What Is 6010 Welding Rod Used For?

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What is 6010 welding rod used for, when would you use it, why is 6010 so hard to weld with? Get the answers below.  You may also be wondering what polarity I need for a 6010 welding rod and what amp should I set my welder on to accommodate this type of wire. If that’s not enough information - how about learning how to weld with a 6010 welding rod?

E6010 electrodes are used in many places. They are used for welding, and they are also used to weld the root-pass for better penetration. E6010 is also used to create other types of welds, like hot-passes, fill-ups, and cap beads.

The electrode has a very high melting point and can be easily manipulated into any shape that you need it to be in order to make your desired weld type. It’s perfect for all sorts of applications because it doesn't require much filler metal or preheating time.

Moreover, it has high tensile strength and can be used in applications where higher temperature resistance is desired. What does E6010 welding rod have to do with your home? Well, you might use this type of electrode for an outdoor fireplace or chimney. What about other possible uses for E6010 welding rod?

Let's find out!  This blog post will answer all your questions about using a 6010 welding rod in both MIG and TIG applications.

We'll cover everything from specifications to proper settings needed for successful results. Ready? Great- let's get started!

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What is 6010 welding rod used for?

The electrode is used for efficient welding of all sorts, whether you're working on a construction site or in space. The tool can be put to use repairing broken welds and maintaining perfect verticality with an overhead plate welder - no matter what type of project it's needed on.

The electrode is a must-have for any welder looking to perfect their craft or maintain it. For fabrication, repair, and maintenance welding projects the iron will do you just fine while out of position x-ray welds require special consideration so these too can be completed on time with excellent results.

Here a list of some common projects for this type of electrode is given below:

E6010 rods are hard to keep stabilized because the flux in them does not contain potassium (K). Potassium helps to keep a weld from breaking apart easily. If you use E6011, then it is easier to keep the weld together. Also, when you are welding with E6010 rods, you have to use whip and pause techniques which can be tough on your body. As a result of this many people prefer not to use 6010 rods as they are hard-to-keep-stabilized, tough on your body too, and have a low deposition rate.
  1. Fabrication & repair
  2. Out-of-position x-ray welds
  3. Construction
  4. Shipbuilding
  5. Pipe welding
  6. Vertical Or Overhead Plate Welding

01. Fabrication & repair

The electrode is extremely useful for any fabrication or repair project, whether you're attempting to fix a broken weld, return the workpiece to its original state, or create a new weld. The E6010 welding rod is excellent for this type of welding so long as you keep your technique clean and effective throughout.

02. Out-of-position X-ray Welds

For those working on overhead x-ray welds, it's imperative that you use the proper electrodes in order to achieve accurate fillet-free results. In these cases, an E6010 electrode will help you out greatly as it can handle some heavy-duty metalwork that most other electrodes simply cannot withstand.

03. Construction

If you're looking to weld together steel structures, the E6010 electrode is your best bet. With excellent results on both new and existing structures alike, this welding rod will deliver what you need in terms of strength and durability while also providing for clean welds. Your finished product will speak for itself when it's outperforming other structures in the same class.

04. Shipbuilding 

In order to maintain a good standard of safety throughout the construction process, they’re manufactured using a special low hydrogen electrode coating which ensures there is no hydrogen in the weld area.

To ensure that the finished product is up to scratch, this special coating is able to sustain temperatures of up to 1200°C for shipbuilding purposes with little impact on its quality or composition.

05. Pipe welding

Outstanding welds are needed when working with pipelines and GCE's E6010 electrode is your number one source when it comes to meeting these requirements - so long as you operate correctly when using it. This type of electrode works precisely when used with flat surfaces. But can also be used with V-grooves in order to give you excellent results throughout any project. Be sure to use this rod properly in order to get the most out of your work.

06. Vertical Or Overhead Plate Welding

The E6010 electrode is ideal for both vertical and overhead plate welding, so it's great for projects like pipelines. It can also be used on flat surfaces with equal success. However, the V-groove method is what you need to use when working on these types of projects - no other electrode will get you better results than this one.

Be sure to read the chemical composition of welding electrodes carefully as each electrode may vary from another. You can find more information on this by reading about different manufacturer's products and their specifications online.

If you're looking for a fast, powerful, and high-quality weld that will last then it's time to invest in the E6010 electrode. It's easy to use and the end results will speak for themselves in terms of strength, durability, power, and stability. This electrode can handle heavy loads with ease which makes it perfect for many different types of welding projects both small and large alike.

Now you know some other possible uses for E6010 welding rod, right?

Why Is 6010 So Hard?

