Welding electrodes are generally divided into two broad categories: consumable and non-consumable electrodes. When classified by welding process, four common types are SMAW stick electrodes, GMAW/MIG wire electrodes, FCAW flux-cored electrodes and GTAW/TIG tungsten electrodes.
For stick welding, electrodes are also commonly grouped by coating and AWS classification, including familiar types such as E6010, E6011, E6013, E7016 and E7018. Each type differs in penetration, polarity, welding position, hydrogen control and typical application.
This guide explains the major types of welding electrodes and helps welders, fabrication companies and industrial buyers choose suitable electrodes for structural steel, pipelines, repair, low-temperature service, cast iron and wear-resistant applications.
Welding electrode types are selected according to welding process, coating, base metal and application requirements.
Content Updated: September 2026
Technical Basis: Minghua product data, commonly used welding-electrode classifications and the technical references listed at the end of this guide.
There is no single fixed number of welding electrode types because electrodes can be grouped in several different ways. The table below provides a quick overview of the most common classification methods.
| Classification | Main Types |
|---|---|
| By Consumption | Consumable and non-consumable electrodes |
| By Welding Process | SMAW, GMAW/MIG, FCAW and GTAW/TIG |
| By SMAW Coating | Cellulosic, rutile and basic / low-hydrogen electrodes |
| Common Stick Electrodes | E6010, E6011, E6013, E7016 and E7018 |
| By Base Metal / Application | Carbon steel, low-alloy steel, stainless steel, cast iron, nickel alloy and hardfacing |
You may see references to two types, four types or many different types of welding electrodes. These answers are not necessarily contradictory because they use different classification methods.
For example, the same product may be described as a consumable electrode, an SMAW electrode, a low-hydrogen electrode and an E7018 electrode. Each description refers to a different characteristic of the electrode.
| Classification Method | Main Groups | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| By Consumption | Consumable / Non-consumable | Stick electrode, welding wire, tungsten |
| By Welding Process | SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW | Covered rod, solid wire, cored wire, tungsten |
| By Coating | Rutile, cellulosic, basic / low hydrogen | E6013, E6010, E7018 |
| By Base Metal | Carbon steel, low-alloy, stainless, cast iron, nickel alloy | E7018, E8018-C3, Z308, nickel electrodes |
| By Application | Structural, pipeline, repair, hardfacing, low-temperature | E7016, E7018, D212, D707 |
If you first need to understand what an electrode does during arc welding, read our beginner's guide to welding electrodes . This page focuses specifically on the different welding electrode types and how to select between them.
At the broadest level, welding electrodes can be divided into consumable electrodes and non-consumable electrodes.
| Consumable Electrodes | Consumable electrodes melt during welding and contribute metal to the weld deposit. Common examples include coated SMAW stick electrodes, GMAW/MIG solid wire and FCAW flux-cored wire. |
| Non-Consumable Electrodes | Non-consumable electrodes primarily conduct welding current and maintain the arc rather than serving as the normal source of filler metal. Tungsten electrodes used in GTAW/TIG are the most familiar example. |
When people ask about the four main types of welding electrodes, one useful approach is to classify them according to the arc-welding process in which they are used.
| Type | Electrode Form | Consumable? | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMAW / Stick | Flux-coated rod | Yes | Structural welding, repair, pipeline and field fabrication |
| GMAW / MIG | Continuous solid wire | Yes | Production welding and automated fabrication |
| FCAW | Flux-cored tubular wire | Yes | Heavy fabrication and high-deposition welding |
| GTAW / TIG | Tungsten electrode | No | Precision welding and high-control applications |
For stick welding, coating type strongly influences arc behavior, penetration, slag characteristics, current compatibility and hydrogen control. Three common groups are rutile, cellulosic and basic / low-hydrogen electrodes.
Rutile electrodes are known for relatively easy arc starting, smooth operating characteristics, attractive bead appearance and manageable slag removal. A widely used example is E6013 welding electrode. It is commonly selected for general fabrication, maintenance and repair applications where ease of operation is important.
