Stick Electrode Amperage Chart by Rod Size and Position

Most stick welding problems trace back to one number: amperage. Run too low and the rod sticks, the arc stutters, and slag rolls ahead of the puddle. Run too high and you get undercut, burn-through, and a rod that glows red before it's half consumed. The right setting depends on three things — the electrode classification, the rod diameter, and the position you're welding in. This guide puts HYW's published amperage ranges for the most common mild steel electrodes into one chart so you can dial in a starting point fast.

Why diameter drives amperage

A stick electrode is a fuse and a filler rod at the same time. The core wire carries the entire welding current, so a larger diameter can carry more amps before it overheats — and it deposits more metal per inch of travel. That's why every classification has a published range per diameter rather than a single number. A 3/32" rod running at 200 A will glow and spatter; a 5/32" rod at 70 A will stick to the plate before it strikes.

The practical rule: pick the diameter to match your plate thickness and joint access first, then set amperage inside that rod's published range.

Stick electrode amperage chart

These are the recommended amperage ranges published on HYW's 14" electrode product pages. All values assume a clean joint and a machine set to the correct polarity.

AWS Class	3/32"	1/8"	5/32"	Current
E6010	40 – 80 A	75 – 130 A	110 – 165 A	DC+ only
E6011	40 – 90 A	75 – 125 A	110 – 165 A	AC or DC+
E6013	35 – 85 A	80 – 140 A	110 – 190 A	AC or DC±
E7014	—	110 – 160 A	150 – 210 A	AC or DC±
E7018	70 – 100 A	90 – 150 A	130 – 200 A	AC or DC+
E7024	100 – 145 A	140 – 200 A	180 – 250 A	AC or DC±

Ranges are general guidelines from HYW product data. Optimal settings vary with base-metal thickness, joint design, fit-up, and position. E7014 is stocked in 1/8" and 5/32" only.

Adjusting for welding position

The chart above is your flat-position baseline. Gravity does the rest of the work, and it doesn't help you out of position.

• › Flat and horizontal: run the middle to upper end of the range. The puddle is supported and you can push travel speed.
• › Vertical: drop toward the lower end of the range so the puddle freezes fast enough to stay put.
• › Overhead: lowest end of the range, and step down a rod diameter if the puddle is falling on you.
• › Flat/horizontal only: E7024 is a high-deposition drag rod classified for flat and horizontal fillets — don't plan on taking it vertical or overhead.

Reading the arc instead of the dial

Once you're inside the published range, the weld tells you what to change. Watch for these:

• › Rod sticks or arc keeps going out — amperage too low.
• › Slag hard to chip, ropy convex bead — amperage too low or travel too slow.
• › Undercut along the toes, heavy spatter — amperage too high.
• › Rod glows red and coating flakes before it's used up — amperage well above the rod's range, or the rod diameter is too small for the amps you need.
• › Burn-through on thin plate — step down a diameter before you cut amps to the floor.

Polarity matters as much as amperage

Setting the number right on the wrong polarity still gives a bad weld. E6010 runs on DC+ (DCEP / reverse polarity) only — it is not an AC rod. E6011 was developed to give you that same cellulosic, deep-penetrating arc on an AC buzz box. E6013, E7014, and E7024 are flexible on AC or DC in either polarity. E7018 runs on AC or DC+. Check your machine before blaming the amperage.

Buying in bulk: the 50 lb sealed can

If you're burning rod every day, the 50 lb hermetically sealed steel can is the format that makes sense — lower cost per pound than small boxes, and the seal keeps low-hydrogen electrodes dry until you open them. That matters most for E7018: once the can is open, store the rods in a heated rod oven and redry per AWS/manufacturer guidance if they're exposed to moisture. Cellulosic rods like E6010 and E6011 are a different animal and are not rod-oven candidates.

Frequently asked questions

What amperage for 1/8" 7018?
HYW's published range for 1/8" E7018 is 90 – 150 A on AC or DC+. Most shops start near 120 A flat and trim down for vertical and overhead.

What amperage for 3/32" 6013?
35 – 85 A. The wide low end is why E6013 is the go-to rod for thin sheet and light fabrication.

Can I use the same amperage for every rod of the same diameter?
No. Coating chemistry changes how much current the rod can handle. At 1/8", E6010 tops out at 130 A while E7024 runs up to 200 A — same diameter, very different rods.

Which rod gives the most deposition for production work?
E7024. It's an iron-powder, high-deposition drag rod running 140 – 200 A at 1/8", but it's limited to flat and horizontal fillet welds.

Does rod length affect amperage?
Not the setting itself, but a long rod run hard will overheat toward the end of its burn. If the coating is breaking down before the stub, back the amps off.

Safety: welding produces intense UV/IR radiation, hot metal, and hazardous fumes. Use an appropriate welding helmet and shade, flame-resistant clothing, gloves, and adequate ventilation or fume extraction. Follow ANSI Z49.1 and your employer's safety program, and review the manufacturer's safety data sheet before use.