E6010 rods are hard to keep stabilized because the flux in them does not contain potassium (K). Potassium helps to keep a weld from breaking apart easily. If you use E6011, then it is easier to keep the weld together. Also, when you are welding with E6010 rods, you have to use whip and pause techniques which can be tough on your body. As a result of this many people prefer not to use 6010 rods as they are hard-to-keep-stabilized, tough on your body too, and have a low deposition rate.

When Would You Use A 6010 Welding Rod?

E6010 is the perfect electrode for welders who want to produce quality, tough and lasting material. It has excellent penetrative abilities that allow it deep into different surfaces like painted or galvanized steel without being prone to rusting at all.

It's a great electrode for GMAW and it has a great low-heat capability which makes it suitable to be used both in horizontal and vertical positions. It bridges welds that are previously separated by the minimum possible distance possible.

The resistance of this electrode isn't too high but not too low either which is why it works on mild steel perfectly.

It's a versatile electrode that is used for all types of welding - both AC and DC. If you're familiar with this alloy then you know why you should use it at least once in your lifetime. It has the complete package, from high-quality performance to value so if you work on different projects where reliability is important, this is a perfect choice.

What Is The Best Setting For 6010 Welding Rod?

We all know that welding is an important trade skill, but it can be hard to find the right information.

Finding the best settings for 6010 welding rod can be a frustrating process because there are so many different opinions on what will work best.

The answer is simple with this guide from Welding Tips and Tricks. This article provides you with everything you need to know about 6010 welding rod including how to use it, its benefits, and more. It's easy to read and understand which makes it perfect for beginners or experts alike.

For understanding the best settings for 6010 welding rod, you should know the following:

  1. 6010 welding rod Specifications
  2. Characteristics of 6010 Rod
  3. What amp do I need for 6010?

Let's dig into the details for a better understanding of what you can expect from this article.

01. E6010 Welding Rod Specifications

6010 welding rod Specifications are a common specification for steel.

If you're looking to buy 6010 welding rod, it's important that you know the specifications of this type of steel.

The most common specification is ASTM A633 which specifies the chemical composition and mechanical properties of 6010 weldable steel bars. This includes carbon content, manganese content, phosphorus content, sulfur content, silicon content, and nickel content. It also specifies tensile strength, yield strength, elongation percentage in 2" and 4D.

In this article, I will explain what those specifications mean, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of 6010 welding rod.

First, let's start with the chemistry.

Weld Metal Analysis (%)

AWS Spec (max)

Carbon (C)

0.11

0.20

Chromium (Cr)

0.02

0.20

Manganese (Mn)

0.28

1.20

Molybdenum (Mo)

<0.01

0.30

Nickel (Ni)

0.02

0.30

Silicon (Si)

0.14

1.00

Vanadium (V)

0.01

0.08

Type of Current: Direct Current Electrode Positive (DCEP)

Diameters: 3/32”, 1/8”, 5/32”, 3/16”

Storage & Reconditioning: After opening, store dry at room temperature and keep away from heat source. Reconditioning is not recommended.

Typical Mechanical Properties:

As Welded

AWS Spec (min)

Ultimate Tensile Strength

73,000 psi (504 MPa)

60,000 psi (414 MPa)

Yield Strength

63,000 psi (432 MPa)

48,000 psi (331 MPa)

Percent Elongation in 2”

26%

22%

Reduction of Area

64%

Not required

CVN @ -20°F

52 ft•lbf (70 Joules)

20 ft•lbf (27 Joules)

Recommended Welding Techniques:

Arc Length: - Average length (1/8” to 1/4”)

Flat: - Stay ahead of the puddle and use a slight whipping motion.

Vertical Up: - Slight whipping or weaving technique.

Vertical Down: - Use higher amperage and faster travel, staying ahead of the puddle.

Overhead: - Use a similar technique as for vertical up, multi-pass for build-up.

Pipe: - Use downhill travel.

02. Characteristics of E6010 Rod

The coatings on the rod E6010 are made of a lot of cellulose. It is more than 30% of its weight and it may also contain things like titanium dioxide, aluminum or magnesium, and ferromanganese. Because of all the cellulose, this rod is often called a "cellulosic electrode." Because of these coatings, it has deep penetration and strength qualities that make it good for any field repair work.

This rod is different from most because it is wet at the end and cools quickly. This makes it a good choice for welders who are working to make a weld from above. It can be used in many places, including shipyards, field construction, pipe welding, water towers, and steel castings.

03. What Amp Do I Need For 6010?

The welder's manual will tell you what amperage and wire speed to set in order to get a good weld.

