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Welding rod is commonly known as filler metals in context with the technical terms. It is considered as a metal which is used for the welding procedure in order to fill up a joint that needs to be fixed together. Generally, the overall procedure of welding is done by melting up the work pieces and adding up a filler material in it, which is often a welding rod. This is done in order to create a pool of molten material that cools down and becomes a strong joint.

Also known as electrodes, welding rods usually come in four types, that involve covered welding rods which is used in the system of metal arc welding. The coating involved in the process of electrodes mainly contains certain compounds such as calcium fluoride, cellulose, iron powder and rutile. The method of rutile coated rods give a good appearance to the weld and create good quality weld. Even large number of stainless steel rods or electrodes are used in order to weld steel work pieces with the carbon steel work pieces.

Bare welding electrodes, on the other hand are used for the gas metal arc work. These kinds of electrodes contain several deoxidizing metals like silicon, manganese, titanium, and aluminum that help prevent oxygen porosity. Moreover, they even contain some sort of denitriding metals such as titanium and zirconium for avoiding the nitrogen porosity. Such rods are generally available in the diameters that range from 0.7 mm to 2.4 mm. However, it is largely determined by the kind of metal and application.

In addition, the method of tubular welding rods, that are in the wired form, are usually used for the flux-cored arc welding. These rods contain the alloys of mild and low alloy steel, stainless steel, and high nickel. Some are even made from wear-facing or surfacing alloys. What is more is that welding rods can also be divided as fast-fill and fast-freeze electrodes. Fast-fill rods are designed in order to melt quickly, while the fast freeze rods are designed to solidify quickly. It is therefore, very important to make use of proper welding rod in the welding process as it is the major factor that will determine the nature of the joint.

The theory behind keeping an arc going is, the electrical current is forced between the welding rod tip and the steel you are welding. If you want to be a successful welder you must be able to strike an arc and keep it going without even thinking about it.

The 2 most common ways of starting your arc are by tapping and scratching your welding rod to the steel. Scratching seems to be the most natural way used by beginners.

Scratching is when you swipe the rod across the steel as if you were trying to light a match. Once the rod makes contact with the steel, the arc starts. The only real reason for scratching it to get it started is so it won’t stick to the steel since it is in motion. The trick then is to locate where you want to weld and try to keep the arc going. This takes some practice to get the hang of it.

Tapping is basically stabbing the steel with your welding rod. This is better for starting your rod in the correct welding location, but it is harder to keep the rod from sticking and still maintaining an arc. The natural reaction is once the arc strikes, you will want to pull it away to keep it from sticking. The only problem is, beginners tend to pull it too far away and lose the arc. This can go on and on and is actually pretty funny to watch someone doing this. But we all need to remember we were new at one point also.

Sticking of your welding rod is caused by the rod melting to the steel before it is pulled away slightly to maintain it’s arc. I won’t go into how far away it should be from the steel since it is dependent on what type of rod you are using and the amperage you are welding with.

These are the basics and should give you an idea of how to strike an arc. Just remember that it takes practice and patience to get good at it. One day you will grab the stinger and it will all just click in your head. It will almost start to feel natural, then you will know it’s all coming together.

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