7018 w-1

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So our safety inspector came down today. Asks why we have a rod oven.  i reply that we have 7018 and its a low hydrogen rod that is sensitive to the moisture in the air.  He then says how do you know its a low hydrogen rod and proceeds to give me a class in how to read electrodes. He then says that 7018 W1 is resistant to moisture and that we do not need an oven.  He then started calling the 7018 w-1 a hydrogen rod.  I bit my tongue in front of my boss as i wanted to call him a dumb F@!#ck.  But then I got to thinking.  what the hell does the w-1 stand for.?  Im guessing that it has to do with the alloy or something. perhaps some sort of weathering steel electode.  He then graced us with the fact that he wouldn't hit us on it but just make a note of it.At workMillermatic 252Syncrowave 250DXAt HomeLincoln Pro Mig 140Lincoln AC/DC 225/125
Reply:I use Air Liquide blueshield 7018-1-H4 electrodes. Blueshield now has a 7018-1-H4 electrode they call LA18 LMP (low moisture pickup). It has a moisture resistant coating on it which would be nice if you dont have a rod oven.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Originally Posted by 67lemansSo our safety inspector came down today. Asks why we have a rod oven.  i reply that we have 7018 and its a low hydrogen rod that is sensitive to the moisture in the air.  He then says how do you know its a low hydrogen rod and proceeds to give me a class in how to read electrodes. He then says that 7018 W1 is resistant to moisture and that we do not need an oven.  He then started calling the 7018 w-1 a hydrogen rod.  I bit my tongue in front of my boss as i wanted to call him a dumb F@!#ck.  But then I got to thinking.  what the hell does the w-1 stand for.?  Im guessing that it has to do with the alloy or something. perhaps some sort of weathering steel electode.  He then graced us with the fact that he wouldn't hit us on it but just make a note of it.
Reply:Hello 67lemans, you may find that the w-1 is a suffix to indicate that this rod meets a particular Charpy impact value. I was involved in some specialty welding a couple of years ago and the rod that we were using was ESAB E7018-1, it was designed for maintaining strength at very low temperatures. Might be the case here? Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:7018, no matter the suffix, should be maintained in an oven at 250 degrees.  If memory serves, a regular 7018 rod is allowed to be out in open atmosphere for 4 hours.  With a suffix of -HR it is allow 9 hours because it is 'Hyrdogen Resistant'.  It must still be maintained in an oven.  The last number indicated the chemical composition of the flux (in this case an 8, or also a 5 or 6, indicates low hyrdogen), NOT the suffix at the end.   I did not know what W-1 meant, but did google it.  It is an additional alloying elements added to the flux to resist corrosion in open air used for weathering steels.  This does not mean it doesnt need an oven, it means in the as welded condition it resists corrosion.Jay DavisAWS-CWIC-60 Specialty Welding ContractorLoving husband, and father of two boys (