Welding rod amperage chart by AWS class and diameter
Amperage ranges for E6010, E6011, E6013, E7014, E7018 and E7024 stick electrodes from 3/32 to 1/4 in, as Lincoln, ESAB and Hobart print them in their own data sheets. The three makers are shown side by side, because for the same class and size they do not give the same numbers.
Short answer
| AWS class | 3/32 in | 1/8 in | 5/32 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| E6010 | 40–85 A | 65–135 A | 90–175 A |
| E6011 | 40–90 A | 70–125 A | 80–175 A |
| E6013 | 40–95 A | 70–135 A | 130–190 A |
| E7014 | 70–100 A | 100–150 A | 135–210 A |
| E7018 | 70–110 A | 90–160 A | 110–230 A |
| E7024 | — | 100–180 A | 160–240 A |
Each cell is the lowest and the highest figure any of the three makers gives for that rod. Start in the middle for flat work, lower for thin material and for vertical-up and overhead, and check the range on the box: it is the only one written for the rod in your hand.
The six classes
| AWS class | Current | Positions | Coating |
|---|---|---|---|
| E6010 | DCEP | all | cellulose |
| E6011 | AC, DCEP | all | cellulose |
| E6013 | AC, DCEP, DCEN | all | rutile |
| E7014 | AC, DCEP, DCEN | all | iron powder, rutile |
| E7018 | DCEP, AC | all except vertical-down | low hydrogen, iron powder |
| E7024 | AC, DCEP, DCEN | flat and horizontal fillet | heavy iron powder |
The last two digits of the class carry most of this table: the third digit is the position (1 — all positions, 2 — flat and horizontal fillets only), the last one the coating and the current it runs on. The full key to the designation, with the ISO equivalents, is in electrode and wire designations.
E6010
| Diameter, in | mm | Lincoln Fleetweld 5P+ | ESAB Sureweld 6010 | Hobart Pipemaster Pro-60 | Combined range, A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/32 | 2.4 | 50–85 | 60–80 | 40–70 | 40–85 |
| 1/8 | 3.2 | 75–135 | 85–130 | 65–130 | 65–135 |
| 5/32 | 4.0 | 100–175 | 140–175 | 90–175 | 90–175 |
A cellulose rod with a forceful, deep-penetrating arc and a thin slag: the pipeline root rod, and the one that cuts through rust and mill scale. It runs on DCEP (DC+) and needs a machine with enough open-circuit voltage to keep the arc alive — some small inverters will not run it.
E6011
| Diameter, in | mm | Lincoln Fleetweld 35 | ESAB Sureweld 6011 | Hobart 335A | Combined range, A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/32 | 2.4 | 40–75 | 60–80 | 60–90 | 40–90 |
| 1/8 | 3.2 | 70–110 | 85–120 | 80–125 | 70–125 |
| 5/32 | 4.0 | 80–145 | 140–175 | 130–160 | 80–175 |
| 3/16 | 4.8 | 110–180 | 170–210 | 160–190 | 110–210 |
The AC version of 6010: the same digging arc, with a coating that stays lit on a transformer welder. On AC Lincoln lists its 6011 about ten per cent higher than on DCEP — 50–85 A for 3/32 in and 75–120 A for 1/8 in, against 40–75 and 70–110 A. Note how far apart the makers are at 5/32 in: 80–145 A against 140–175 A.
E6013
| Diameter, in | mm | Lincoln Fleetweld 37 | ESAB Sureweld 6013 | Hobart 447A | Combined range, A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/32 | 2.4 | 70–95 | 60–90 | 40–80 | 40–95 |
| 1/8 | 3.2 | 100–135 | 120–135 | 70–120 | 70–135 |
| 5/32 | 4.0 | 145–180 | 145–190 | 130–160 | 130–190 |
| 3/16 | 4.8 | 190–235 | — | 140–220 | 140–235 |
A rutile rod with a soft arc, shallow penetration and slag that peels off easily — the sheet-metal and light-fabrication rod, and the one sold with small AC welders. It is also a class where the makers are far apart: for 1/8 in the ranges are 100–135, 120–135 and 70–120 A.
E7014
| Diameter, in | mm | Lincoln Fleetweld 47 | ESAB Sureweld 7014 | Hobart 14A | Combined range, A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/32 | 2.4 | 75–95 | 70–100 | 70–90 | 70–100 |
| 1/8 | 3.2 | 100–145 | 100–150 | 120–145 | 100–150 |
| 5/32 | 4.0 | 135–200 | 160–200 | 140–210 | 135–210 |
| 3/16 | 4.8 | 185–235 | — | 180–280 | 180–280 |
Rutile with iron powder in the coating: it deposits more metal and travels faster than 6013, with the same easy handling. A general-purpose rod for fillets and laps on plate where low hydrogen is not required.
