Which polarity is electrode positive and workpiece negative and used with solid electrode wire?

• A. Reverse
• B. Straight
• C. Neutral
• D. Pulse

Answer: (A)

In MIG welding, polarity tells you which electrode is positive and which is negative. The description “electrode positive and workpiece negative” is called reverse polarity. This setup is standard when welding with a solid electrode wire and shielding gas because it generally gives a stable arc and effective heat transfer into the weld pool, producing good penetration and fusion. The opposite arrangement, where the electrode is negative, is known as straight polarity and is not the described configuration. Neutral and pulse refer to different concepts (neutral isn’t a typical polarity in MIG, and pulse is a current waveform, not a polarity).