A microporous tubular welding electrode having a length and a circumference may comprise a granular flux fill core extending substantially along the length of the electrode and a sheath extending substantially along the length of the electrode and substantially surrounding and substantially encasing the granular flux fill core. The sheath may comprise a plurality of pores distributed around the circumference and along the length of the microporous tubular welding electrode. The microporous tubular welding electrode may be formed by first creating a plurality of pores in a strip of material (such as a steel or aluminum alloy) using a process such as laser drilling or chemical etching. Second, the strip may be formed into a tubular welding wire electrode containing a core of a granular powder flux material.
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