Best Welding Rods 6013 (2026): 5 Picks for Mild Steel

A cracked bracket on a trailer or a torn sheet metal patch calls for a rod that starts easy, runs smooth and leaves a clean bead. E6013 is the general purpose rod for that work: mild steel, all positions, and a forgiving arc that suits a home welder. This guide compares the best welding rods 6013 picks for mild steel, judged on diameter, length, amperage and tensile strength.

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Picks for the garage

#	Product	Shop Score	Buy
1	E6013 Welding Rods 1/8”, 5 lb	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
2	YESWELDER E6013 1/8'' 5LB Welding Rods Stick	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
3	YESWELDER E6013 3/32'' 5LB Welding Rods Stick	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
4	WISUNO Welding Rods,E6013 1/8'' 1LB,Carbon Steel	9.4/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Welding Rods,E6013 3/32'' 1LB,Carbon Steel Stick	9.4/10	Buy on Amazon

1

E6013 Welding Rods 1/8”, 5 lb

METAL MARLIN·9.5/10 Shop Score

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The Shop Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs performance (35%), build (25%), value (25%), safety (10%, where it applies) and warranty (5%), using only what the manufacturer and the listing publish. How we pick ›

A 5 lb box of 1/8 inch E6013 rods with a stated 60,000 psi tensile strength, a smooth arc and all-position welding on AC or DC.

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Pros

• Stated tensile strength of around 60,000 psi
• Runs on 110V stick welders and low voltage machines
• All-position welding with a smooth, forgiving arc
• 5 lbs plastic box for storage

Cons

• No warranty term is stated
• No amperage range is stated
• No stated rod length beyond 14 inches in the size field
• No safety feature is stated in the listing

2

YESWELDER E6013 1/8'' 5LB Welding Rods Stick

YESWELDER·9.5/10 Shop Score

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The Shop Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs performance (35%), build (25%), value (25%), safety (10%, where it applies) and warranty (5%), using only what the manufacturer and the listing publish. How we pick ›

A 5LB box of 1/8 inch E6013 rods with a stated 80A-130A range, low spatter and easy slag removal for mild steel.

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Pros

• Stated amperage range of 80A-130A
• Low spatter and excellent slag removal
• All-position welding on AC or DC current
• Suits light gauge metal, sheet metal and duct work

Cons

• No warranty term is stated
• No tensile strength is stated
• No stated box type
• No safety feature is stated in the listing

3

YESWELDER E6013 3/32'' 5LB Welding Rods Stick

YESWELDER·9.5/10 Shop Score

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The Shop Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs performance (35%), build (25%), value (25%), safety (10%, where it applies) and warranty (5%), using only what the manufacturer and the listing publish. How we pick ›

A general purpose E6013 rod in 3/32 in, 14 in long, in a 5 lb pack, for mild steel on AC or DC, including low voltage AC machines.

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Pros

• All position welding, including vertical down fillets
• Low spatter and excellent slag removal
• Works well on low voltage AC machines
• Suits light gauge metal, sheet metal and duct work

Cons

• No warranty term stated
• No safety listing stated
• Shallow penetration only, per the listing
• Smaller pack than the 10 lb version of the same rod

4

WISUNO Welding Rods,E6013 1/8'' 1LB,Carbon Steel

WISUNO·9.4/10 Shop Score

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The Shop Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs performance (35%), build (25%), value (25%), safety (10%, where it applies) and warranty (5%), using only what the manufacturer and the listing publish. How we pick ›

A 1LB box of 1/8 inch E6013 rods with a current reference table for diameters from 1/16 inch to 1/8 inch.

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Pros

• Current reference table for 4 diameters
• Easy arc initiation and a stable arc
• All-position welding on AC and DC
• 1LB box suits a single repair

Cons

• No warranty term is stated
• No tensile strength is stated
• No stated rod length
• No stated box type

5

Welding Rods,E6013 3/32'' 1LB,Carbon Steel Stick

WISUNO·9.4/10 Shop Score

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The Shop Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs performance (35%), build (25%), value (25%), safety (10%, where it applies) and warranty (5%), using only what the manufacturer and the listing publish. How we pick ›

A 1 lb pack of E6013 rods in 3/32 in, 14 in long, for low carbon steel structures, thin plate small parts and cover welding, on AC or DC.

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Pros

• Easy arc initiation and super stable arc
• Beautiful weld seam with easy slag removal
• Current reference table covers 3/32 in at 50A to 80A
• Suits thin plate small parts and cover welding

Cons

• No warranty term stated
• No safety listing stated
• 1 lb pack runs out quickly on bigger jobs
• No other pack weight offered in this guide

Compared on paper

Every rating comes from the brand’s listing and is not a shop test (gathered 3 November 2026). Where a listing contradicts itself, both figures are shown.

How the picks are scored

Each pick is scored on performance, build, value, safety and warranty. The scoring weights are published on the method page. A spec the listing does not publish scores nothing. None of the listings states a warranty term, so warranty scores zero across the guide.

