OPERATION
•The arc is initiated by momentarily touching the electrode to the base metal.
• The heat of the arc melts the surface of the base metal to
form a molten pool at the end of the electrode.
• The melted electrode metal is transferred across the arc into
the molten pool and becomes the deposited weld metal.
• The deposit is covered and protected by a slag which comes
from the electrode coating.
• The arc and the immediate area are
enveloped by an
atmosphere of protective gas.
Manual metal arc ( stick) electrodes have a solid metal wire
core and a flux coating. These electrodes are identified by the
wire diameter and by a series of letters and numbers. The
letters and numbers identify the metal alloy and the intended
use of the electrode.
The Metal Wire Core works as conductor of the current that
maintains the arc. The core wire melts and is deposited into the
welding pool.
The covering on a shielded metal arc welding electrode is
called Flux.
The flux on the electrode performs many diferent functions.
These include:
● producing a protective gas around the weld area
● providing fluxing elements and deoxidizer
● creating a protective slag coating over the weld as it cools
● establishing arc
characteristics
● adding alloying elements.
Covered electrodes serve many purposes in addition to filler metal tothe molten pool. These
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