A detailed original perspective from a leading expert on welding metallurgy of the self-shielded arc welding process and its applications. The author explains the basic process metallurgy of the process and its relationship with other arc welding processes. He promotes self-shielded arc welding (SSAW) as a distinct process in its own right, dispels some widely held misconceptions, and sets out to bring its existence and advantages to the attention of designers and fabricators.