Stick Welding Applications

Shielded metal arc welding or stick welding is widely used because it’s a relatively easy and versatile welding method. This method is used in the construction of steel structures and in steel fabrication and is popular with smaller businesses. SMAW is generally used on materials like carbon steel, cast iron, ductile iron, stainless steel and low and high alloy steels and can be used for almost any thickness of material, when applied by an experienced welder. Stick welding is a comparatively inexpensive and portable process, and is even used in underwater welding. Since the shielding gas is provided by the flux coating on the welding electrode, no extra shielding gases are needed. It can be done in any position with no upper limit on material thickness, but is not useful for welding anything thinner than 1.5mm.