Stick welding electrodes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some of which can have a positive or negative electrode. But you need to know, ‘‘Is the stick welding electrode positive or negative?’’
One of my recent students was wondering about their differences, and I wanted to expand and expound on the matter more from an electrode and welder perspective.
Stick welding electrodes are used for the bead of molten weld. The electrode supplies the molten material to form a weld puddle on the base material.
The material that is used in the electrodes varies depending upon its application, but it is usually coated steel wire.
Stick Welding Electrode Positive or Negative
When stick welding, the electrode that you use must be positive. This is because the flow of electrons will make the weld from the negative pole to the positive pole. If you were to use a negative electrode, it would not be possible to make a weld because there would be no flow of electrons from one pole to another.
But it doesn’t mean that you should not use the negative electrode for stick welding because some materials can be welded through the negative electrode. I recommend using DCEP (positive) electrode when stick welding.
If you want to stick weld steel or cast iron, I suggest that you need an electrode that is positive. This means that the current flows from the negative terminal of your power source to the steel or cast iron piece, which carries away heat energy from the molten metal and transfers it into your workpiece. This heats up your electrode so much that it melts and fuses to itself when it touches the workpiece.
Which Polarity is Used for Stick Welding?
For stick welding, the polarity used will depend on the type of metal being welded.
When welding mild steel, a positive polarity is used. The positive polarity creates more heat, which is better for welding mild steel. It also helps to create a smoother weld seam.
In some cases, when welding stainless steel or aluminum, you may need to use a negative polarity. This helps protect these two types of metals from overheating and burning up during the welding process.
What Happens if you Use Negative Polarity?
Using negative polarity for stick welding can cause a lot of problems.
The negative polarity is used for welding electrodes to the metal being welded, but it can also cause the electrode to become detached from the metal. This can cause the weld to be weak and may even break apart.
Using negative polarity in stick welding will also make it difficult to see where you are welding because it makes the arc disappear. This can make it difficult to know whether or not you have successfully completed a weld. Due to these circumstances, I prefer using DCEP polarity when stick welding.
When Stick Welding is the Ground Positive or Negative?
When stick welding, you can use either positive or negative ground. You’ll need to decide which one is best for your situation based on the type of material you’re welding and whether you are using a flux-cored or solid wire electrode.
In general, most manufacturers recommend using a negative ground when welding with a solid wire electrode.
However, if you’re working with stainless steel or if you’re welding in an oxidizing environment (like underwater), it may be beneficial to change over to a positive ground.
So, stick welding can be both, i.e., ground positive or negative, depending on the type of rod you are using. Some rods support only ground negative, and few do not support both of these.
Now, I am going to tell you which rods support ground positive & which rods support both ground positive & negative:
Ground Positive Rods:
- E6012
- E6022
Ground Negative Rods:
- E6010
- E6011
- E6018
- E7015
- E7016
- E7018
- E7028
Both:
- E6013
- E7014
- E7024
How Can you Easily Change Polarity?
The polarity of your stick welder can be changed by simply flipping the cable connection. Before you begin, make sure that your machine is unplugged and that the power switch is turned off.
To change the polarity on your stick welder, first, flip the cable connection so that the red wire connects to the positive terminal on the welding machine and the black wire connects to the negative terminal.
Next, plug in your stick welder and turn it on. If your stick welder has an LED indicator light, it should now be displaying a different color than before. This means that you have successfully changed your machine’s polarity!
What do you mean by Welding Leads?
Welding leads are the cables that connect your welding machine to the electrodes. They’re also sometimes referred to as welding cables or welding wires.
The cable itself is made up of a number of different components: the inner core, a wire mesh, and an outer casing. The core is made up of either copper or steel, and its purpose is to carry electricity from one end of the cable to the other.
The wire mesh helps to protect the core from damage and wear while also ensuring that it doesn’t bend too far before breaking down over time.
How to Hook Up Stick Welding Leads?
Hooking up stick welding leads is a simple process, and you’ll be able to do it in just a few minutes. You should have to follow these steps:
1. Connect the Ground Clamp:
The first step is to connect the ground clamp to your workbench or some other ground surface. If you don’t have an actual workbench, try attaching the ground clamp to an old piece of metal or an extension cord.
