Published October 6, 2026
Stick welding amperage chart by rod size
These are the windows the stick tab prints. They are stored in the function. They are not a Lincoln, ESAB, or Hobart diameter chart copied onto this page.
The windows the function stores
| Rod | E6011 | E7018 | Power line |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/16" | 35–60 A | 40–80 A | 120 V machine OK |
| 3/32" | 40–85 A | 70–100 A | 120 V machine OK |
| 1/8" | 75–125 A | 90–140 A | 120 V machine OK |
| 5/32" | 110–165 A | 120–180 A | 240 V machine |
The power line is the Handler 140 test, not a second amp column. The spec sheet lists 115 V and a welding range of 25–140 A. If the low end is at least 25 and the high end is at most 140, the line says a 120 V machine is OK. The 5/32 inch windows run past 140 A, so they do not. Polarity on the card is DCEP, and the 6011 note says that rod also runs DCEN or AC. The 7018 note says DCEP only.
Which thickness selects which rod
The function takes half the mils you type, rounds it, and will not go below 62. Up to 66 mils of rod is 1/16 inch. Up to 100 is 3/32 inch. Up to 128 is 1/8 inch. Above that is 5/32 inch.
| Enter | Half, after the floor | Rod | Clean (E7018) | Rusty (E6011) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 mils | 62 | 1/16" | 40–80 A | 35–60 A |
| 125 mils | 63 | 1/16" | 40–80 A | 35–60 A |
| 188 mils | 94 | 3/32" | 70–100 A | 40–85 A |
| 250 mils | 125 | 1/8" | 90–140 A | 75–125 A |
| 300 mils | 150 | 5/32" | 120–180 A | 110–165 A |
One hundred twenty-five mils is this site’s 1/8 inch marker, and it still selects a 1/16 inch rod, because half of 125 rounds to 63. Two hundred fifty mils is the 1/4 inch marker, and it selects 1/8 inch, because 125 is still at or under 128. The 5/32 inch rod does not appear until the halved thickness is above 128, which 300 mils is.
Worked example: 250 mils, clean
- Open the stick tab and enter 250.
- Leave the metal on clean. The card prints 1/8 inch E7018, 90–140 A, and 120 V machine OK.
- Switch to rusty. The diameter stays 1/8 inch. The electrode becomes E6011 at 75–125 A, and the power line stays 120 V machine OK.
That 120 V line means the window fits 25–140 A. It does not mean a Handler 140, rated 90 A at 20 percent, can hold 140 A for a long bead. The duty arithmetic for that nameplate at 140 A is on what size welder for 1/4 inch steel and on how to choose a stick welder. The shade OSHA lists for a 1/8 inch stick electrode is on what to wear when welding.
Nameplate amp ranges and rated duty cycles for hobby and farm machines are on the welder duty cycle and amperage chart.
A common mistake
Reading 1/8 inch of steel as an order for 1/8 inch rod. At 125 mils the tab prints 1/16 inch. The 1/8 inch rod shows up at 250 mils. The other mistake is treating the table above as a Lincoln 7018 package chart. It is the lookup inside this calculator. If a rod package prints a different range, the package is the range for that rod. This page will not overwrite it.
Limits
The function has no E6010 column and no E6013 column. It will not print one. It is not a procedure, and a window that fits a 115 V range is not a structural qualification. If the joint has to carry a load, use a qualified procedure.
Frequently asked questions
What rod does 125 mils select?
1/16 inch. Half of 125 rounds to 63, and 63 is at or under 66, so the rod is 1/16 inch. Clean metal prints E7018 at 40–80 A. Rusty metal prints E6011 at 35–60 A. Both windows print 120 V machine OK.
Are these windows a Lincoln electrode sheet?
No. They are the windows stored in this site’s stick tab. The page does not transcribe an E6010, E6013, or E7018 manufacturer diameter chart, because that chart is not the function.
Welding up or down a joint? See the best welding rod for vertical down.
Compiled with AI assistance from the sources below. Spot an error? Email [email protected].
Sources
- Hobart Handler 140 spec sheet, for the 25–140 A range on 115 V that the power line uses. https://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc.com/cdn/shop/files/Hobart_Handler_140_spec.pdf. Accessed October 6, 2026.