Start with a common 1/8-inch rod
Welding Rod Amperage at a Glance
For a 1/8 in (3.2 mm) stick electrode, amperage depends on the rod classification, polarity and product. Choose a rod below to see its matching chart rows.
Illustrative Lincoln Electric product ranges, not universal AWS settings. Other sizes and AC/DC ranges are in the chart below.
Find a welding rod and amperage range
Filter the verified 18 product/diameter rows.
Choose a rod, size or current above. Matching manufacturer amperage ranges appear here. The complete table remains available without JavaScript.
Important: A match is only a preliminary product-data lookup—not an approved welding procedure. Verify your WPS, base metal, joint, position, power source, and current product sheet.
1/8-Inch Welding Rod Amperage Chart
These are product-specific operating ranges for the six common electrodes at 1/8 in (3.2 mm), not universal amp settings. A dash means no supported range is listed for that current and product.
| Rod | AC | DCEP | DCEN | Typical arc / use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E6010 | — | 75–135 A | — | Digging / deep penetration |
| E6011 | 65–120 A | 60–110 A | 60–110 A | Digging / deep penetration |
| E6013 | 110–140 A | 100–135 A | 100–135 A | Soft arc / light penetration |
| E7014 | 110–155 A | 100–145 A | 100–145 A | Smooth arc / higher deposition |
| E7018 | 100–160 A | 90–160 A | — | Low-hydrogen / medium penetration |
| E7024-1 | 115–175 A | 100–160 A | 100–160 A | High deposition / shallow penetration |
E7024-1 is for flat welding and horizontal fillets, not vertical/overhead or unrestricted horizontal groove welding. E7018 is not intended for vertical-down welding in this product’s sheet.
Complete 18-row reference
Welding Rod Size Chart: 3/32, 1/8, 5/32 & 3/16 in
Selected 18 Lincoln Electric electrode/diameter combinations. Amperage depends on the exact electrode product and polarity. Use the amp finder above for compact matches; the complete searchable-by-browser table below is always available.
| Electrode | Size | AC (A) | DCEP (A) | DCEN (A) | Welding position | Typical use | Lincoln product |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E6010 | 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | — | 50–85 A | — | All positions* | Pipe roots and field repair | Lincoln Fleetweld 5P+ |
| E6010 | 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | — | 75–135 A | — | All positions* | Pipe roots and field repair | Lincoln Fleetweld 5P+ |
| E6010 | 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | — | 100–175 A | — | All positions* | Pipe roots and field repair | Lincoln Fleetweld 5P+ |
| E6011 | 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 40–90 A | 40–80 A | 40–80 A | All positions* | AC repair and maintenance | Lincoln Fleetweld 180 |
| E6011 | 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 65–120 A | 60–110 A | 60–110 A | All positions* | AC repair and maintenance | Lincoln Fleetweld 180 |
| E6011 | 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 115–150 A | 105–135 A | 105–135 A | All positions* | AC repair and maintenance | Lincoln Fleetweld 180 |
| E6013 | 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 75–115 A | 70–105 A | 70–105 A | All positions* | Sheet metal and light fabrication | Lincoln Fleetweld 37 |
| E6013 | 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 110–140 A | 100–135 A | 100–135 A | All positions* | Sheet metal and light fabrication | Lincoln Fleetweld 37 |
| E6013 | 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 160–200 A | 145–180 A | 145–180 A | All positions* | Sheet metal and light fabrication | Lincoln Fleetweld 37 |
| E7014 | 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 80–100 A | 75–95 A | 75–95 A | All positions* | Frames and general fabrication | Lincoln Fleetweld 47 |
| E7014 | 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 110–155 A | 100–145 A | 100–145 A | All positions* | Frames and general fabrication | Lincoln Fleetweld 47 |
| E7014 | 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 150–225 A | 135–200 A | 135–200 A | All positions* | Frames and general fabrication | Lincoln Fleetweld 47 |
| E7018 | 3/32 in (2.4 mm) | 80–120 A | 70–110 A | — | All positions* | Structural work per WPS | Lincoln Excalibur 7018-1 MR |
| E7018 | 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 100–160 A | 90–160 A | — | All positions* | Structural work per WPS | Lincoln Excalibur 7018-1 MR |
| E7018 | 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 140–210 A | 130–210 A | — | All positions* | Structural work per WPS | Lincoln Excalibur 7018-1 MR |
| E7024-1 | 1/8 in (3.2 mm) | 115–175 A | 100–160 A | 100–160 A | Flat / horizontal fillet | Flat welds / horizontal fillets | Lincoln Jetweld 1 |
| E7024-1 | 5/32 in (4.0 mm) | 180–240 A | 160–215 A | 160–215 A | Flat / horizontal fillet | Flat welds / horizontal fillets | Lincoln Jetweld 1 |
| E7024-1 | 3/16 in (4.8 mm) | 240–300 A | 220–280 A | 220–280 A | Flat / horizontal fillet | Flat welds / horizontal fillets | Lincoln Jetweld 1 |
*“All positions” is classification shorthand. Vertical travel direction and allowed technique are product-/procedure-dependent; for Excalibur 7018-1 MR, vertical down is explicitly excluded. For E7024-1, horizontal refers to horizontal fillet capability. Do not substitute an unlisted diameter or polarity.
