A term applied when the metallic electrode sticks to the workpiece when the arc is struck. In most welding circuits, when the electrode is touched to the workpiece the current exceeds the normal welding current by 40% to 50%. The arc formed by this excess current instantly fuses a portion of the electrode end to the workpiece against which it is struck. The workpiece, however, is usually cold, so that the fused metal is solidified or “frozen” almost instantly, and if the end of the electrode is not withdrawn quickly it becomes attached to the solidified metal.
