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How to use welding rods without a stuck arc

Updated: October 2026

You lower the helmet, touch an E6013 to the steel and it freezes in place before a bead begins. Learning how to use welding rods is largely about separating four variables: a dry electrode, suitable current, a clean return path and a short controlled arc. This guide covers striking, travel, slag and safe stopping points for beginner MMA welding. It complements the [welding electrodes comparison](/hub/soldering-and-welding/welding-electrodes), where you can check the sizes and classifications on sale. Practise on scrap of the same type and thickness as the job before you weld the actual part. We did not run a laboratory weld. A qualifying purchase through our links can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

You lower the helmet, touch an E6013 to the steel and it freezes in place before a bead begins.

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GYS GYS E6013 2.5 mm

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GYS GYS E6013 2.5 mm
9.2/10about £16.65
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GYS GYS E6013 1.6 mm

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GYS GYS E6013 1.6 mm
9.0/10about £7.63
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MKGT MKGT E6013 2.5 mm, 50

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MKGT MKGT E6013 2.5 mm, 50
8.8/10about £14.97
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On this page
  1. 1.Prepare before you strike
  2. 2.Strike by scratching or tapping
  3. 3.Hold a short arc and steady travel
  4. 4.Remove slag before the next pass

Prepare before you strike

Place the work on a stable, non-combustible surface and remove paint, rust, oil and plating from the weld area. Attach the return clamp to clean metal. Paint or loose scale under the clamp adds resistance and can make a sound rod seem faulty. Keep E6013 dry. Damp flux makes starting erratic and can add porosity. Do not improvise a kitchen-oven cycle. Seal an opened pack, and follow the maker’s re-drying instructions if it publishes them. Set current from that band and your welder manual, then adjust on scrap. Example bands are in the welding rod size guide. Helmet down before the rod touches. Fume is a health risk even for a short bead. The HSE requires local exhaust ventilation indoors, with respiratory protection where extraction does not control exposure. Clear combustibles and keep a fire watch after hot work.

Strike by scratching or tapping

A scratch start is like striking a match: a slight travel angle, a brief drag, then lift as the arc forms. Do not scrape a long mark. A tap start touches the tip and lifts at once. Jasic’s MMA guidance describes a lift of roughly 2–4 mm, then a shorter working gap. Holding contact freezes the rod. If it sticks, keep the helmet down and twist it free, or release the holder if that is safe. Switch off if it will not free, then check current, the clamp and a glazed flux tip. A used E6013 restarts poorly when a flux cap sticks out past the core. Remove that cap the maker’s way and restart just ahead of the crater.
GYS GYS E6013 2.5 mm

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GYS GYS E6013 2.5 mm
9.2/10about £16.65
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Hold a short arc and steady travel

Jasic gives a broad MMA arc-length guide of roughly 0.5 to 1.0 times electrode diameter, with about 1.6 mm cited for rods up to 3.2 mm. Treat that as a visual starting point. Feed your hand towards the work as the rod shortens. An arc that is too long spatters, undercuts and shields poorly. An arc that is too short sticks. On a 2.5 mm E6013, a centimetre-long flame is loss of control, not extra penetration. Keep a modest drag angle unless the instructions say otherwise. Moving too fast leaves a narrow bead with poor tie-in. Lingering can burn through an edge. On thin sheet, use short runs and let the work cool. A straight stringer is easier to read than a wide weave. If sticking is a mismatch between rod and machine, the welding rods buying guide is the next check.

Remove slag before the next pass

E6013 leaves slag over the cooled bead. Let the weld settle, then use eye protection, a chipping hammer and a wire brush. Never weld the next pass over intact slag. Trapped slag becomes an inclusion and can hide lack of fusion. If a pocket will not clean out, prepare the defect rather than burying it. Heavy spatter can mean an overlong arc or too much current. A tall rope-like bead and repeated sticking can mean too little heat, slow travel or a poor clamp. Do not infer structural strength from the surface. Stop for load-bearing structures, lifting points, pressure equipment, vehicle safety parts or unknown steel. Never strike an arc on a closed tank or a container that may have held flammable material. If the question is the electrode family, the 6013 vs 7018 guide sets that boundary.

Common questions

Is scratch start or tap start easier?
Many beginners find a short scratch start easier because the electrode is already moving when contact occurs. Tap starting can place the arc more accurately once your timing improves. Both methods work: touch briefly, lift as the arc forms and settle into a short working gap.
How long should the MMA arc be?
Jasic suggests roughly 0.5 to 1.0 times the electrode diameter as a broad guide, with about 1.6 mm for rods up to 3.2 mm. Product and joint conditions vary. Keep the arc short and consistent rather than stretching it for more apparent heat.
Why does my welding rod keep sticking?
Common causes include current that is too low for the rod, an arc held too short, damp flux, a dirty return-clamp connection or hesitation during the start. Correct one factor at a time on clean scrap. Keep your helmet down while freeing a stuck electrode.
When should I chip the slag?
Remove slag after each pass has cooled enough to handle safely and before depositing another pass. Use eye protection because chips can fly sharply. Brush the cleaned bead and inspect its toes and any visible cavities rather than covering defects with more weld metal.
Can I weld in a garage with the door open?
An open door does not automatically control welding fume at the source. HSE guidance expects suitable local exhaust ventilation for indoor welding, with suitable respiratory protection where engineering controls do not adequately reduce exposure. Arrange extraction and fire precautions before starting.
When should I call a professional welder?
Use a competent professional when failure could injure someone, when the work is structural or coded, or when you cannot identify the metal or previous coating. Closed containers and safety-critical vehicle parts also fall outside sensible beginner practice. A tidy bead alone does not prove the joint is sound.

Related pages

Welder comparison

Welding electrodes

6013 vs 7018 welding rods: which one you should use

Best welding rods UK for gates, sheet and practice

Welding rods buying guide before you compare prices

Welding rod size: 1.6 mm or 2.5 mm on mild steel

Sources

Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings in this set, last checked on 17 October 2026.

  1. HSE, mild steel welding fume (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  2. HSE, health risks of welding (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  3. HSE WL3, welding fume control (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  4. ESAB OK 46.00 (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  5. ESAB, storing and redrying stick electrodes (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  6. TWI, thoriated tungsten electrodes (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  7. TWI, rutile and cellulosic electrodes (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  8. The Welding Store, ESAB OK 46.30 2.5 mm (retrieved 17 October 2026)