Stick Welding Process Intro
SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding) is often called stick welding. It is one of the most popular welding processes used today. Its popularity is due to the versatility of the process and the simplicity and low cost of the equipment and operation. SMAW is commonly used with such materials as mild steel, cast iron, and stainless steel.
How Stick Welding Works
Stick welding is a manual arc welding process. It requires a consumable electrode that is coated in flux to lay the weld, and an electric current is used to create an electric arc between the electrode and the metals that are being welded together. The electric current may be either an alternating current or a direct current from a welding power supply.
While the weld is being laid, the electrode’s flux coating disintegrates. This produces vapors that provide a shielding gas and a layer of slag. Both the gas and slag protect the weld pool from atmospheric contamination. The flux also serves to add scavengers, deoxidizers, and alloying elements to the weld metal.
Flux-Coated Electrodes
You can find flux-coated electrodes in a variety of diameters and lengths. Typically, when choosing an electrode, you want to match the electrode properties to the base materials. Flux-coated electrode types include bronze, aluminum bronze, mild steel, stainless steel, and nickel.
Common Uses of Stick Welding
SMAW is so popular throughout the world that it dominates other welding processes in the repair and maintenance industry. It also continues to be widely used in industrial fabrication and the construction of steel structures, although flux-cored arc welding is gaining in popularity in these areas.
Other Traits of Stick Welding
Other characteristics of Shielded Metal Arc Welding include:
- It provides all position flexibility
- It is not very sensitive to wind and drafts
- The quality and appearance of the weld vary according to the skill of the operator
- It is usually capable of producing four types of welded joints: the butt joint, lap joint, T-joint, and fillet weld
Post time: Apr-01-2021