Electrode assembly for arc welding

An electrode assembly for submerged arc welding (SAW), comprising:

• a head portion and an extension portion that are arranged serially to feed a consumable electrode therethrough such that, during SAW, the head portion is disposed to be distal to an arcing tip of the consumable electrode and the extension portion is disposed to be proximal to the arcing tip of the consumable electrode;
• an electrical contact portion;
• and
• an electrical insulating tube,
• wherein the head portion includes a main body portion and a contact nozzle disposed between the main body portion and the extension portion, wherein the contact nozzle includes a contact tip configured to electrically contact the consumable electrode to deliver power thereto, wherein the electrical contact portion is configured to receive the power from a power source and to deliver the power to the contact tip, wherein the extension portion is formed of a single piece insulating article configured for the consumable electrode to finally pass through after passing through the contact tip and before the arcing tip is exposed, and wherein the electrical insulating tube is configured to electrically insulate the consumable electrode from the main body portion, the electrical contact portion, and at least a portion of the contact nozzle.