The Internet’s Greatest Hacks for Understanding Stick Welding Rods

Many beginners are shopping around to make sure they find the best stick welder rods on the market. This is a wise move, since Stick welding consumes more welding electrodes than any other type of welding process. But how do you know where to start? And what size do you need? Buying the wrong type of electrode could result in a botched project.

That’s where this compilation of stick welding tips come in: to help ensure success. Below, you’ll find an organized Stick welding rod selection list, with charts, guides, videos, and tips to help you find the best type of Stick welding electrodes for you.

Hoping to find Stick welding rod reviews? Click here for the best electrode reviews.

Understanding Stick Welder Rods: Table of Contents

• How to Choose the Right Stick Welding Electrode
• Stick Welding Aluminum Rods
• E6010 Stick Welder Rods
• E6011 Welding Rod Sticks
• E6013 Welding Rod Uses
• E7018 Welding Stick Rods
• 11018 Welding Rod
• Best Stick Welding Electrodes: Comparisons
• What Do the Numbers Mean on Stick Welder Rods?
• Shop: The Best Stick Welding Rods for Sale

How to Choose the Right Stick Welding Electrode

1. Recommended Stick Electrodes by Miller Welds
2. Factors for Selecting the Right Stick Electrode
3. Stuck on Stick? Easy Answers to Not-So-Easy Questions About Common Electrodes

Stick Welding Aluminum

1. Video: Stick Welding Aluminum & Weird Trick

E6010 Welding Electrodes

• Is the E6010 Welding Rod a Good Choice for Me?
• Official AWS Classifications Explained for the E6010 Welding Rod

E6011 Stick Welding Rods

• Amazon’s #1 Best Selling 6011 Stick Welding Electrodes: Hobart 770460 6011 Stick Rod

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• Official 6011 Welding Rod AWS Classification

E6013 Welding Rod Uses

• The Best Electrode for the Beginner (is the E6013!)
• Video: Stick Welding Sheet Metal with 6013 Rods (Beginner Welder Series)

E7018 Welding Rods

Now, the 7018 is a beast of a powerhouse; it can weld beads under 70k. As the last letter tells us,” it has an iron powder low hydrogen coating,” Because of this, it’s compatible with both AC and DC currents.

Best for: Bridge Building & Structural welding

But don’t just take our word for it – check out what the experts have to say:

• What Amps Should 7018 Welding Rods Be At?
• Official 7018 AWS Classification.

Best Stick Welding Rods Comparisons

As you can probably tell, the best Stick welder rods are complex and different kinds are used by different people. Below, we’ve compared just a few popular types of Stick welder rods.

E6010 vs E6011 Welding Rod Use

Sometimes, it’s hard to decide which type of stick welding rod to use – the 6011 vs 6010.

Ultimately, the 6011 electrodes have the advantage because they run on both AC and DC currents. In contrast, 6010 welding rods run solely on DC current.

• DC vs AC Polarity for SMAW (6010 vs 6011)
• Reddit: Difference Between 6011 and 7018 Welding Rods

6011 vs 7018 Welding Rod

In comparison to the 6011, 7018 welding rods give smoother, fuller welds and are easier to use for beginners.

Video: Stick Welding Rods – What do the numbers mean?

Now that you’ve seen our brief review of weld symbols explained, here’s a video specifically for Stick welding rods.

Shop: The Best Stick Welding Rods for Sale