Stick welding is the more common name for what is scientifically called Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW). The welder derives its heat for welding from an electric arc that is established between a stick electrode and the part to be welded. The stick electrode is always clamped in an electrode holder connected by a power cable. Either of AC or DC current can be produced by the stick welder for welding.

The metal rods for a typical stick electrode consists of a metal rod (3/32 to 1/4” diameter) that is coated with flux. Flux is a substance that lowers the melting or softening temperature of the metal rods. The flux is also important for generating shielded gas to protect the molten metal from atmospheric contamination, providing scavengers and deoxidizers to refine the weld metal, increasing deposition rates, and producing a slag blanket over the weld.

One of the benefits of stick welding is the low start-up costs because stick welders are relatively inexpensive, are extremely portable, can be used outdoors without special equipment, has all-position welding capability, and is usable on a wide variety of materials and metals.