Shielded arc welding using auxiliary voltage

A method of shielded arc welding using a consumable electrode, said method comprising applying a welding voltage between said electrode and a workpiece;

• applying an auxiliary, unipolar voltage between said electrode and said workpiece;
• and advancing said electrode towards said workpiece while said auxiliary voltage is applied, wherein said magnitude of said auxiliary voltage generally increases from an initial value to a value at which an arc is initiated between said electrode and said workpiece, whereby said auxiliary voltage initiates said arc between said electrode and said workpiece before said electrode engages said workpiece.

Shielded arc welding apparatus comprising means for advancing a consumable electrode towards a workpiece;

• means for applying a welding voltage between said electrode and said workpiece;
• and auxiliary voltage supply means for applying an auxiliary unipolar voltage between said electrode and said workpiece, said auxiliary voltage supply means being adapted to supply an auxiliary voltage which generally increases from an initial value to a value at which an arc is initiated between said electrode and said workpiece, whereby said auxiliary voltage initiates an arc between said electrode and said workpiece before said electrode engages said workpiece.