E6013 welding electrode

Kobelco's 3.2 mm RB-26 lists 60–125 A on AC, DCEP or DCEN. ESAB's 3.2 × 350 mm OK 46.00 lists 80–150 A on AC or DC±, with 50 V minimum AC open-circuit voltage. Use the named product, position and equipment when selecting a trial range. Kobelco RB-26 parameter chart ESAB OK 46.00 current and deposition data

Identity and classification

AWS A5.1/A5.1M:2025, 15th edition, covers E6013 composition, properties, usability, dimensions and marking. The preview records ANSI approval on September 30, 2024. Verify the governing edition for the supplied lot. AWS specification and scope, AWS 2025 preview

In the familiar designation, 60 denotes the 60,000 psi minimum tensile-strength class, 1 denotes flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead usability, and the final digit concerns covering/current characteristics. E6013 products have rutile-based coverings and are commonly offered for AC and DC. These meanings do not specify amperage, travel direction, joint penetration, or the strength of an assembled weldment. Miller's selection guidance emphasizes matching electrode choice to the base metal, joint, service, and applicable welding specification. Miller electrode-selection guide; ESAB OK 46.00 specifications

AWS explicitly states that its US customary and SI systems are not equivalent and must be used independently. Do not silently replace a published classification requirement with a rounded unit conversion or treat every manufacturer's typical result as the classification minimum. AWS A5.1/A5.1M:2025 scope

Where it fits—and where it needs more evidence

E6013 is useful for many mild-steel sheet and general-fabrication applications where a controllable arc and bead appearance matter. Lincoln Fleetweld 37 is specifically promoted for low-amperage sheet-metal work, short welds that change position, maintenance, and small AC machines with low open-circuit voltage. Kobelco RB-26 is described for thin-plate butt and fillet joints, including vertical-down use. Those are product applications, not automatic approval for every joint of similar appearance. Lincoln consumables catalog, Fleetweld 37, printed p. A-22; Kobelco RB-26

E6013 is not a low-hydrogen designation. Lincoln's catalog lists Fleetweld 37 among non-low-hydrogen joining electrodes and warns against their use when weld-metal hydrogen must be controlled, including relevant higher-carbon, alloy, and higher-strength steel applications. Lincoln also lists Fleetweld 37 among electrodes without a minimum specified Charpy V-notch guarantee. Drying a rutile electrode does not turn it into E7018. Establish material identity, thickness, restraint, preheat/interpass requirements, toughness, and the welding procedure specification (WPS) before substituting consumables. Lincoln catalog, non-low-hydrogen joining-electrode note, printed p. N-9

“All position” also does not mean that vertical-up and vertical-down are interchangeable in a production WPS. Product usability, heat input, joint design, and procedure qualification remain separate questions. Miller identifies position and service conditions as independent selection factors. Miller selection guidance

Named settings and power-source compatibility

Sources: Kobelco RB-26 parameter chart; ESAB OK 46.00 current and deposition data.

DCEP means electrode positive; DCEN means electrode negative. Verify terminals, mode, and the electrode's minimum open-circuit-voltage requirement. OCV is unloaded voltage, distinct from arc voltage in deposition tables. Maximum amperage alone does not establish compatibility. ESAB OK 46.00 specifications; Miller current-selection guidance

A 100 A trial lies inside the 3.2 mm RB-26 range. Check fusion, bead size, undercut and burn-through on representative material. Kobelco RB-26

Technique and defect diagnosis

Clean the joint and work-clamp contact rather than relying on an electrode to overcome rust, coatings, oil, or moisture. Miller links contamination with porosity, inclusions, cracking, and lack of fusion. Keep a controlled arc and view of the weld pool. Too short an arc can cause sticking or extinction; too long an arc can increase spatter, undercut, and porosity. Current, arc length, angle, manipulation, and travel speed interact, so diagnose the process rather than correcting every defect by increasing amperage. Miller stick-welding technique

Slag must remain behind the active weld pool and be removed between passes. ESAB explains that unsuitable electrode angles can let slag run ahead and become trapped. Inspect cleaned welds and use the required inspection method; easy slag release and a smooth surface do not prove internal fusion. Joint access, pass placement, and operator technique still matter with an easy-running rutile product. ESAB electrode-angle guidance

Storage, redrying, and procurement

Protect electrodes from moisture and physical damage and retain product identification. Kobelco RB-26 lists 70–100°C for 0.5–1 hour as its redrying condition. Lincoln's 2023 European consumables catalog, printed p. 35, instead gives a general rutile-E6013 guideline of 70–80°C for 0.5–1 hour, while explicitly stating that individual product-label instructions can differ. These are manufacturer-specific instructions; do not apply the much hotter schedules for basic low-hydrogen electrodes to E6013 indiscriminately. Kobelco RB-26; Lincoln 2023 catalog, storage and handling

Redrying is not a repair for every deteriorated electrode. Lincoln says seriously water-contaminated or extensively exposed covered electrodes cannot be restored to original condition and should be discarded. Use the current label and supplier procedure for the exact product and packaging, rather than adopting an internet oven recipe. Lincoln 2023 storage guidance, p. 35

Order by trade name, classification, diameter/length, packaging, and required lot documentation or approvals. ESAB states that OK 46.00 approvals depend on factory location. Consequently, an online brand-level approval list does not establish the approval of an unidentified package. Confirm the supplied product and the governing WPS before release to production. ESAB OK 46.00 approval note

Related reference

Welding methods