Stick Welding is a slang term commonly used for Shielded Metal Arc Welding or “SMAW". Stick welding is the most basic and common type of welding processes used. It is also the first process learned in any welding school. Stick is the most trouble free of all of the welding processes and is the fundamental basis for all the skills needed to learn how to weld!
Stick welders have four main components:
1.A ground lead or clamp
2.A welding lead or stinger
3.A constant amperage power source
4.The electrode or welding rod to weld with
The process is simple! The ground clamp is attached to the work or metal to be welded. Then the welding lead, or stinger, gets the electrode inserted in it. Finally, the power supply is turned on and only requires the user to strike the metal to ignite it. Once that is done. the arc starts and the electrode begins to burn. This creates a shielding gas and deposits metal into the joint that is being welded. The slag from the electrode needs to be cleaned or chipped off as soon as the weld is finished.