6013 Welding Rods — E6013 Stick Electrodes (Fleetweld 37, Harris 6013)

The E6013 is the entry point for stick welding — and for good reason. Its rutile flux system produces a soft, stable arc with minimal spatter, easy slag removal, and a smooth bead appearance far more forgiving than cellulosic electrodes. If you are teaching someone to weld, fabricating sheet metal, or doing light general-purpose work where appearance matters more than penetration, E6013 is the correct electrode. It runs on AC or DC in any polarity on virtually any SMAW power source. Lincoln's Fleetweld 37, Harris E6013, and Murex 6013D represent the WeldingMart E6013 lineup.

What Does 6013 Mean? AWS Classification Decoded

The E6013 designation under AWS A5.1 breaks into four parts:

• E — Electrode (covered SMAW stick electrode)
• 60 — Minimum tensile strength of 60,000 psi (414 MPa) in the deposited weld metal
• 1 — All-position: flat, horizontal, vertical-up, and overhead
• 3 — AC or DC± (either polarity); rutile-coated, high-titania-potassium flux system

The 3 in the final position is the key distinguishing digit. Rutile (titanium dioxide) as the primary flux ingredient produces a soft, fluid slag that covers and flattens the bead, a gentle arc that strikes easily even at low OCV, and very low spatter. The slag releases cleanly after cooling. These are exactly the characteristics that make 6013 ideal for thin-gauge work and beginner welders — the electrode is tolerant and the results look clean. The downside: lower penetration compared to cellulosic electrodes and a non-low-hydrogen classification, limiting use on critical structural applications.

E6013 Products in This Collection

Product	AWS Class	Polarity	Sizes Available	Best Use
Lincoln Fleetweld 37	E6013	AC or DC±	3/32, 1/8, 5/32 in	Light fabrication, sheet metal, beginner welding, general repair
Lincoln ED029897	E6013	AC or DC±	3/32 in	Small-diameter thin-gauge work, light repair
Lincoln ED029898	E6013	AC or DC±	1/8 in	General-purpose light fabrication
Harris E6013	E6013	AC or DC±	3/32, 1/8, 5/32 in	General-purpose light fabrication, value pricing
Murex 6013D	E6013	AC or DC±	3/32, 1/8, 5/32 in	General-purpose, production packaging for shops

The Lincoln Fleetweld 37 is Lincoln's flagship E6013, with consistent flux coating quality and arc characteristics across all diameters. The Lincoln ED029897 and ED029898 are Lincoln packaged 6013 products in specific diameters for focused applications. Harris E6013 and Murex 6013D are competitive alternatives offering AWS E6013 performance in bulk production packaging.

How to Choose an E6013 Electrode

• Sheet metal and thin gauge: E6013 in 3/32 in diameter is the standard electrode for welding 16-gauge through 1/8 in sheet metal. At 40–80 A, the small-diameter 6013 gives you just enough heat to fuse thin material without burning through. The rutile arc is softer than cellulosic, reducing the blow-through risk on thin gauge.
• Beginner welders: More than any other electrode, E6013 is forgiving of arc-length variation, inconsistent travel speed, and unsteady technique. The slag system smooths out imperfections and produces a presentable bead even from an inexperienced welder. This makes it the standard teaching electrode for SMAW instruction and hobby welding.
• Bead appearance: When weld appearance is a customer-facing concern — ornamental iron, decorative fabrication, furniture — E6013's smooth bead profile and clean slag release produce the most visually appealing result of any common mild-steel SMAW electrode.
• Polarity flexibility: E6013 runs on AC, DC+, or DC- (electrode negative). This makes it compatible with every SMAW power source in existence — old AC farm welders, DC inverters, engine drives, and multi-process machines. No other common electrode has this range of compatibility.
• Amperage by diameter: 3/32 in — 40–80 A; 1/8 in — 80–130 A; 5/32 in — 105–160 A.
• What E6013 is NOT for: Do not use E6013 on structural applications requiring code compliance, on thick-section or high-restraint joints, or on crack-sensitive steels. It is not a low-hydrogen electrode and is not specified by AWS D1.1 or ASME structural codes. For structural and code work, use E7018.

Why Buy Lincoln and Harris E6013 from WeldingMart

WeldingMart is an authorized Lincoln Electric and Harris Products dealer. E6013 is widely sold as a commodity, but the quality difference between genuine Lincoln Fleetweld 37 or Harris E6013 and off-brand alternatives shows up in coating uniformity and slag behavior — especially on thin gauge where inconsistencies show in the bead. We stock E6013 in the diameters and package sizes most useful for home-shop, light fabrication, and production use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can E6013 weld the same steel as E6011 or E7018?

E6013 welds mild steel (A36, A500, and similar low-carbon steels) and produces a weld that meets the 60,000 psi tensile minimum of the AWS E6013 specification. However, it is not a substitute for E7018 (70,000 psi, low-hydrogen) on code-required structural work, and it lacks the penetration and contamination tolerance of E6011 for field repair on rusty or dirty steel. Use E6013 for clean, thin, non-critical mild steel. Use E6011 for dirty or rusty field repair. Use E7018 for structural code work.

What is the difference between E6013 and E6011 for farm and ranch use?

The practical difference is surface prep and penetration. E6011 tolerates rust, mill scale, and light contamination — its cellulosic arc will burn through surface dirt and still achieve good fusion. E6013 requires a reasonably clean joint; its rutile arc is not designed to penetrate through contamination. On a farm, if the material is old rusty steel with no time to grind, use E6011. If the material is clean new stock or the weld location can be cleaned first, E6013 is fine and will produce a better-looking bead. For structural repair on thick implement frames where penetration matters, E6011 is safer.

Is E6013 suitable for welding auto body panels?

E6013 can technically weld thin-gauge auto body steel, but it is not the preferred process. Burn-through and distortion are significant risks on 18- to 22-gauge material, and stick welding delivers higher heat input per inch than MIG or TIG on the same gauge. Professional auto body work is done by MIG or TIG. E6013 stick welding is an option only when a MIG welder is unavailable — work in very short tacks, allow cooling between passes, and test on scrap first.

Does E6013 need to be stored in a rod oven?

No. Unlike low-hydrogen E7018, E6013's rutile flux is not critically moisture-sensitive, and the electrode should not be baked in a rod oven — heat damages the rutile coating binder. Store in the original sealed container in a dry location. Electrodes that have gotten wet should air-dry at room temperature before use. Physically damaged electrodes with cracked or chipped coating should be discarded.

Related Collections

• E6011 Welding Rods — AC/DC cellulosic rods for dirty steel, farm, and ranch repair
• E6010 Welding Rods — DC pipeline and structural root-pass cellulosic electrodes
• E7018 Welding Rods — Lincoln Excalibur low-hydrogen electrodes for structural and code work
• Lincoln Power MIG Welders — multi-process MIG welders for auto body and light fabrication
• All Stick Welding Electrodes — complete SMAW electrode catalog at WeldingMart