Lincoln Fleetweld 37 is a soft-arc, titania-coated E6013 stick welding rod engineered for easy arc starts, smooth weld pool control, and self-releasing slag on mild steel. With a 67,000 psi minimum tensile strength and compatibility with AC, DCEP, and DCEN, the E6013 welding rod is the electrode of choice for light fabrication, body panel work, thin plate joining, and welding instruction — any application where ease of use and attractive bead appearance matter more than maximum penetration or hydrogen control. Lincoln Fleetweld 37 runs on AC buzz-boxes, portable inverters, and engine-driven machines with equal ease.
Fleetweld 37 is Lincoln Electric's standard E6013 mild-steel stick electrode. The AWS designation E6013 means: "E" = electrode; "60" = 62,000 psi typical tensile (67,000 psi minimum, AWS specifies 62 ksi); "1" = all-position; "3" = high-titania sodium or potassium flux covering with AC/DC compatibility. The titania flux produces a smooth, fluid weld pool with a fast-freezing, self-lifting slag that peels off without aggressive chipping. This makes the E6013 stick welding rod one of the gentlest-running SMAW electrodes in any shop, preferred by welding instructors for first lessons and by sheet metal fabricators for thin-gauge work where burn-through risk is significant. The Fleetweld 37 name positions it firmly in Lincoln's high-volume Fleetweld family alongside Fleetweld 47 (E7014), Fleetweld 35 (E6011), and Fleetweld 180 (E6010).
The E6013 classification does not include iron powder in the covering, so deposition efficiency is lower than E7014 or E7018. The trade-off is a very soft arc, minimal spatter, and a forgiving puddle that stays controllable even for operators with less technique refinement.
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| AWS Classification | E6013 |
| Tensile Strength (min.) | 67,000 psi (462 MPa) |
| Yield Strength (min.) | 55,000 psi (379 MPa) |
| Elongation (min.) | 17% |
| Flux Type | High-titania potassium / sodium |
| Current | AC, DCEP, DCEN |
| Position | All (F, H, V-up, OH) |
| Diameters Available | 3/32, 1/8, 5/32, 3/16 in |
| H-Designation | None (non-low-hydrogen) |
| Standard | AWS A5.1/A5.1M |
E6013 is not listed as a low-hydrogen electrode and is not typically permitted on applications requiring CVN notch-toughness impact testing. Its 17 % elongation minimum confirms good ductility in the weld metal, suitable for most mild-steel fabrication codes. Always verify applicable code requirements before specifying Fleetweld 37 on structural or pressure-containing joints.
Fleetweld 37's soft-arc character and all-position, AC-capable design make it the best E6013 welding rod option for:
- Welding instruction and training programs — the forgiving arc and self-peeling slag are ideal for students learning SMAW fundamentals on flat and horizontal positions.
- Light fabrication on thin plate (16 gauge to 3/8 in) — lower penetration reduces burn-through on thinner base metal compared to E6010 or E7018.
- Sheet metal fabrication — automotive body panels, light enclosures, signs, ductwork joints, and similar thin-gauge applications.
- Hobbyist and DIY welding — Fleetweld 37 runs on low-cost AC buzz-boxes and small inverters, making it the go-to E6013 stick welding rod for home shops.
- Maintenance welding on lightly loaded carbon steel — repair of farm equipment, trailers, racks, and steel furniture where hydrogen control is not required by code.
- AC-only job sites — reliable arc starts and smooth operation on 60 Hz transformer machines.
Not recommended for: thick section (over 3/4 in), high-restraint welds, pressure vessels requiring ASME hydrogen control, pipe root passes, or applications demanding Charpy CVN certification.
| Diameter | Amperage Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 60–90 A | Sheet metal, thin plate, instructional use |
| 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 80–130 A | General mild-steel fabrication |
| 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 105–165 A | Medium-plate work |
| 3/16 in (4.8 mm) | 150–210 A | Heavy fillet welds |
Polarity: AC is standard; DCEP gives slightly deeper penetration; DCEN maximizes deposition rate on thin material.
Arc length: Keep to approximately one electrode core diameter. E6013 is especially sensitive to long arc length — excess arc gap causes spatter, porosity, and bead flattening. A tight arc produces the characteristic smooth bead the classification is known for.
Position notes: For vertical-up, reduce amperage 5–10 A below the midrange and use a whip-and-pause or light-weave technique. For overhead, stay at the low end of the range; a short tight arc is essential to prevent dripping.
Restart technique: Chip off the slag cap from the crater before restarting to prevent a slag inclusion trap at the restart point.
E6013 is non-low-hydrogen and does not require holding oven storage before use. Storage best practices:
- Sealed container: Lincoln packages Fleetweld 37 in moisture-resistant sealed metal canisters. In a dry warehouse (below 70 % RH, 40–100 °F), sealed canisters maintain electrode condition indefinitely.
