What do the number of welding rod mean?
Arc welding electrodes are coded by the American Welding Society [AWS]. Each AWS number gives complete information about the electrode. Classifications of mild and low alloy steel electrodes are based on an ‘E’ prefix and a four or five digit number. The first two digits [or three, in a five digit number] indicate the minimum required tensile strength in thousands of pounds per square inch [psi]. The next to last digit indicates the welding position in which the electrode is capable of making satisfactory welds. [1 = All positions, 2 = Flat position and horizontal fillets]. The last digit indicates the type of current to be used and the type of covering on the electrode [see fig. 1]. fig. 1 FOURTH DIGIT TYPE COATING CURRENT 0 Organic DC+ only 1 Organic AC, DC+, DC- 2 Rutile AC or DC- 3 Rutile AC, DC-, DC+ 4 Rutile, Iron Powder AC, DC-, DC+ 5 DC+ only 6 Low Hydrogen AC or DC+ 7 Low Hydrogen AC, DC-, DC+ 8 Mineral Iron Powder AC or DC+ Low Hydrogen, Iron Powder Example: E6010 a. The pref
