Stick Welders

Stick welding needs no gas and copes with rust, paint residue and wind better than any wire process, which keeps it the farm and repair workhorse. These are ordered by the maker's top output, highest first.

Electrode size sets the current: OSHA's shade table pairs 60 to 160 amps with 3/32 to 5/32-inch rods (minimum shade 8) and 160 to 250 amps with larger rods (shade 10). Each note gives the rod sizes the maker states.

Stick welding's flux makes slag and fume; ventilate as OSHA's fume fact sheet advises.

#1 · Up to 225 A

Lincoln Electric Weld-Pak 225i Stick Welder

The Lincoln Electric Weld-Pak 225i Stick Welder puts out up to 225 amps by its maker's rating. By Miller's 1 amp per 0.001 inch rule that's about 0.225 in of steel in one pass. The maker's thickness claim: "up to 5/16" steel in a single pass". Processes: Stick/TIG. It suits farm and structural repairs and steel to about 0.225 in per pass. Where it gives ground: duty cycle not stated with amps; slag cleanup.

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#2 · Up to 205 A

YESWELDER 205Amp Stick Welder

The YESWELDER 205Amp Stick Welder puts out up to 205 amps by its maker's rating on 110 or 220-volt input. By Miller's 1 amp per 0.001 inch rule that's about 0.205 in of steel in one pass. Processes: Stick/Lift TIG. It suits farm and structural repairs and steel to about 0.205 in per pass. Where it gives ground: duty cycle not stated with amps; slag cleanup. Shade by current.

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#3 · Up to 200 A

Sefaspe ARC 200Pro Stick Welder

The Sefaspe ARC 200Pro Stick Welder puts out up to 200 amps by its maker's rating on 220-volt input. By Miller's 1 amp per 0.001 inch rule that's about 0.200 in of steel in one pass. It suits farm and structural repairs and steel to about 0.200 in per pass. Where it gives ground: duty cycle not stated with amps; needs a 240 V circuit. Chip slag between passes and before painting.

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#4 · Up to 140 A

ZOJAN ARC140 Stick Welder

The ZOJAN ARC140 Stick Welder puts out up to 140 amps by its maker's rating on 110-volt input. By Miller's 1 amp per 0.001 inch rule that's about 0.140 in of steel in one pass. It suits farm and structural repairs and sheet metal to about 0.140 in. Where it gives ground: duty cycle not stated with amps; 120 V caps output. Stay inside the current range printed on the electrode packaging.

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#5 · Up to 120 A

HONETOOL MMA140D Stick Welder

The HONETOOL MMA140D Stick Welder puts out up to 120 amps by its maker's rating on 110-volt input. By Miller's 1 amp per 0.001 inch rule that's about 0.120 in of steel in one pass. Rods: 1/16"-1/8". It suits farm and structural repairs and sheet metal to about 0.120 in. Where it gives ground: duty cycle not stated with amps; 120 V caps output. Shade by current. Chip slag between passes and before painting.

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#6 · Up to 110 A

Miller 907909 Stick Welder

The Miller 907909 Stick Welder puts out up to 110 amps by its maker's rating on 120-volt input. By Miller's 1 amp per 0.001 inch rule that's about 0.110 in of steel in one pass. The maker's thickness claim: "up to 1/8"". It suits farm and structural repairs and sheet metal to about 0.110 in. Where it gives ground: duty cycle not stated with amps; 120 V caps output. Chip slag between passes and before painting.

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#7 · Up to 50 A

Lincoln Electric K1297 Stick Welder

The Lincoln Electric K1297 Stick Welder puts out up to 50 amps by its maker's rating on 230-volt input. By Miller's 1 amp per 0.001 inch rule that's about 0.050 in of steel in one pass. It suits farm and structural repairs and sheet metal to about 0.050 in. Where it gives ground: duty cycle not stated with amps; needs a 240 V circuit. Stay inside the current range printed on the electrode packaging.

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The list, rating by rating

Picking between them

Match output to the rods you'll run (their packaging states the current range) and the input to your power. Check duty cycle at the amps those rods need.

Inverter stick welders are light and often dual-voltage; transformer machines are heavy and simple.

When another list fits better

For thin sheet metal, MIG or TIG gives more control.

Questions welders ask

Our editors choose and order the picks from the makers' own ratings; every pick meets the rule printed above. How we read a welder · Affiliate disclosure