October 31, 2026 · Indumor

Stick welding course · Appendix A← Previous | Next →

Stick beads with different settings seen from above

Starting values for the most common electrodes, in the flat position. For vertical and overhead, lower them by 10 to 15 %. The range the maker prints on the box overrides this chart, and when there is a procedure, the WPS rules.

Electrode	Covering	Current	Positions	Ø 2.5 mm, 3/32 in (A)	Ø 3.2 mm, 1/8 in (A)	Ø 4.0 mm, 5/32 in (A)	Ø 5.0 mm, 3/16 in (A)	Typical use
E6010	Cellulosic (sodium)	DC, electrode +	All	50 to 80	75 to 125	110 to 160	140 to 200	Pipe roots, vertical down
E6011	Cellulosic (potassium)	AC or DC +	All	50 to 85	75 to 120	90 to 160	120 to 200	Maintenance, dirty surfaces, AC transformers
E6013	Rutile (potassium)	AC or DC ±	All	50 to 90	80 to 130	105 to 180	150 to 230	Light fabrication, thin sheet, general work
E7018	Low-hydrogen with iron powder	AC or DC +	All	70 to 110	100 to 150	140 to 200	180 to 260	Structures, heavy sections, demanding joints
E7024	Rutile, heavy iron powder	AC or DC ±	Flat and horizontal fillet	–	120 to 170	170 to 230	210 to 300	Long fillets in the flat
E308L-16	Stainless, rutile	AC or DC +	All	50 to 80	75 to 110	100 to 140	–	AISI 304 and 304L stainless

How to use it

Start in the middle of the range and adjust by watching the bead: wetted edges, rounded ripples and slag that lifts off.
Low-hydrogen rods (E7018) want a short arc and, where possible, DC electrode positive.
Cellulosic rods (E6010) are not oven-dried; low-hydrogen rods are, as lesson 7 explains.
With an AC transformer, pick electrodes that accept AC: E6011, E6013 or E7018.

Each column is explained in lesson 5, lesson 6 and lesson 8 of the course. The chart belongs to the Steel Knowledge Hub of Indumor.

← Lesson 12: Procedures and qualificationCourse indexAppendix B: Stick welding glossary, Spanish-English →

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Electrode and amperage chart

How to use it

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Lesson 8: current and arc

Appendix B: glossary

Course index

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