Which welding process uses a stick electrode and is common for heavy structural work?

• A. SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding)
• B. TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding
• C. GMAW/MIG (Gas Metal Arc Welding)
• D. FCAW (Flux-Cored Arc Welding)

Answer: (A)

Stick welding uses a coated electrode, a metal rod called a stick, to create the arc. The coating (flux) burns during welding, providing shielding for the weld and forming slag that protects and smooths the weld as it cools. This setup is rugged, portable, and does not require a separate shielding gas supply, which makes it especially practical for heavy structural work in the field or on rough, outdoor sites. It can handle thick sections and a variety of positions with simple equipment, making it a common choice for structural steel like beams and frames. In contrast, TIG uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode with shielding gas for precision and thin materials, MIG uses a continuous wire with shielding gas for speed in controlled environments, and flux-core arc welding relies on flux in the wire rather than a stick electrode. The use of a stick electrode is the defining feature that points to this process.