle out of position and peels readily |
| Shielding gas | None — self-shielding | 100% CO2 or 75% argon / 25% CO2 |
| 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). | Keep dry. The flux core absorbs moisture through the seam of the wire, and damp wire means porosity and hydrogen cracking. |
| Primary use | Structural steel erection, bridges and buildings | Structural steel fabrication and erection |
Which should you use?
On structural steel these are the two serious options, and the choice is usually about where the work happens. E7018 needs no gas, works in wind and rain, and carries the low-hydrogen credentials that codes are built around — but you stop every 14 inches to change rods. E71T-1 feeds continuously and deposits at several times the rate, with a slag system good enough for all-position welding at high current and a 20 ft·lb at 0 °F impact requirement — but it depends on shielding gas and cannot be used outdoors without shelter.
Choose E7018 when
- Field erection and outdoor work
- Short welds, tacking and varied joints
- Maximum portability
- Situations where gas logistics are impractical
Choose E71T-1 when
- Shop fabrication with long welds
- Heavy plate and multi-pass joints
- Production work where deposition rate drives cost
- Indoor structural fabrication
Amperage compared
| Diameter | E7018 | E71T-1 |
|---|---|---|
| 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 70–120 A | — |
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 110–165 A | — |
| 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 150–220 A | — |
| 3/16 in (4.8 mm) | 200–275 A | — |
| 7/32 in (5.6 mm) | 260–340 A | — |
| 0.035 in (0.9 mm) | — | 90–250 A |
| 0.045 in (1.2 mm) | — | 150–350 A |
| 0.052 in (1.4 mm) | — | 180–400 A |
| 1/16 in (1.6 mm) | — | 200–450 A |
Ranges are typical starting points. Diameters listed for only one electrode are shown as — for the other.
E7018 vs E71T-1 — common questions
Is E71T-1 considered low hydrogen?
Gas-shielded flux-cored wires are available in low-hydrogen designations such as H4 and H8, and E71T-1 wires commonly carry one. Check the specific product's designation rather than assuming — the classification alone does not guarantee it.
Which has better toughness?
E7018 requires 20 ft·lb at -20 °F; standard E71T-1 requires 20 ft·lb at 0 °F, with -1J and -1M variants extending to -20 °F. For low-temperature service, check the exact classification.
How much faster is flux core?
Several times, once duty cycle is counted. Continuous feed eliminates rod changes and stub loss, and the wire runs at higher current than a stick rod of comparable size.
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.
E71T-1
AWS A5.20/A5.20M
E71T-1 is gas-shielded flux-cored wire — the high-deposition, all-position production workhorse for structural steel, combining FCAW speed with a smooth spray-like arc.