Hardfacing Welding Rod | Electrodes

Hardfacing Welding Rod – The Ultimate FAQ Guide

For you to be able to complete the hardfacing process, you need a hardfacing welding rod. However, there are a lot of hardfacing welding electrodes in the market; and this is what this guide will be helping you about.

If you’re about to purchase hardfacing welding rods, don’t do so without reading this guide. This will give you all the ideas you need to have about hardfacing welding rods; be sure to read carefully.

What is Hardfacing?

In its simplest definition, it’s one of the many metalworking deposition processes.

From its term alone, “hardfacing” means to apply harder materials to a base metal.

You can achieve hardfacing through many different processes. But among the most common ones include:

• Thermal Spraying
• Plasma Transfer Arc (PTA) Welding
• Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
• Lasers

What is a Welding Rod?

A welding rod is a heavy wire that is melted and used to fuse two metals together.

It’s what you need for certain welding procedures.

Consumable and Non-Consumable Hardfacing Welding Rods

There’s what we call a consumable welding rod. This is the rod that is melted or disintegrated to bond two pieces of metals together.

You can also use another type, which is a non-consumable welding rod. If you use this type of rod, it’ll release sufficient amounts of catalytic reaction to fuse the metals together.

Is Welding Rod and Welding Electrode the Same?

No, they’re not the same. However, a welding rod is just one of the many classifications of a welding electrode.

There also exists welding sticks, welding wires, and so on.

What is a Hardfacing Welding Rod?

A hardfacing welding rod is the type of welding rod used for hardacing purposes. Therefore, you can think of it as the material melted and deposited into the base metal.

Understanding Hardfacing Welding

As mentioned above, hardfacing can be done through different processes.

Hardfacing welding is the procedure in which a base metal is “hardfaced” by using the welding process.

An electrode or a material is melted and is deposited to the base metal.

Types of Hardfacing Welding Rods

There are actually different types of welding rods. You can easily categorize them into the following:

• Cobalt Base Welding Rods
• Iron Base Welding Rods
• Nickel Base Welding Rods

These are the primary components and types of welding rods that you can find in the market. Then, you can alloy them with tungsten, chromium, and other more elements that are carbide-forming.

What Does the Number on a Welding Rod Mean?

If you noticed, there’s usually a number written on a welding rod or electrode. What does this mean?

First Two (2) or Three (3) Digits

To understand it better, you need to know that there are electrodes that have: four (4) digits and five (5) digits. In both the 5 and 4-digit electrodes, the first three and five numbers is the tensile strength.

For example, E7018 has a tensile strength of PSI 70,000. E11018 has a tensile strength of PSI 110,000.

Third (3) or Fourth (4) Digit

The next digit indicates the welding position applicable to it; whereas 1 means that it can be welded in all different positions.

Final Digit

Lastly, the final number indicates the materials or the coating type that can be used for that electrode. In our same example, 7018, 8 means that it has a medium level of penetration quality.

Different Types of Welding Rods and Their Uses

There are a wide variety of welding rods and types you can use. However, here are among the most common ones:

• 7024 – Horizontal or Flat Welds (High-Speed)
• 7018 – Moderate or Low Carbon Steel Welding
• 6013 – Penetration Welding (Moderate Level)
• 6012 – Used for General Welding
• 6011 – Direct or Alternating Current Welding
• 6010 – Deep Penetration Welding (Pipe Welding)

Where Can Hardfacing Welding Rods be Applied?

Hardfacing is a procedure that you can do for many types of equipment.

With its purpose, you can choose to apply it to high-impact and high-temperature areas.

Some of the most common applications for hardfacing welding include:

• Buildings and Bridges
• Steel Tanks
• Automotive Uses
• Dams
• Chemical Industries
• Pressure Vessels
• Shipping and Marine Uses
• Heavy-Duty Machines and Equipment
• And Many More

You can use it in a wide variety of applications if you need harder or tougher exterior; a more wear or chemically-resistant exterior, and so on.

Hardfacing Welding vs. Cladding

Though they almost have the same features, they’re actually a lot different.

Hardfacing is a process that usually deposits a thick layer of material to a part or component. It’s like the process of applying a new coating to an existing material.

Cladding is a process of creating a new surface for a part or a component. Instead of just adding it, cladding is like combining the added material to the surface, indefinitely.

Harfacing Welding Rod Prices

There are a wide variety of hardfacing welding rods in the market. The prices that would befit your goals and objectives would depend on the project.

But, to give you a rough estimate of it, the prices would play and revolve around $500 to $1,200 per ton. That’s considering every use you have for it already.

Where Can You Find the Best Hardfacing Welding Rods?

There are a lot of hardfacing welding rod manufacturers in the market. But, China has been deemed to have the best quality of these electrodes.

So, you can find the best hardfacing welding rods in China – and in particular, here with us at Waldun.

Since 2005, Waldun has been the leader in the manufacturing of hardfacing welding rods. Up until today, we’re the most sought after company.

The secret to our success in the market is continuous improvement; and we strive hard for us to stay at the top of our game.

Get the best and the highest quality of hardfacing welding rods from us now here at Waldun!