Learning Verrtical Up 7018 (1/8") the Right Way by Mastering the 3 A’s
If you’re a welding student learning vertical up stick welding with 7018, here’s something important to understand early:
Vertical uphill welding magnifies mistakes—but it also rewards good fundamentals.
That’s why instructors emphasize the 3 A’s:
- Amperage
- Arc length
- Angle
If you can control those three things, everything else—travel speed, bead shape, slag control—starts to fall into place.
Let’s break it down:
Amperage: for vertical uphill welding with 7018, you will need to reduce amperage from what you might use on flat or horizontal. For example, 125 amps might be a good amperage for a 1/8” 7018 for a 2F horizontal tee joint but a vertical 3F tee joint using the same rod on the same thickness metal would need about 10 less amps for a single pass fillet weld so 115 amps would be more manageable provided arc length and angle are in scope.
Arc length: remember that the inside core of the 7018 electrodes melts off in such a way that the arc length is longer than it appears. While you dont want to jam the rod in the puddle, you want to feel the flux coating touching occasionally to let you know your arc length is good and tight.
Angle: A slight push angle works for vertical uphill welding with 7018. If you aim for a 90 degree straight in angle, you will most likely have some push angle without realizing it.
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