Stick Welders
How to choose your stick welder.
Stick is the simplest way in and the toughest process outdoors. Choose by where you weld and the rods you plan to run.
Best fit
For portable repair, a compact 110V machine covers most jobs; dual-voltage adds headroom for thicker rods.
Portability
Stick needs no gas and shrugs off wind — a small inverter in one hand covers fence lines, trailers, and farm fixes.
Rod support
Check the electrode sizes a machine runs comfortably — 6013 for clean repair, 7018 when strength matters.
Best fit
For portable repair, a compact 110V machine covers most jobs; dual-voltage adds headroom for thicker rods.
Portability
Stick needs no gas and shrugs off wind — a small inverter in one hand covers fence lines, trailers, and farm fixes.
Rod support
Check the electrode sizes a machine runs comfortably — 6013 for clean repair, 7018 when strength matters.
Lift TIG option
Many stick machines add lift TIG with a simple torch — a low-cost way to try TIG before buying a dedicated machine.
Before you buy
Confirm your outlet, pick your rod sizes, and add a helmet and gloves if this is your first setup.
Stick welder FAQ.
Stick is one of the most forgiving ways to start: the equipment is simple, there is no shielding gas to manage, and it works outdoors and on less-than-clean metal. The trade-off is more spatter and cleanup than MIG — many people start on stick for repairs and add MIG later for fabrication.
A 110V inverter like the ARC-125DS-PRO comfortably runs smaller-diameter rods for repair and light structural work. For frequent 1/8" 7018 work or thicker joints, step up to a dual-voltage machine on a 220V outlet.