ER308L Wire vs E308L-16 Stick Rod for Stainless Steel
Same 308L stainless alloy in two forms: ER308L is bare wire for MIG/TIG, E308L-16 is a coated stick electrode for SMAW. Process choice drives the decision.
Key Differences
| Attribute | ER308L | E308L-16 |
|---|---|---|
| Process | MIG (GMAW) / TIG (GTAW) | Stick (SMAW) |
| Shielding | External gas required | Flux coating provides shielding |
| Deposition Rate | Higher (MIG) | Lower |
| Portability | Requires gas bottle and feeder | Stick welder only |
| Weld Appearance | Cleaner, less spatter | More cleanup needed |
Use ER308L when:
Choose ER308L when you have MIG or TIG equipment, need higher deposition rates, or require the cleanest weld appearance on stainless. Production stainless fabrication almost always uses ER308L wire.
Use E308L-16 when:
Choose E308L-16 when you only have a stick welder, need portability for field repairs, or are doing small stainless jobs where setting up gas shielding is impractical.
How ER308L and E308L-16 Work Together
Both deposit the same 308L alloy. The metallurgical result is equivalent. The choice is purely about which welding process fits your equipment and situation.
Common Mistake With ER308L
Using 75/25 Ar/CO2 shielding gas with ER308L for stainless MIG. The high CO2 causes carbon pickup that defeats the purpose of low-carbon L grade wire. Use tri-mix or 98/2 Ar/CO2 instead.
Where to Buy
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Data sourced from AWS A5.4, A5.9.