Stick welding
What settings for 3 mm steel on Stick?
Quick answer
For 3 mm mild steel on Stick: a 2.6 mm rod at 70–110 A, or a 3.2 mm rod at 100–140 A if your machine has the headroom — the 3.2 mm option gives a stronger single pass.
Settings table by thickness
| Thickness | Rod | Current |
|---|---|---|
| ~2 mm | 2.0 mm | 40–70 A |
| 3–4 mm | 2.6 mm | 70–110 A |
| 6 mm | 3.2 mm | 100–140 A |
| 10 mm+ | 4.0 mm | 140–190 A |
Dialling it in
Start at the middle of the band on scrap of the same thickness. Listen: a consistent bacon-crackle means the voltage/wire-speed pair is right; hissing spatter means mismatched. Watch the wetting at the toes — a bead sitting proud on top is too cold; one digging in and undercutting is too hot.