The ground clamp should always be connected when you’re working with your stick welder.
2. Attaching Power Source:
Next, attach your power source to the positive terminal on the back of your welder. You can use any 12-volt battery or power supply that has a positive end and a negative end (like a car battery).
If you want to use another power source besides a car battery, make sure it has at least 30 amps of power output!
3. Attaching Welding Lead:
Finally, attach your welding lead wire from one end of the tip holder to the positive terminal on your welder, then attach another wire from one end of the tip holder to the negative terminal on your welder.
This second wire will act as an extension cord between these two parts so that they remain connected while you move around while working with them in different places around your project area!
Stick Welding Polarity Guide Table
In order to stick weld properly, it is important to know which electrode is positive and which one is negative. This guided table will help you determine the polarity of your stick electrodes, usage, position & penetration.
| No. | Electrode Type | AC | DC | Penetration | Position | Use |
| 1. | E7018 | Yes | Positive | Low | All | Strong, low hydrogen |
| 2. | E7014 | Yes | Positive & Negative | Medium | All | Fast & easy |
| 3. | E7024 | Yes | Positive & Negative | Low | Flat horizontal | Better & faster |
| 4. | E6013 | Yes | Positive & Negative | Low | All | General |
| 5. | E6011 | Yes | Positive | Deep | All | Rough & high spatter |
| 6. | E6010 | – | Positive | Deep | All | Rough & high spatter |
How to Determine Stick Welding Electrode Polarity?
So you’ve got your stick electrode, and you’re ready to get welding. But how do you know which side of the electrode is positive and which side is negative?
First, you’ll want to make sure that the polarity is correct before starting your weld. If your welder has a polarity indicator on it, then it’s as easy as flipping a switch or dial.
If not, then I suggest you’ll need to check the manual for your welder to determine how to check the polarity.
If the welder has an LED indicator, then all you need to do is touch one wire of an ohmmeter (or multimeter) to each terminal on the welder.
If there is no reading, then that means that one terminal is positive and one is negative. You can then proceed with your weld using those terminals as your positive and negative contact points.
If there is a reading from both terminals on the ohmmeter, then it means that neither one of them is connected.
The easiest way to solve this problem is by simply flipping around wires until there’s no reading from either terminal on the ohmmeter when touching them together.
Which Factors Determine the Polarity Choice?
There are several factors that determine the polarity choice in welding. These include:
- The material to be welded and its thickness
- The type of current used
- The size of the electrode and its shape
- The type of filler metal used
Wrapping Up!
The purpose of this article is to help you determine which electrode is preferable for your particular setup.
In this, I have guided you in detail on stick welding electrode positive or negative. It will focus on the more common stick welding processes and techniques.
When stick welding, where you put the electrode makes a difference in how its arc travels. An electrode on the bottom of the weld will make a smooth, flat-looking bead that looks like it is ground.
FAQs:
What is the correct polarity for stick welding?
The correct polarity for a stick welder is DC-positive. The current flows from positive to negative and not the other way around. For example, if you were to touch the tip of your welding rod on the piece of metal being welded, you could receive a severe electrical shock.
Do you weld 7018 on positive or negative?
I personally prefer to weld on positive polarity. The main reason for this is it allows me to use a smaller diameter rod and also creates less spatter. I also find that I like the fill characteristics of using a high current with 7018, which can be achieved on positive polarity welding.
Do you stick weld on DC+ or DC?
I stick weld on DC+ as much as possible, depending on what my customer wants. In most cases, they are looking for a cleaner-looking weld that is more easily hidden. DC+ is much more forgiving when you are welding thick materials and gives you a better chance of hiding the weld. Using DC at slow speeds can sometimes lead to spatter or a funky-looking root fusion because it’s so fast and doesn’t allow enough time for the arc force to penetrate the base metal.
Is the ground clamp positive or negative stick welding?
The ground clamp used in stick & MIG welding is negative. Stick welding sets the joint with an electrode, as opposed to TIG which is set by a filler rod.
Is the SMAW electrode positive or negative?
SMAW electrodes are the negative polarity for electrode welding. This means that it is the weld metal that will be attracted to the positive electrode. The positive electrode pulls away from the weld and leaves a puddle on top of your workpiece.
