A welding rod is an essential tool when performing shielded metal arc welding. It can either be consumable or non-consumable. It is necessary to know about welding rods for those who are new to the welding industry.
For arc welding to work, electrodes/welding rods are needed. Electricity passes through it and eventually fuses the base metal. It creates an electric arc of 5,000°C (9032 F). Different types of rods are available for different applications. To ensure satisfactory results, it is important to choose the right electrode.
Mild steel electrodes are approved by the American Welding Society in thousands of varieties, so you have to pick the right one. 6011 and 6013 rods are similar, but they will perform optimally if used for the right applications. Let’s compare the two and see which is better based on their similarities and differences.
Here You Will Get To Know
- 6011 Vs 6013 Welding Rods Difference
- What Is 6011 Welding Rod?
- What Is 6013 Welding Rod?
- A Detailed Comparison Between 6011 & 6013
- Penetration Capabilities
- Use and Application
- Elongation
- Tensile Strength & Yield Strength
- Material
- Power sources
- Arc characteristics
- Things that are Common in Them
- Tensile Strength
- Amount of Polarity
- Conclusion
6011 Vs 6013 Welding Rods Difference
Construction, mining, and manufacturing are all industries that use welding in some form. Let’s compare two rods that are commonly used for stick welding, electrodes, also known as welding rods – 6011 and 6013.
It is a waste of time and money to buy electrodes for welding machines without knowing their properties. Here’s what should need to know.
Briefly, 6011 and 6013 are both very similar rods, before we drill down into the details of the rods. They can all be run on AC, DCEP, DCEN, and in all positions.
Welding rods 6011 are designed specifically for AC applications. They are also suitable for use in DC applications. Welding pools that are smaller mean less slag to clean up, which is a good thing.
What Is 6011 Welding Rod?
6011 is a general-purpose, high carbon, low alloy rod. It is typically used for structural welding to repair defects in thick steel plates.
6011 also known as the “Wonder Metal,” is a versatile, low cost and widely available material that can be welded with a wide range of filler metals.
The electrode that is used for this type of weld typically ranges from 2 to 5 millimetres in diameter and has a wire with a thickness between 0.6 and 0.8 mills per square inch.
What Is 6013 Welding Rod?
6013 welding rod is a general-purpose, medium carbon steel welding rod. It is typically used for welding ferrous metals such as steel, stainless steel, and copper alloys. 6013 can also be used to weld aluminium.
This Welding Rod is a type of aluminium welding rod with a tensile strength of 130,000 psi. It is a low hydrogen welding rod and contains no more than 0.35% wt of aluminium.”
A 6013 Welding Rod is a type of metal that is used for welding. It has a tensile strength of 130,000 psi and contains no more than 0.35% wt of aluminium.
A Detailed Comparison Between 6011 & 6013
Penetration Capabilities
Most of the features of each welding rod are similar, but the depth of penetration is what differentiates them. 6013 electrodes are suitable for welding thin metal sheets, which require little penetration, while 6011 electrodes penetrate thick metals deeply.
To weld a metal base, a welding rod should have the ability to penetrate deeply into it. A deeper penetration will result in a stronger fusion.
A 6011 has a greater penetration capability than a 6013. Thick metal sheets and parts, along with heavier-duty jobs, are better suited to this machine. Corrosion can be obtained through the type, as well as dirt and other debris.
For light to medium welding, 6013 is used mainly for small details and thin metal bases. It produces a soft arc, making it the most suitable type for beginners. Additionally, there is little spatter, which reduces the likelihood of injury.
Use and Application
Welding corroded or dirty metal uses 6011 electrodes. Electrodes can penetrate grease, paint, and other materials. Pipefitters, pipeliners, and boilermakers need this type of material because it is tough.
Galvanized steel, mild steel, and other low alloy materials are suitable for 6013 electrodes. For short and medium welding, they allow for smoother electric arcs. Most commonly used in vehicle construction, marine repairs, sheet metal welding, and others.
Elongation
Elongation describes the ability of a material to bend or stretch before it ruptures. The ratio between this strength and that of yield strength typically falls between those two values. The original length is used as a percentage to calculate this ratio.
The 6011 welding rod lengthens by 24%, whereas the 6013 welding rod lengthens by 25% in 2 inches.
Tensile Strength & Yield Strength
As mentioned, both rods have a minimum tensile strength of 60,000 pounds per square inch. Maximum tensile strength, however, varies significantly between the two. E6011 has a psi of 82,000, while E6013 has a psi of 74,000.
The yield strength of a material refers to its ability to deform permanently when stressed. 6011 welding rods have yield strength of 69,000 psi, while 6013 welding rods have yield strength of 67,000 psi.
Material
The two rods are made from different materials. It is necessary to use cellulose potassium flux with 6011 rods. On the other hand, 6013 rods are made of high potassium flux. A thin, flaky coating of slag is applied to the 6011, which is not prone to peeling away.
The 6013 has a dense layer of slag that easily peels off.
Power sources
AC and DC are both compatible with these electrodes. Direct currents, however, can be helpful when deep penetration is required. Consequently, working with DC polar for 6011 will be better than working with AC polar for 6013.
Arc characteristics
A 6011 arc is rough and violent due to the deep penetration of the direct current and the direct current used. 6013, however, has a softer arc than 6011.
Things that are Common in Them
Tensile Strength
This characteristic describes how well the material resists tension. There are 6,000 psi (pounds per square inch) and 4210 kpc (kilograms per square centimetre) ratings on 6011 and 6013, respectively.
This measurement can also be easily determined. Analyzing the first two figures is all that is required. Because these two electrodes are the same, their tensile strength is also the same.
After this point, each welding rod is different.
Although they have many of the same characteristics, they cannot always be used interchangeably. It is common to compare 6011 and 6013, though 6011 is more commonly used than 6010.
Amount of Polarity
Both electrodes use direct current and alternating current in order to weld.
This is because the direct current creates a steady flow of electricity in one direction. Alternating current, on the other hand, reverses the electricity flow. Both can be used for welding, and the choice is largely a matter of individual preference.
As DC provides higher temperatures and steadier results, it is more convenient for welding. AC is used when a lower amount of heat is needed.
The 6011 and 6013 rods can be distinguished by their third number, even if you don’t know the facts. A number 1 means the electrodes can be used with both AC and DC.
Conclusion
6011 and 6013 electrodes are the most common welding rods, available in a variety of sizes based on your needs and machine capabilities. A welding rod should be chosen based on its properties, such as polarity, penetration, tensile strength, and polarity to ensure that it provides the best results.
Different welding projects require different welding rods, so the 6011 and 6013 are suitable for different welding projects. It is my hope that you found this article useful for gathering your thoughts and choosing rods for your project.

It’s been years since I got into welding as a side hustle. It’s been so long since Doing All kinds of welds for business and pleasure as this is my hobby. Being in this field I have learned from hands-on-experience also came to know what gears work and what doesn’t. The Tig Welder is my own platform where I use to share my experience.
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