Stick Welding Equipment and Accessories
Stick welding — also known as SMAW (shielded metal arc welding), MMAW (manual metal arc welding) , and flux shield arc welding — creates welded joints on a workpiece without using compressed gas. It is suitable for outdoor and windy areas and can be used to weld dirty or rusty metal. Stick welders typically have fewer parts and are lighter and more portable than other types of arc welders. Stick welding equipment includes a welding machine, an electrode holder, and a flux-coated electrode. The welding machine and electrode holder deliver current to the electrode to create an electrical arc between the electrode and a workpiece. The arc melts and fuses material from the workpiece and the electrode to form a welded joint. Stick welding can be used to weld most common alloys and metals and is best suited for welding thick workpieces. It is commonly used for welding stainless steel and steel structures in metal fabrication, construction, and repair tasks.