AG Mechanics CDE Practice Exam

To make a hole with an electrode is called

1. chipping

2. drilling

3. piercing

4. punching

The correct answer is: chipping

To make a hole with an electrode is called "chipping". In welding, chipping is the process of using a chipping hammer or a similar tool to remove the leftover slag after welding with shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) or stick welding. During welding, the flux coating on the electrode melts and forms slag on top of the weld. Chipping is necessary to remove this slag and reveal the completed weld underneath. The other options in the question, such as drilling, piercing, and punching, do not involve the process of making a hole with an electrode specifically. Drilling is the process of creating a hole using a rotary cutting tool, piercing involves cutting or puncturing a material without removing any material in the process, and punching is a process that involves using a tool and die to create a hole in a piece of material by shearing it. Each of these processes is distinct from the concept of chipping in welding.