What is 7018 Welding Rod Used For? (Explained)

The 7018 welding rods are quite common in welding jobs as these rods are very useful for welding steel structures. Not only that, the 7018 welding rod is mostly used for hot-pass weldings, cap beads, and fill-ups.

Many people use these for various purposes. you may plan on buying a 7018 welding rod. But, you may be unsure about whether it would suit your needs or not.

That’s why we will go into detail about the 7018 welding rods in this article. Let us proceed without any delay.

Table of Contents

7018 Welding Rod Composition

The 7018 welding rod is composed of a number of materials. Each material must be used within a specific limit to maintain the structure of this welding rod.

According to the American Welding Society (AWS), the maximum permissible composition of materials in the 7018 electrodes are as follows:

Materials	Maximum Required Composition
Carbon	0.15
Manganese	1.60
Silicon	0.75
Phosphorus	0.035
Sulphur	0.035
Nickel	0.30
Chromium	0.20
Molybdenum	0.30
Vanadium	0.08
Combined Limit for Mn+Ni+Cr+Mo+V	1.75

7018 Welding Rod Specifications

The specifications of the 7018 welding rods can mostly be determined from its name. The number 70 denotes that this electrode has a maximum tensile strength of 70000 psi. Likewise, number 1 indicates that this welding rod can be used in all positions.

Also, the last digit 8 indicates that this welding rod has a low hydrogen coating. The yield stress of this electrode is 58000 psi. Moreover, it elongates 22% in 2 inches.

What Can You Do With 7018 Welding Rods?

The 7018 welding rods are very useful for welding steel structures. This welding rod is mostly used for hot-pass weldings. Also, the 7018 electrodes is used in cap beads and fill-ups.

What is a 7018 Welding Rod Good For

A 7018 welding rod is good for various applications. For instance, you can use a 7018 welding rod to weld at any position. Moreover, it can operate in both Ac and DC currents.

Also, if you want to avoid cold cracking in the steel, the 7018 might be the best option for you. This weld also provides excellent ductility and toughness.

Hence, you will get stronger joints with this welding rod. However, it is only capable of shallow to medium penetration. So, it is not suitable for penetrating deeply. Rather, you should only consider choosing it in case you are planning to weld sheet metals.

What Metal Can 7018 Weld?

The 7018 welding rod is used for welding high, medium, and low-carbon steels. These electrodes can also be used to weld low alloy steels with high strength. If you have to weld metals other than these few, you should consider some other welding rods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you weld the rebar with 7018?

Well, the 7018 is adequate to weld the rebar. However, it is advised to use a 9018 welding rod for welding rebar.

Do you need a rod oven for 7018?

Yes, you must have a rod oven for 7018. The 7018 electrodes have a low hydrogen coating. To preserve this coating, you should place the electrode in a rod oven.

What heat should you put a 7018 to?

If your 7018 welding rod has moisture in it, you must recondition it. For this, you have to heat the electrode at 500 to 600 degrees. However, in normal conditions, you can store them at around 250 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

What positions can you use 7018?

You can use the 7018 in all positions. You can use both vertical up and vertical down welding methods using this electrode. To get the best results, place the welding rod at 3 to 5-degree angle while welding.

Verdict

In this article, we have tried to cover all the essentials related to the 7018 welding rod. Now you should have a clear idea about where the 7018 welding rods are used.

If you think that this welding rod suits your needs, you may get one. However, be cautious in case you are welding for the first time. Also, you would need to keep the welding rod in a dry environment.

We hope that this article was of help to you.