E7024 Welding Rod: Amperage Chart & High-Deposition Settings
E7024 Amperage by Diameter
| Diameter | Amperage Range |
|---|---|
| 1/8" (3.2 mm) | 100 - 145A |
| 5/32" (4 mm) | 140 - 190A |
| 3/16" (4.8 mm) | 180 - 250A |
| 7/32" (5.6 mm) | 230 - 305A |
| 1/4" (6.4 mm) | 275 - 365A |
E7024 is a drag rod, you literally drag it along the joint and it fills itself. The heavy iron powder coating gives it the highest deposition rate of any common stick electrode. The catch is it only works flat and horizontal. If your work is all flat fillet welds on 1/4-inch or thicker plate and you want to move fast, this is the rod. Many welders call it a "lazy man's rod" because the technique is so simple.
What This Means in Practice
E7024 is a production rod, not a general-purpose rod. It deposits metal faster than any other common stick electrode because of its massive iron powder coating. But it only works in flat and horizontal positions. If your shop runs the same fillet weld all day on a fixture, E7024 will cut your arc time roughly in half compared to E7018.
E7024 Suitability Scores
How well this electrode matches common applications. Not a quality rating. all AWS-certified electrodes meet their specification.
When to Use E7024
High-speed flat and horizontal fillet welds in production environments.
Welding plate 1/4 inch and thicker where maximum deposition matters.
Often called a drag rod because you literally drag it along the joint.
Production shops where speed is more important than position versatility.
E7024 Limitations
Flat and horizontal positions only.
Cannot be used for vertical or overhead welding due to very fluid weld pool.
Requires high amperage and is not practical on smaller machines.
Not a general-purpose rod.
E7024 Storage Requirements
Standard dry storage.
E7024 Technical Specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| AWS Classification | E7024 |
| Process | Stick Welding (SMAW) |
| Polarity | AC, DCEP, DCEN |
| Positions | flat, horizontal |
| Penetration | light to medium |
| Coating Type | iron powder titania |
| Tensile Strength | 70,000 psi |
| Yield Strength | 58,000 psi |
| Elongation | 17% |
| Base Metals | carbon steel, low-alloy steel |
| AWS Specification | A5.1 |
E7024 Questions
What is a drag rod in welding?
A drag rod is a stick electrode with such a heavy iron powder coating that you can lay it against the joint at a fixed angle and simply drag it along. The coating maintains the correct arc length automatically. E7024 is the most common drag rod. It has the highest deposition rate of any standard stick electrode but only works in flat and horizontal positions. Drag rods require minimal technique, making them popular for production fillet welds where speed matters more than position flexibility.
Can E7024 weld vertical or overhead?
No. E7024 is restricted to flat and horizontal positions only. The extremely fluid puddle and heavy slag will fall out of the joint in vertical or overhead positions. If you need an all-position 70 ksi rod, use E7018. See also: E7018 specifications, E7018 vs E7024 comparison.
Why can E7024 only be used flat and horizontal?
E7024 has extremely high iron powder content (over 50% of the coating weight). This creates a very fluid slag and weld pool that cannot be held in position against gravity. The tradeoff for the high deposition rate is limited position capability.
Where to Buy E7024
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External Resources
Manufacturer data sheets and standards for E7024.
Data sourced from AWS A5.1/A5.1M. Amperage ranges are approximate starting points. adjust based on position, fit-up, and material thickness. Always follow manufacturer recommendations and applicable codes.