Welding Rod Chart | Turn2Engineering | Lincoln Electric product amperage ranges: verify the current datasheet and WPS.
Which Welding Rod Should I Use for Mild Steel?
Choose by the work requirement first, then by welder current, position, diameter and operating range. These are common applications—not unqualified recommendations for any structural or critical weld.
Welding rusty, dirty or coated steel creates additional weld-quality and fume hazards; never treat a rod’s tolerance of surface contamination as permission to skip specified cleaning or ventilation.
What Do Welding Rod Numbers Mean?
For standard four-digit AWS carbon-steel electrode designations, the lettering and numbers indicate a strength classification and usability characteristics. They do not give you a universal operating amperage.
For example, E7018 is a 70 ksi low-hydrogen electrode class, commonly usable with AC or DCEP. Supplemental identifiers such as -1, H4 and R represent additional requirements and should not be inferred from the basic four digits.
Welding Rod Diameter vs. Material Thickness
There is no safe universal steel-thickness-to-rod-size table. Sheet thickness, joint preparation, welding position, heat input, pass count, equipment and WPS all influence diameter. As a rough orientation only, smaller rods often offer more control on light material and large rods generally require more current.
Choose current from the specific electrode manufacturer’s recommendations, not from a one-amp-per-thousandths shortcut.
AC vs. DCEP vs. DCEN for Stick Welding
Current changes direction during the cycle. The specific electrode and power source must support AC operation.
Electrode is positive. Used by E6010 in the selected reference and by several other common electrodes.
Electrode is negative. Allowed only where the named electrode product and procedure specify it.
Polarity influences arc behavior and heat distribution but does not independently determine weld penetration or approval. Read the actual product sheet and welding procedure.
Before You Strike an Arc
- Verify base metal, joint details, electrode specification, weld position and required weld-metal properties.
- Use the applicable welding procedure specification (WPS), equipment instructions and project/code requirements for essential variables.
- Control electrode moisture—especially low-hydrogen products—using manufacturer and governing-code instructions.
- Use the required eye, skin, respiratory and fume-control protection; remove or control hazardous coatings per applicable procedures.
- Observe power-source duty cycle, grounding/return connection, electrical safety and fire controls.
This reference is not a WPS, qualification, weld-design calculator, or authorization for code-controlled work. ASTM/AWS mechanical properties and specific weld joint requirements cannot be inferred from amperage alone.
Welding Rod Chart FAQs
What is the amperage for a 1/8-inch 7018 welding rod?
The selected Lincoln Excalibur 7018-1 MR data lists 90–160 A on DCEP and 100–160 A on AC for 1/8 in (3.2 mm). Confirm the current product sheet and your WPS.
What amp setting should I use for a 6011 welding rod?
For the named Lincoln Fleetweld 180 product at 1/8 in, the reference ranges are 65–120 A on AC and 60–110 A on either DC polarity. Those are operating ranges, not prescribed settings for every joint.
Which welding rod is best for a beginner?
E6013 is often approachable for practicing on suitable light carbon-steel fabrication because of its smoother arc. The correct electrode still depends on your machine, base metal, position and safety requirements.
Can I use an E6010 rod on AC?
The E6010 Fleetweld 5P+ rows in this chart are DCEP. For an AC-capable cellulosic option, check an E6011 product such as Fleetweld 180.
Can I weld vertically with E7024?
Not under the standard E7024-1 position scope used in this reference. Jetweld 1 is listed for flat and horizontal welds; its horizontal position is intended for fillet work, not unrestricted horizontal groove work.
What does the 70 in E7018 mean?
It identifies a 70 ksi minimum weld-metal tensile-strength class under the AWS classification test conditions, not a tensile rating for an entire welded joint.
Are all 7018 rods suitable for the same amperage?
No. Operating bands change with diameter, polarity and actual product. This table uses one named Lincoln Electric product and does not interpolate missing combinations.
Does this chart tell me the right rod for stainless steel or cast iron?
No. It is limited to selected carbon-steel stick electrodes classified under AWS A5.1. Stainless and cast-iron electrodes require separate specifications and selection criteria.
Sources and Data Method
The electrode classifications are AWS-related reference data; operating ranges are Lincoln Electric manufacturer product examples, never universal AWS requirements. This page does not reproduce the AWS proprietary standard tables. Range entries are not calculated or interpolated. Sources and operating data should be rechecked against the latest manufacturer sheets before critical work.
- AWS A5.1/A5.1M:2025 — carbon-steel SMAW electrode classification specification.
- Hobart Brothers — Choosing the Right Stick Electrode for the Job — classification use, positions, polarity and storage principles.
- Lincoln Electric Welding Consumables Catalog (PDF) — selected Fleetweld, Excalibur and Jetweld operating ranges; product-specific values. Verify against the latest issued product datasheet.
- Fleetweld 5P+ (E6010); Fleetweld 180 (E6011); Fleetweld 37 (E6013).
- Fleetweld 47 (E7014); Excalibur 7018-1 MR; Jetweld 1 (E7024-1).
Scope: carbon-steel SMAW only; six classifications, 18 product/size combinations, in manufacturer-recommended amperes. The designation suffix “-1” is retained where the specific Lincoln product is classified E7024-1 or E7018-1. Reviewed against the user-supplied data and manufacturer/standards references in October 2026.