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ELECTRODE SELECTION
!SAGENERALRULETHESELECTIONOFANELECTRODEISSTRAIGHTFORWARDINTHATITISONLYAMATTEROF
SELECTINGANELECTRODEOFSIMILARCOMPOSITIONTOTHEPARENTMETAL(OWEVERFORSOMEMETALS
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CORRECTSELECTIONOFELECTRODE
ELECTRODE SIZE
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THESECTIONBEINGWELDEDANDTHETHICKERTHESECTIONTHELARGER
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WELDING CURRENT (AMPERAGE)
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SMAW (STICK) WELDING FUNDAMENTALS
Average Thickness of Material
Maximum Recommended
Electrode Diameter
0.03 – 0.07 inches
0.75 – 2mm
3/32 inch
2.4mm
0.07 – 0.19 inches
2 – 4.8 mm
1/8 inch
3.2mm
0.19 – 0.31 inches
4.8 – 8mm
5/32 inch
4 mm
Electrode Size
Current Range
3/32 inch
2.4mm
60 – 100 amps
1/8 inch
3.2mm
100 – 130 amps
5/32 inch
4 mm
130 – 165 amps
ELECTRODE SIZE
WELDING CURRENT (AMPERAGE)
www.CKWORLDWIDE.com
Excessive travel speeds
lead to poor fusion, lack
of penetration, etc., while
too slow a rate of travel
will frequently lead to arc
instability, slag inclusions
and poor mechanical
properties.
General rule of thumb for
down hand welding is
to have an arc length no
greater than the diameter
of the electrode.