Applications:

Submerged-arc welding has found its major application with mild and low-alloy steels, although the procedure has also been used for aluminium-, copper and titanium-base alloys with the development of appropriate fluxes. It is a method utilized mainly for the downhand welding of thicknesses above 5 mm where the welds are long and straight. The welding head itself may be moved over the work on a self- propelled carriage or gantry or the work might be revolved beneath the stationary- welding head. The method is broadly used for both butt welds and fillet welds in structural engineering,  shipbuilding, pressure vessel, pipe welding and storage tank fabricating industries. For the last reason special self-propelled machines with devices for supporting the flux are utilized for welding the girth seams in position on-site.

In order to give flexibility to the procedure for shorter more awkward Joints a manual version has been developed in which the current slides and a portable flux dispenser held in the hand are associated by a flexible hose to the main wire-feed unit. Because the arc may not be seen, this device is hard to use without aids to help the welder guide the welding head over the work and maintain a constant speed.