Stick welding does not use shielding gas and can be used in windy outdoor areas. It has fewer parts and is more portable than MIG (metal inert gas) and TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding. Also called shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), manual metal arc welding (MMAW), and flux-shielded arc welding, stick welding can join most common alloys and metals, and it can even weld dirty or rusty metals. It uses consumable electrodes, so it is ideal for short welding tasks. An arc is struck between an electrode and a workpiece, and the heat from the arc melts and fuses material from the workpiece and the electrode to create a weld. Electrode holders let users control the position of the electrodes. Electrode containers protect stick electrodes when not in use. Electrode ovens prevent electrodes from absorbing moisture during storage. Stick welders connect to electrode holders to supply current to the electrodes.