E7018
| Diameter, in | mm | Lincoln Excalibur 7018 MR | ESAB Atom Arc 7018 | Hobart 418 | Combined range, A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/32 | 2.4 | 70–110 | 70–110 | 80–100 | 70–110 |
| 1/8 | 3.2 | 90–160 | 90–160 | 90–150 | 90–160 |
| 5/32 | 4.0 | 130–210 | 130–220 | 110–230 | 110–230 |
| 3/16 | 4.8 | 180–300 | 200–300 | 150–300 | 150–300 |
| 7/32 | 5.6 | 250–330 | 250–350 | 220–350 | 220–350 |
| 1/4 | 6.4 | 300–400 | 300–400 | 270–380 | 270–400 |
The low-hydrogen structural rod, and the class where the three makers come closest to each other. It runs on DCEP or AC and in every position except vertical-down. The coating picks up moisture from the air: rods are kept in a sealed container or a rod oven, and damp ones are re-dried as the maker specifies or scrapped.
E7024
| Diameter, in | mm | Lincoln Jetweld 1 | ESAB Sureweld 7024 | Hobart 24 | Combined range, A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 | 3.2 | 100–160 | 140–180 | 130–150 | 100–180 |
| 5/32 | 4.0 | 160–215 | 180–240 | 180–225 | 160–240 |
| 3/16 | 4.8 | 220–280 | 245–290 | 200–280 | 200–290 |
| 7/32 | 5.6 | 270–340 | 300–340 | 250–320 | 250–340 |
| 1/4 | 6.4 | 320–400 | 350–400 | 300–360 | 300–400 |
A heavy iron-powder rod for fast single-pass fillets. The digit 2 in the class means flat and horizontal fillets only — the puddle is too fluid for anything else. Currents are high for the diameter: a 1/8 in 7024 runs at currents that overlap a 5/32 in 7018.
Where to set the machine inside the range
- Flat and horizontal: middle to upper half of the range.
- Vertical-up and overhead: lower half — the puddle has to freeze before it sags.
- Thin material and open roots: the low end, and often the next smaller rod.
- AC instead of DC: expect to need a little more current for the same rod.
Then read the bead. Too cold and the rod sticks, the bead sits high and narrow and the slag is hard to control. Too hot and the arc is harsh, spatter rises, the bead goes flat with undercut at the toes, and the last third of the rod glows red before it is used up.
This chart is in inch sizes and AWS classes. For metric diameters, with corrections for position, see the electrode current table for 1.6–6 mm rods, or enter your own case in the calculator for welding current by electrode diameter.
Every range in the tables is the one printed by the maker for the named product, on DCEP: Lincoln Fleetweld, Excalibur and Jetweld; ESAB Sureweld and Atom Arc; Hobart Pipemaster and the 335A, 447A, 14A, 418 and 24 electrodes. Nothing is averaged or rounded. Makers revise their data sheets, and other products of the same class differ — the range on the box overrides this chart.
Frequently asked questions
What amperage for a 1/8 inch 7018 rod?
Lincoln and ESAB both give 90–160 A for their 1/8 in E7018, Hobart 90–150 A, on DCEP. For flat work start near the middle, about 120–130 A, and come down for vertical-up and overhead.
What amperage for a 3/32 inch 7018 rod?
70–110 A in the Lincoln and ESAB data sheets and 80–100 A in Hobart’s. A 3/32 in 7018 is the usual choice for open roots and for vertical and overhead passes on thinner sections.
What amperage for a 1/8 inch 6011 rod?
On DCEP Lincoln gives 70–110 A, ESAB 85–120 A and Hobart 80–125 A. On AC the same Lincoln electrode is listed at 75–120 A — roughly ten per cent more than on DC.
What amperage for a 3/32 inch 6013 rod?
The makers are far apart on 6013: Lincoln lists 70–95 A, ESAB 60–90 A and Hobart 40–80 A for 3/32 in. Read the range printed on the box you actually have; on thin sheet start at the low end.
Why do two brands of the same rod list different amps?
Because an AWS class fixes the strength, the coating type and the positions, not the recipe. Each maker balances the coating differently, and the range on its data sheet is the one it recommends for that coating. The class tells you what the rod is for; the box tells you where to set the machine.
Is there a rule of thumb for stick welding amperage?
The old shop rule is one amp for each thousandth of an inch of rod diameter: 125 A for 1/8 in, 94 A for 3/32 in. It lands mid-range for 7018. For 6010, 6011 and 6013 it sits at or near the top of the makers’ ranges, so start lower with those.
Do 6010 and 6011 run at the same amperage?
Close, but not the same. In a 1/8 in rod the 6010 ranges run 65–135 A across the three makers and the 6011 ranges 70–125 A. The practical difference is the current type: 6010 is a DCEP rod, 6011 was made to run on AC as well.
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