Which welding process offers high deposition rates and is suitable for field repairs?

• A. SMAW
• B. FCAW
• C. GTAW
• D. GMAW

Answer: (B)

High deposition rate and field repair suitability point to flux-cored arc welding. This process uses a continuous filler wire with a flux core that rapidly builds up the weld, allowing much faster deposition than many other methods. The flux core also provides shielding; in the self-shielded variant, no external shielding gas is needed, which is especially advantageous for field work where wind can blow away gas or where carrying gas cylinders is impractical. That combination of fast weld buildup and the ability to operate effectively outdoors makes it the best choice for field repairs.

In comparison, solid-wire MIG relies on external shielding gas and is more sensitive to wind, GTAW (TIG) produces high-quality welds but at a much slower deposition rate, and stick welding (SMAW) has a slower overall deposition rate than FCAW.