Cellulosic electrodes such as E6010 and E6011 produce a forceful arc and relatively deep penetration. They are commonly associated with pipeline root passes, field welding and repair. E6010 is generally associated with DCEP operation, while E6011 provides AC capability where permitted by the applicable classification and product specification.
Low-hydrogen electrodes are widely used where weld integrity, toughness and hydrogen-cracking control are important. Typical classifications include E7016 welding electrode and E7018 welding rod .
Both are associated with structural and demanding fabrication applications, but their coating formulations and operating characteristics differ. For a detailed comparison, see our E7016 vs E7018 welding electrode guide.
E7018 is a common low-hydrogen stick welding electrode used for structural fabrication and other demanding applications.
E6010, E6011, E6013, E7016 and E7018 are among the most commonly discussed stick welding electrode types. Their differences in coating, penetration, current usability and application make each one suitable for different welding conditions.
| Electrode | Coating Type | Penetration | Common Current | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E6010 | Cellulosic | Deep | DCEP | Pipeline root passes and field welding |
| E6011 | Cellulosic | Deep | AC / DCEP | Repair, maintenance and field welding |
| E6013 | Rutile | Light to Medium | AC / DC* | General fabrication and maintenance |
| E7016 | Low Hydrogen | Medium | AC / DCEP* | Structural and demanding fabrication |
| E7018 | Low Hydrogen / Iron Powder | Medium | AC / DCEP* | Structural steel and heavy fabrication |
*Exact polarity, current range, welding-position capability and operating characteristics should always be confirmed against the specific manufacturer's technical datasheet and qualified welding procedure.
Another practical way to understand different types of welding electrodes is by considering the material being welded and the service requirements of the finished component.
Common choices include E6013 for general fabrication and E7016 or E7018 for structural applications requiring low-hydrogen consumables. Minghua's mild steel and alloy steel welding electrode range covers multiple fabrication requirements.
Low-temperature service may require alloyed low-hydrogen electrodes with specified mechanical properties and impact toughness. Examples include E8018-C3 welding rod and E9018-G welding rod. Selection should follow the base-metal grade, required mechanical properties and approved WPS.
Cast iron repair requires electrodes selected according to casting type, machinability requirements and crack sensitivity. For example, Z308 nickel welding rod can be used for gray cast iron repair where machinability is important. Other options include Z208 and Z408 depending on repair requirements.
Hardfacing electrodes are designed to rebuild worn surfaces or create wear-resistant deposits rather than simply join two components. Minghua's hardfacing welding rod range includes products for different abrasion, impact and wear conditions, such as D212 hardfacing electrode and D707 tungsten carbide welding rod.
Stainless steel and nickel-alloy electrodes should be selected according to alloy chemistry, corrosion resistance, service temperature and whether similar or dissimilar metals are being joined. These electrodes represent material-specific groups rather than another SMAW coating category.
The correct electrode depends on the actual welding procedure, but the following examples provide a practical starting point.
AWS classifications provide important information about electrode strength, welding-position capability, coating and current usability. For example, the common carbon-steel classification E7018 can be interpreted at a basic level as follows:
| E | Identifies the product as an electrode. |
| 70 | Indicates the 70 ksi minimum tensile-strength class. |
| 1 | Indicates all-position welding capability under the classification. |
| 8 | Relates to coating and current-usability characteristics; E7018 is associated with a low-hydrogen iron-powder type. |
This section is intentionally brief because AWS classification has a different search intent from welding electrode types. For a detailed explanation of strength digits, positions, coating designations and polarity, read our welding electrode classification and AWS code guide.
Choosing a welding electrode only by rod number or price can lead to unsuitable weldability or mechanical properties. Procurement teams, welding engineers and fabricators should evaluate several factors together.
| Selection Factor | What to Check | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Base Metal | Carbon steel, alloy steel, cast iron, stainless or nickel alloy | E7018 vs Z308 |
| Required Strength | Match engineering and code requirements | E60XX / E70XX / E80XX |
| Welding Position | Flat, horizontal, vertical or overhead | Check electrode classification |
| Power Source | AC, DCEP or DCEN capability | E6010 vs E6011 |
| Penetration | Root pass, thin plate, fill or cap requirement | Cellulosic vs rutile |
| Hydrogen Control | Material crack sensitivity and structural requirements | E7016 / E7018 |
| Service Temperature | Normal or low-temperature service | E8018-C3 / E9018-G |
| Wear Conditions | Abrasion, impact or metal-to-metal wear | D212 / D707 |
Minghua provides welding consumables and manufacturing solutions for industrial welding applications.
