Specific calculators, planners, and explainers for jobs that usually get buried in forums.
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Welding · Recommender
Stick welding electrode selector
Choose the job, power source, steel condition, weld position, thickness, and machine output to get a more useful answer than a static rod chart: which common stick electrode fits, what polarity it wants, and what diameter and amperage range make sense.
Why this page exists
Searches for stick welding rod chart are usually really asking which rod fits the actual job. The right answer changes with dirty versus clean steel, AC versus DC power, whether you need vertical or overhead welding, and how much amperage the machine can truly deliver.
- Explains the usual 6010, 6011, 6013, 7014, 7018, and 7024 tradeoffs in one place.
- Recommends rod diameter only if your thickness and machine amperage support it.
- Keeps the answer practical instead of pretending one rod wins every job.
Quick reality checks
- 6011 is usually the safer answer for dirty steel and AC-only repair work.
- 7018 is usually the stronger answer for clean structural steel, but not if the joint is filthy.
- 6013 is easier on thin clean steel than trying to force a big 7018 or 6011 through it.
- 7024 can move a lot of metal, but only when the weld is basically flat or horizontal.
Common trap: an AC buzz box may not run ordinary 7018 as happily as the chart suggests. If the selector leans 7018 and you are AC-only, treat that as a pointer toward 7018AC or toward a cleaner DC-capable setup, not as a guarantee that any 7018 rod will feel good.
Scope
This page is aimed at common mild-steel stick electrodes. It is not trying to be a stainless, cast-iron, hardfacing, or code-book replacement tool.
Common rod families at a glance
| Rod | Usual use | Power / polarity | Watch for |
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