How Many Amps for Stick Welding, like a lot of things in Welding, is not a precise science because it depends on a number of variables:

• Type of Metal
• Metal Thickness
• Type of Joint
• Joint Preparation
• Welding Rods Diameter
• To some extent, the size of the object being welded
• To some extent, the ambient temperature and the temperature of the metal to be welded

So for example, a Butt Weld in 10mm Steel, with a ‘V’ Prep where a Root run is applied, followed by a Fill and Cap run, will need less Amps than say 5mm thick steel with only a small gap for prep.

Joint Type also has a bearing. A Fillet Joint will need around 10% more Amps than a Butt Joint, while an Outside Corner Joint will need less power than a Butt Joint.

Often the answer comes from testing your best guess at power.

The above variables and comments explain why there is quite a range in the following Amp guides.

6013 Welding Rods for Mild Steel

• 2.0mm = 40-60amps
• 2.5mm = 60-90amps
• 3.2mm = 90-130amps
• 4.0mm = 130-170amps
• 5.0mm = 170-220amps

View our 6013 Welding Rods

7018 Welding Rods for Mild Steel

• 2.0mm = 50-70amps
• 2.5mm = 70-100amps
• 3.2mm = 100-140amps
• 4.0mm = 140-190amps
• 5.0mm = 190-240amps

304/316 Stainless Steel Welding Rods

• 2.0mm = 30-50amps
• 2.5mm = 40-70amps
• 3.2mm = 60-90amps
• 4.0mm = 90-120amps
• 5.0mm = 120-170amps

View our Stainless Steel & Cast Iron Rods

Ferro Nickel Rods for Cast Iron

• 2.5mm = 70-100amps
• 3.2mm = 100-130amps
• 4.0mm = 130-150amps
• 5.0mm = 150-170amps

View our Stainless Steel & Cast Iron Rods

Visit our Wires, Rods, Gas Page to view our Range

How Many Amps for Stick Welding – Conclusion

How Many Amps for Stick Welding is, unfortunately, not quite as simple as we might like. There are simply too many variables.

So the easiest way forward is to use the guides above to get you to the right ball park amps, then do a test weld on some scrap metal that’s the same as the job.

I hope you found this blog article about How Many Amps for Stick Welding useful.

Please let me know what you thought by leaving a comment.  

Don’t worry, your email address won’t be added to a database or shared and you won’t receive any unsolicited email.

Cheers

Graham