However, the amperage will depend on lots of things. Here I'm going to give you some basic information.

The thickness of the metal will affect the amperage. If you are welding on very thin metal, it can be as light as 50 amps.

If you are welding on thicker metals like 3/16" steel plate, then you will need around 140-225 amps.

To make sure that your welder is working properly and that it's not broken, but different sizes of rods into your welding machine and try them one by one to see which rod fits at what amperage range for your desired thickness of the material. There will usually be a chart included with your machine or in the manual that tells you what size rod fits what size at what amperage range.

This chart will help you determine the amperage of your welder, but there are many other factors that affect it. If you are using aluminum, make sure to get yourself an aluminum welding rod and use it on your machine. It should give you a recommended amperage range for that particular machine that is best suited for working with both steel and aluminum.

For your information, here I give you a chart of welding wire diameter or what is also called the wire gauge and the corresponding amperage range for that certain wire size.

Diameter

Type of Power

Amperage

Deposition Rate (lbs/hr)

Deposition Efficiency %

Amperage Range

Volts Range

3/32”

 DCEP

50

1.3

53

40-70

26-29

1/8”

DCEP

100

1.6

54

65-130

26-27

5/32”

DCEP

140

1.9

55

90-175

26-28

3/16”

DCEP

170

2.6

54

140-225

26-28

How Do You Weld With A 6010 Welding Rod?

Below is some information on what you'll need in order for this process to work effectively:

Step-01: Joint Preparation

When you are welding, it might be hard to get the wire all the way through so that you can make a perfect weld. The E6010 makes sure that there is 100% penetration of the wire. But sometimes you need more than just the E6010. You need to prepare your weld, too. To do this, make sure that your pieces fit together well and that they are clean before you start welding them together with an E6010 or any other kind of electrode.

  • Edges Beveling

The pipes and the plates have edges. You should make them beveled, or curved at a certain angle. The pipes’ edge is at 37.5 degrees and the plate's edge is at 22.5 degrees.

  • Nickel Width

If you are welding two metal pieces together, leave about an inch of space between the end of the "nickel width" (about 3/32 or 1/8 inches wide) and the edge. If you don't, the heat from welding will go through that space, which is not strong enough to hold it. You can also bend a small piece of metal in a U-shape with a hole in it to fill this space when you are tacking. When you are done welding, use a grinder to feather or tapered each side so they meet up nicely.

The purpose of this is to have something with which you can make a good arc. The piece needs to be thin and long enough for the heat to come through it and start making the tack hot. Once the arc is made, you need to keep it going and try and tighten it up as much as possible without breaking it (but still not too tight). Then you should transition from feathering into the gap.

Step-02: Implement Whip and Pause Technique

There are three things you can do to make this happen. First, make sure the voltage is high (because the farther away you are, the more voltage there will be). You can do this by making a long arc. If you want less power, they have a shorter arc. This type of electrode needs to have a short arc that is really close to the metal object. If it is not close enough, then it will not work well. Hold your arm out really far and touch an object with your finger to see what I mean.

It is important to do two techniques together. One is "whip" and the other is "pause". You use the whip technique by moving the electrode forward for a short time, then you pause it. The other technique is reading with your eyes 'the keyhole'. This means looking at one place on the metal for a long time.

The whip & pause motion is when the person moves forward for one electrode, then back. They move forward for about one electrode before whipping again. But some people do not pause.

When you use the electrode and it starts to get hot, you need to whip it. Whip it so that the metal cools down and becomes more solid. Then, whip it so that you can do some things with the puddle of metal. You'll want to move the electrode around while whipping because this lets you control what happens in your metal. And then when a new arc comes into contact with another piece of metal, this makes a keyhole shape in the middle of your joint.

Step-03: Take a look at the keyhole’s condition

When you are welding, an open root joint will create a keyhole. If you can read the keyhole, you know how much heat is in the metal. When it is hotter, the metal melts more and so there is more of a hole. You need to be able to judge when to use less heat or when it will be better if you add more.

The keyhole is in danger of blowing through the joint if it becomes too large. If this happens, you need to either get the arc tighter or make an oval shape so that the heat goes on the bevel. If these things do not work, then stop welding and reduce your amperage.

Conclusion

E6010 welding rod is the most commonly used in heavy fabrication. If you are using a single-strand wire, it may be best to weld at 50 amps. When welding with two strands of wire, increase your amp setting to 60 or 70 amps depending on how thick the metal being welded is.

I hope that this blog post has answered some of your questions about the 6010 welding rod and how it can be used.

Last Updated on December 1, 2021 by weldinghubs

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