Deep Penetration vs Light Penetration Stick Rods
E6010 deep-digging DC rod vs E6012 light-penetration AC/DC rod. Opposite ends of the penetration spectrum for different applications.
Key Differences
| Attribute | E6010 | E6012 |
|---|---|---|
| Penetration | Deep, aggressive, digging arc | Light, shallow, fill-freeze arc |
| Polarity | DCEP only | AC, DCEN, DCEP |
| Arc Character | Tight, violent, forceful | Soft, smooth, quiet |
| Dirty Metal | Excellent - burns through contamination | Poor - needs reasonably clean metal |
| Deposition Rate | Lower | Higher - iron powder coating |
| Best Thickness | 1/8" and up, root passes | All thicknesses, especially gap filling |
| Positions | All (but challenging in flat) | Flat and horizontal primarily |
| Beginner Friendly | No - requires skilled arc control | Yes - smooth and forgiving |
Use E6010 when:
Use E6012 when:
How E6010 and E6012 Work Together
These rods solve completely different problems. E6010 digs through contamination and provides maximum penetration for root passes. E6012 provides minimum penetration for filling gaps, joining thin material, and production flat welding. E6012 deposits more weld metal per rod than E6010 because of its heavy iron-powder coating. In high-volume flat-position shop work, E6012 is faster.
Common Mistake With Deep Penetration
Using E6010 on thin material and burning through. E6010 concentrates heat aggressively. For material under 1/8 inch, E6012 or E6013 are much easier to control because their lighter penetration does not overwhelm thin base metal.
Where to Buy
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