A durable cable is important since welding often takes place in industrial environments where abrasions, cuts, burns from sparks, and oil and water exposure can quickly wear out a weaker cable. See durability of welding leads for more information. Welding cable is designed for use in electric arc-welding machines to power an electrode, a specially designed metal rod, that conducts a charge. The charge carried by the electrode is needed to produce an electric arc, the heat source, between the electrode and the metals, or other materials, being welded.