What amperage rating will allow you to weld a plate up to 3/16 inch?

• A. 10-20 amps
• B. 20-40 amps
• C. 40-60 amps
• D. 60-80 amps

Answer: (B)

Amperage determines how much heat you put into the metal. For thin stock like 3/16 inch, you don’t want a lot of heat, or you’ll burn through or warp the plate. The goal is enough heat to melt and fuse the metal without excessive penetration. That’s why a lower current range is used for this thickness, so you can control penetration and get a sound bead without damaging the plate. In many basic welding setups, 20-40 amps provides enough heat for a proper weld on 3/16 inch plate when using the right process and filler size, and you adjust from there based on electrode size, process, and joint type. If you see burn-through or lack of fusion, you’d tweak the settings accordingly, but the lower end of current is the safer starting point for this thickness.