What Does
Welding Rod Mean?
A welding rod is the generic name used to refer to electrodes or filler metal that is used to join two other base metals when performing shielded metal arc welding (SMAW).
Corrosionpedia Explains Welding Rod
Welding rods can either be consumable of non-consumable in their use. Consumable rods disintegrate or melt to form the bonding material that holds two metal pieces together. However, non-consumable rods simply provide enough catalytic reaction with the base metals to propagate their fusing in an oxygen-rich atmospheric environment. The length of any continuous weld bead is directly proportional to the length of the welding rod.