The electrode freezes during welding. What is it and how is it possible?

  • Jul 31, 2021
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Friends, I welcome everyone to the channel for self-taught beginners in welding and locksmiths. And just all lovers of working with metal. Here we share our welding experience with beginners and try to talk about welding in simple, accessible language.

When I was studying at the school as a welder, one day I heard one welding term, which, well, does not fit in any way with metal welding. It was the word-electrode freezes.

It turns out everything is quite simple, it's just the scientific name for the welding process in which the electrode sticks to the metal. I don’t know who came up with such an idea that at an electrode welding arc temperature of 5000-6000 degrees, something else could freeze.

What does it mean the electrode is frozen, stuck? Just at that moment, the tip of the electrode was welded to the metal being welded. Instead of melting the edges of 2 welded pieces of iron to a liquid state and at the same time adding molten metal from the steel core of the electrode to this liquid bath, it happens like this.

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Why is the electrode stuck?

This usually happens at the very beginning of the seam. We strike with the tip of the electrode on the piece of iron, a discharge appears, we see the first sparks and at this moment the end of the electrode is welded to this very piece of iron. How can this be avoided?

At the moment the electrode touches the iron for the first time, the metal itself is still cold. It takes a certain amount of time for the weld pool to form and a stable welding arc to appear, which will transport the molten metal into the liquid pool.

But the beginner does not yet have the reflexive habit of doing the right thing when lighting the electrode. After striking with the electrode and the appearance of the first sparks, the tip of the electrode just needs to be raised from the metal at some distance. This is about 10 mm.

On such a long arc, the electrode will no longer stick, and so to speak, the welding arc will have time to heat up the metal and form a liquid weld pool. After that, we boldly lower the tip of the electrode, make a short arc and calmly cook on.

This skill will take some time to get used to doing this. Learn to see that the bath has already formed. On thin metal, it forms faster, and it can be heated and melted faster than thick metal. All this must be seen and felt in practice.

This is perhaps the most common cause of electrode adhesion (freezing) to metal. But there are others, see:

Too small welding current-arc is weak, the pool does not form normally, as there is little energy for stable melting. And again, the electrode can be welded to the metal.

Too dirty metal surface. There is also no good with a sufficient weld pool formation rate.

Low voltage in the network, it is advisable to take an electrode with a smaller diameter.

Welding with old household transformer devices with electrodes with a basic coating, usually SSSI 13 55 is taken. They will also stick on any current. Take other rutile coated electrodes-ano 21, monolith, mp3, ok-46.

Always read or write comments - if you have anything to add to the article. Comments are a great addition to our articles, there is a lot of useful information for beginners. Bye everyone!