- Open canisters: Reseal between uses. In very humid environments (coastal, high-humidity shops), opened canisters can absorb moisture over a few days and produce slight porosity. A 1-hour bake at 225–250 °F (107–121 °C) will restore the electrode if moisture pickup is suspected.
- No oven required: Unlike E7018 or E8018, E6013 does not need to be stored in a 250–300 °F holding oven during production. Take from the sealed can and weld directly.
- Inspect before use: Discard any electrode with cracked, chipped, or flaking coating to prevent slag inclusions and arc instability.
Fleetweld 37 is designed for mild and low-alloy carbon steel with CE ≤ 0.35. Suitable base materials:
- ASTM A36 structural steel
- ASTM A572 Grade 42 and 50
- SAE 1018, 1020, 1025 carbon steel
- Hot-rolled and cold-rolled mild steel sheet
Do not use Fleetweld 37 on stainless, cast iron, aluminum, or high-alloy steels. Joint types well-suited to E6013 include fillet, lap, and butt joints in flat, horizontal, and positional work on thin to medium plate. For open-root groove welds on thicker plate, E6010 or E6011 gives better penetration control on the root pass.
Q: What makes E6013 easier to weld than E6010?
E6013 has a titania-sodium/potassium flux that produces a soft, quiet arc with low spatter and a fluid pool that is easy to control. E6010 uses a cellulosic flux that produces a forceful, digging arc with higher spatter and faster-freezing slag — better for deep penetration and root passes but much harder to run for beginners.
Q: Can I run Fleetweld 37 on a 110 V household outlet?
Small AC stick welders that plug into a 110 V outlet can run 3/32 in E6013 at 60–75 A, which is within the machine's duty cycle. Expect shallow fusion on anything thicker than 1/8 in stock. Most 110 V machines are too underpowered for 1/8 in E6013 sustained welding.
Q: Is Fleetweld 37 good for welding exhaust pipe or automotive sheet metal?
E6013 is appropriate for automotive body sheet (18–16 gauge) where you have good access and can keep amperage at 60–75 A with a 3/32 in rod. For thin exhaust tubing (14–16 gauge), TIG is generally better; SMAW on very thin tube risks burn-through and distortion.
Q: Do I need a welding code-specified filler for farm equipment repair?
For most farm equipment and implement repair (trailers, hitches, implements), no specific filler code is mandated. E6013 is perfectly acceptable and widely used for this work. If a specific strength requirement exists (e.g., a rated hitch repair), check the OEM spec or use E7018 to be safe.
Q: What is the maximum thickness I should weld with E6013?
E6013 can technically weld thick sections with multiple passes, but for plate over 1/2 in in high-restraint joints, the non-low-hydrogen nature increases hydrogen cracking risk. Practically, Fleetweld 37 is most at home on material 3/16 in to 3/8 in. Above 1/2 in or in high-restraint joints, switch to E7018 or E7016.
Q: How do I prevent porosity in my E6013 welds?
Main causes: (1) dirty or wet base metal — clean with a wire brush and degrease; (2) excessive arc length — keep tight arc equal to electrode core diameter; (3) moisture-absorbed electrodes — bake at 225 °F for 1 hour if canisters have been opened in humid conditions.
Q: What amperage for a horizontal fillet on 1/4 in plate with 1/8 in Fleetweld 37?
Start at 110 A for a horizontal fillet on 1/4 in A36. Adjust slightly down if you see undercut, slightly up if fusion is incomplete at the toes. A typical horizontal fillet at 110–120 A with 1/8 in E6013 produces a clean 1/4 in leg fillet in one pass.
The E6013 welding rod is the most widely used introductory and light-fabrication electrode in the AWS A5.1 family. Its titania-sodium flux produces a soft, quiet arc that instructors and sheet-metal fabricators prize for its controllability. When comparing E6013 stick welding rods, look for consistent coating concentricity (eccentric coatings cause arc deviation and uneven beads), clear flux-to-core adhesion (no visible cracks or chips before packaging), and a labeled AWS classification on the box. Lincoln Fleetweld 37 meets all three criteria and ships in sealed moisture-resistant canisters. For automotive repair and body panel work, the low spatter and smooth bead appearance of E6013 minimize grinding cleanup — critical for visible welds on equipment where aesthetic matters. For welding galvanized or zinc-coated steel (ductwork, HVAC enclosures), E6013 is often used with the galvanizing pre-cleaned locally, though adequate ventilation is essential due to zinc oxide fume hazard. The E6013 classification should not be confused with E7013 (higher tensile, similar flux type) or E6012 (similar tensile, more penetrating, DC-preferred) — each has distinct arc characteristics suited to specific applications.