Method of arc welding

A method for consumable electrode arc welding in accordance with a welding speed, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a consumable electrode having a cross-section with minimum and maximum dimensions and a cross-sectional area, and a workpiece;
• striking an arc between said consumable electrode and said workpiece so as to form a molten metal pool which solidifies to form a weld;
• selecting said maximum dimension of the cross-section of said consumable electrode at the end thereof to be submerged into the molten pool so that said maximum dimension of the cross-section of said consumable electrode does not exceed twice the minimum dimension of said cross-section;
• further selecting said minimum and maximum dimensions to fit a required width of the weld by adopting said minimum dimension of said cross-section of said consumable electrode, for the same required weld width, to be less than said required weld width but no less than half the required weld width;
• setting a length of said arc below said minimum dimension of said cross-section;
• submerging said end of said consumable electrode into said molten pool;
• feeding said consumable electrode at a speed lower than the welding speed;
• and
• choosing a ratio of said speed of feeding said consumable electrode to said welding speed, for the same said required weld width, such that the greater said cross-sectional area is, the smaller is the ratio of said speed of feeding to said welding speed.