Knowing about 7018 vs 7014 welding rods can be very useful for professional welders and hobbyists as they can compare the best for them.
Welding rods can have different features along with their pros and cons. Being failed to identify the perfect type of rods can be very frustrating. Hence, it will cost a lot of your money and time.
Without welding rods, any metalwork would have never been possible. Besides huge industrial metal works such as automotive, aviation, or construction works, we can also fix kitchen appliances, vehicles, or gates.
7018 and 7014- both are very common names in the welding industry. Hence, knowing the difference between them will let you get the most suitable one for you.
So, let’s start comparing 7018 and 7014 side by side
What are welding rods?
Stick electrodes or welding rods are alloys used for welding jobs if you use a stick welder.
It usually melts and mixes the metal to make a fusion. The welding rod number mainly varies by diameter and welding capabilities at different angles. However, welding rods can be used in both household projects and large projects including construction.
What does the number E7018 or E7014 indicate?
The number is given to specifically identify the rods along with their specific features.
The letter E denotes the presence of Electrode, the next 70 indicates the rod is 70,000 psi tensile, number 1 refers to the rod for all positions, and lastly, the number 8 or 4 is used to indicate polarity and coating.
Our doubts come clean when comparing products with others.
What is the difference between 7018 and 7014? Let’s check out the 7018 vs 7014 table below:
Comparison Table on 7018 vs 7014 welding rod
| Topic: | 7018 welding rod | 7014 welding rod |
| Coating | Low-hydrogen material | Iron powder. |
| Usage | In large construction projects | In small and handy projects. |
| Tensility | Comparably high tensile | Bit less tensile |
| Storage | Requires extensive storage space. | Requires less space required |
| Angle | All positions despite vertical | All angles despite declining vertical |
| Motion | Slower than the E7014 | Faster and smoother |
| Current polarity | AC or DC is either Polarity. | AC or DC Reverse Polarity. |
| Diameter | Between 3/32”,1/8”, and 5/32” | Between 3/32”,1/8” and 5/32” |
| Amperage | 30-90, 90-150, 140-190 | 50-90, 90-150, 120-200 |
About the 7018 welding rods:
The E7018 electrodes or welding rods are built with low-hydrogen materials to make metal fusions on high-strength carbon steel. There are both pros and cons to using an E7018 electrode. Let’s have ideas one by one :
The pros of using a 7018 welding rod:
- It is more ductile compared to other rods.
- Flexible in a working position.
- Useful for professionals.
The cons of 7018 welding rods:
- Absorbs moist if kept outside for the long term.
- Does not work in a vertical position.
- Takes up a lot of storage.
- Not recommended using low open circuit-Voltage and power sources.
The 7014 welding rods:
The E7014 electrodes or welding rods are coated with iron material to make metal fusions on low-carbon metals. If the ampere, angle, and welding speed become consistent enough, you can get perfectly smooth welding with E7014.
However, there are also both pros and cons to using an E7018 electrode. There are also both pros and cons to using an E7018 electrode.
The pros of using an E7018 welding rod:
- Does not create dampness.
- Flexible working with almost all positions.
- Excellent for galvanized steel and rusty/oily steel materials.
- Can work with a small surface area.
The cons of E7018 welding rods:
- Not a perfect solution for smallish projects.
- Tough to work in vertically inclined positions.
- Hard to weld higher carbon steel materials.
Do you know there are a lot of similarities and dissimilarities that come in while doing analysis? Let’s find out the similarities first!
Similarities between E7018 and E7014:
Drag-Type rod: There is a similarity in motion as both of the welding rods consist of drag-type electrodes. A drag rod-like E7018 and E7014 are the structural backbone of welding. Drag rods can give metal surfaces a smooth appearance.
Penetration: In both E7018 and E7014 the penetration is medium in level. The depth of metal fusion is an important part while welding.
Polarity: Both electrodes can work perfectly fine in both AC and DC polarities. Not all kinds of welding rods can work in both polarities, however, the 7018 and 7014 models are designed to create high-quality welds as it depends on the polarity of the rods.
Dissimilarities between E7018 and E7014:
Electrode coating: The coating of electrodes in both E7018 and E7014 is different. E7018 has a coating of low-hydrogen material while E7014 has been coated with iron powder. The coating is determined by its use in welding different types of material.
Utilization: Every welding rod or electrode stick has its own features and usage. E7018 is used for high-carbon steels and E7014 is for low-alloy steels or carbon.
Diameter: Both E7018 and E7018 differ in its diameters. Moreover, They can come in multiple types of sizes and diameters.
Which one should you go for 7018 or 7014
Which one should you use? 7018 or 7014 welding rod? Hopefully, you have the answer now, right?
They both have their own traits. If you are a welder by profession, you might require E7018 to weld higher-level carbon steels. Perhaps, you do large construction jobs, you might need to know the based on the amperage capacity and polarity of the rod.
On the contrary, non-fast-freezing rods like 7014 can come really handy if you are a beginner or mid-level welder. Its storage rules are as easy as the rod.
Nevertheless, working with a light weighted welding rod is a welder’s dream. If the tool and its features meet your requirements, you are good to go!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Still, have questions regarding 7018 vs 7014? Here’s another quick solution for you. You can gather more useful information from the questions asked by some curious minds.
7018 has to be stored between 50-250F temperature but the 7014 welding rods do not absorb moisture from the air and can be stored generally.
You can not use both electrodes for the same metal. 7018 is for strengthful carbon steel and 7014 is for low alloys or carbons.
7014 is flexible for most positions. However, it is not comfortable to use vertically.
7018 has multiple ranges in amperage. The amperage can be between 30-90, 90-150, and 140-190.
The E7018 rod can use currents up to 225 amps. It’s calculated concerning diameter, as a rod of 3/32-inch in diameter can take up to 90 amps of current.
Verdict:
Comparing both E7018 and E7014, you should come to a conclusion about what type of welding rod is beneficial for you. Considering all pros and cons, you can easily justify the need as well.