Minghua supplies industrial welding electrodes for general fabrication, structural welding, low-temperature service, cast iron repair and hardfacing applications. The table below provides a practical starting point for product selection.
| Electrode | General Type | Typical Selection Scenario |
|---|---|---|
| E6013 | Rutile general-purpose electrode | General fabrication and repair |
| E7016 | Low-hydrogen structural electrode | Structural and demanding steel welding |
| E7018 | Low-hydrogen iron-powder electrode | Structural steel and heavy fabrication |
| E8018-C3 | Low-temperature low-alloy electrode | Specified low-temperature applications |
| E9018-G | High-strength low-alloy electrode | Specified high-strength and low-alloy applications |
| Z308 | Nickel cast iron electrode | Gray cast iron repair requiring machinability |
| D212 | Hardfacing electrode | Repair and rebuilding of worn components |
| D707 | Tungsten carbide surfacing electrode | Severe abrasive-wear applications |
For additional grades and electrode classifications, explore Minghua's complete welding electrode and welding rod range.
There is no single fixed number because electrodes can be classified in different ways. At the broadest level there are two categories: consumable and non-consumable electrodes. By welding process, four common groups are SMAW stick electrodes, GMAW/MIG wire electrodes, FCAW cored electrodes and GTAW/TIG tungsten electrodes.
When classified by common arc-welding process, the four groups are SMAW coated stick electrodes, GMAW/MIG solid wire electrodes, FCAW flux-cored wire electrodes and GTAW/TIG tungsten electrodes.
Consumable electrodes melt during welding and normally contribute metal to the weld deposit. Examples include SMAW stick electrodes and MIG/FCAW wire. Non-consumable electrodes such as TIG tungsten primarily conduct current and maintain the welding arc.
Frequently used carbon-steel stick electrode classifications include E6010, E6011, E6013, E7016 and E7018. They differ in coating, penetration, current usability and typical applications.
E6013 is a rutile-type electrode commonly used for general fabrication and maintenance, while E7018 is a 70 ksi-class low-hydrogen iron-powder electrode widely used for structural fabrication. The correct choice depends on base metal, required strength, hydrogen control, power source and welding procedure.
Both are low-hydrogen electrodes in the 70 ksi strength class, but their coating formulations and operating characteristics differ. E7018 uses a low-hydrogen iron-powder coating type, while E7016 has different coating and usability characteristics. Final selection should follow the product datasheet and approved welding procedure.
E6013 is widely used for general mild-steel fabrication, while E7016 and E7018 may be selected where higher strength or low-hydrogen performance is required. Base-metal grade, thickness, joint design and applicable project requirements should be checked before final selection.
E7016 and E7018 are commonly considered for structural steel applications where low-hydrogen consumables and defined mechanical properties are required. The actual electrode must match the steel grade, design code, welding position and qualified WPS.
For a classification such as E7018, “E” identifies an electrode, “70” represents the tensile-strength class, “1” relates to welding-position capability and the final digit relates to coating and current usability. Refer to the applicable AWS specification and manufacturer's technical data for complete requirements.
There is no single welding electrode that is best for every application. The correct choice depends on base metal, required strength, welding position, power source, hydrogen-control requirements, service temperature and wear conditions.
If you are sourcing welding electrodes for structural fabrication, low-temperature steel, cast iron repair or hardfacing, explore Minghua's welding electrode range or contact Minghua with your base-metal grade, required electrode classification, diameter, quantity and application requirements.
For additional technical guidance on common stick-electrode characteristics and electrode selection:
• Miller – Common Stick Electrode Selection and Characteristics