No score drops under 9.2 or climbs past 9.8; a tool’s place inside those bounds is set by its weighted point total.

What the listings tell you

This guide read 5 listings. 3 give full data and 2 give a title only, so the 2 title-only rods sit last in the ranking. All 3 full-data picks are 1/8 inch E6013 rods for mild steel, and all 3 state all-position welding with AC or DC current. Only 1 of the 5 listings states a tensile strength, the METAL MARLIN listing at around 60,000 psi.

Amperage is stated on 2 of the 3 full-data picks: 80A-130A on the YESWELDER 1/8 inch rods and a reference table on the WISUNO listing, from 25-40A at 1/16 inch to 100-125A at 1/8 inch. The METAL MARLIN listing states no amperage range, and neither title-only listing states a length, an amperage range or a tensile strength.

Box size is stated on all 3 full-data picks: 5LB on the YESWELDER 1/8 inch rods, 5 lbs on the METAL MARLIN rods and 1LB on the WISUNO rods. The title-only picks add a 5LB box and a 1LB box in 3/32 inch, so the guide covers both diameters in both box sizes.

How to pick the best welding rods 6013

Diameter

3 picks are 1/8 inch rods and 2 are 3/32 inch rods. The 1/8 inch rods suit general mild steel work, sheet metal and duct work, while the 3/32 inch rods suit thinner metal. Pick the diameter for the metal thickness, and check the amperage the listing states for that diameter. The 1/8 inch rods list lengths of 14 inches where stated, and the 3/32 inch rods state no length.

Amperage

Amperage follows diameter. The WISUNO reference table lists 25-40A for 1/16 inch, 40-60A for 5/64 inch, 50-80A for 3/32 inch and 100-125A for 1/8 inch, while the YESWELDER 1/8 inch rods list 80A-130A. Set the welder inside the stated range for the rod in hand.

Weight and box size

Boxes run from 1LB to 5LB. The 5LB boxes suit a shop that welds often, and the 1LB boxes suit a single repair or a first try with E6013. The METAL MARLIN rods come in a 5 lbs plastic box, and the other listings state no box type. A 1LB box weighs 1.0 pounds on the WISUNO listing, and the 5LB boxes suit a shop that welds often.

6013 for thin metal

E6013 is a shallow penetration rod, which suits light gauge metal, sheet metal and duct work. The listings say it runs well on low voltage AC machines and on 110V stick welders, and the METAL MARLIN listing says controlled penetration protects thin metal. For thick metal, a deeper penetration rod suits better.

The 3/32 inch rods

The 2 title-only listings are 3/32 inch E6013 rods, one in a 5LB box and one in a 1LB box. No bullets or spec table are given for either, so they sit last in the ranking. Buy them for the diameter and the box size, not for any stated amperage or length.

Garage Fit Check

• Welder: E6013 rods run on AC or DC current, and the listings say they run well on low voltage AC machines and 110V stick welders.
• Amperage: the stated ranges run from 25A to 130A across diameters, so set the welder inside the range for the rod in hand.
• Metal: all 3 full-data picks suit mild steel, sheet metal and duct work, so check the metal before striking an arc.
• Storage: rods come in 1LB and 5LB boxes, and the METAL MARLIN rods come in a plastic box, so keep the box dry and closed.
• Diameter: 1/8 inch rods suit general work and 3/32 inch rods suit thinner metal, so match the rod to the metal thickness.

FAQ: garage tools

What welding rod should I use for mild steel?

E6013 is the general purpose rod for mild steel in this guide. The listings say it suits all types of mild steel, light gauge metal, sheet metal and duct work, and it welds in all positions on AC or DC current.

What size welding rods do I need?

Match the diameter to the metal: 1/8 inch for general mild steel work and 3/32 inch for thinner metal. The WISUNO table lists 1/16 inch at 25-40A, 5/64 inch at 40-60A, 3/32 inch at 50-80A and 1/8 inch at 100-125A.

Are welding rods copper?

No. The listings in this guide describe carbon steel stick electrodes for mild steel, not copper rods. Copper appears in no listing here.

Can E6013 rods weld on AC and DC?

Yes. All 3 full-data listings state AC or DC current, and the METAL MARLIN listing adds DCEN and DCEP. The YESWELDER listing says the rod works well on low voltage AC machines.

How much does a box of welding rods weigh?

The boxes in this guide run from 1LB to 5LB. The WISUNO 1LB box weighs 1.0 pounds, and the 5LB boxes suit a shop that welds often.

What is the tensile strength of E6013 rods?

Only 1 listing in this guide states it: the METAL MARLIN listing states around 60,000 psi tensile strength. The other listings state no tensile strength.

Related: the engine and shop equipment hub. Also see the best stick welder, best flux core welding wire for sheet metal, best heat resistant welding gloves and flux core welding tips guides.