Which type of welding uses coated electrodes?

The process that uses coated electrodes is Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW). In SMAW, also known as stick welding, a consumable electrode composed of a metal core surrounded by a flux coating is used to create the weld. When the electrode is heated and struck against the workpiece, an electric arc is established. The heat from the arc melts the electrode and the work surface, allowing the metal to fuse together.

The flux coating serves multiple purposes: it generates gas that protects the weld pool from atmospheric contamination, creates a slag that helps protect the weld as it cools, and adds alloying elements to the molten weld metal which can enhance its properties. This combination of factors makes SMAW versatile and widely used in various applications, particularly in field and repair work.

In contrast, the other mentioned welding processes—TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas), MIG (Metal Inert Gas), and GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding)—do not utilize coated electrodes. TIG welding relies on a non-consumable tungsten electrode, while MIG and GMAW use a continuously fed solid wire as the electrode with gas shielding to protect the weld, eliminating the need for coatings.