Arc Welding Electrodes

I. Electrodes
A. Core wire and flux coating
B. Core wire provides filler for the
joint being welded
C. Flux has five functions:
1. Helps maintain arc
2. Provides gaseous shield
3. forms slag to allow weld to
cool slow
4. Serves as insulator
5. Floats to surface


Care of Electrodes
A. Must be stored in
warm, dry place.
B. Do not chip flux
coating from core.

Electrode Identification
A. American Welding Society
(AWS) Numbering System
1. Usually on container in addition
to manufacturers number
2. E stands for electric arc
welding
3. First 2 digits = tensile in
thousand pounds per square inch
4. Third digit indicated welding
position
1= all position
2= horizontal and flat
3= flat only
5. Fourth digit indicates type of
flux coating.

Electrode Classification
A. Fast Freeze Group
1. Little slag, forceful arc, all
position
2. E6010, E6011
B. Fill Freeze Group
1. Heavy flux, easy slag
removal, bead has even ripple
formations
2. E6012, E6013, E7014
C. Fast Fill Group
1. Very heavy flux, fast deposit
rate
2. E6027, E7028


D. Low Hydrogen
Group
1. Flux has very little
hydrogen, used on
high carbon steels
2. E7018, E7028